Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Rebecca Darr, CEO of Wings, the largest organization in Illinois focused on breaking the cycle of domestic violence. Wings provides housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence with tremendous success when people seek help.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. The definition of domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. And you may be surprised to know how prevalent it is.

Every minute 24 people are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. That’s over 12 million people every year. In Chicago alone, the police receive 500 calls per day regarding domestic violence. Further, over 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

Domestic violence does not discriminate and begins with a power imbalance. Rebecca discusses the stark reality of what it means to get out of an abusive situation and then how Wings can help. Rebecca has been doing this work for decades and became CEO of Wings in 2014. When people come to Wings for help – they receive it. Housing, counseling, and more.

This Inspiring Woman discussion with Rebecca is filled with hard to hear statistics, very real human stories and an inspiring message of hope. Breaking the domestic violence cycle is the objective and after all of these years, Rebecca remains committed to expanding the programs and impact at Wings.

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Darr is a tireless advocate for families confronting domestic violence. Darr was named CEO of WINGS in 2014, after serving as the agency’s executive director for 15 years. Under Darr’s leadership, WINGS has dramatically increased its ability to serve the needs of families in crisis because of domestic violence. The agency has tripled in size and secured new funding sources, including three resale stores that generate revenue to support WINGS’ programs. Darr led the WINGS team in building the first domestic violence shelter in Chicago’s northwest suburbs in 2005. This shelter has since helped thousands of women and children move from abuse to freedom.

She also played a key role in the 2016 opening of the WINGS Metro shelter on Chicago’s southwest side. Darr is closely involved with numerous organizations and task forces committed to leading the fight to enact stronger legislation and to secure increased resources to combat domestic violence. These include the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence. Darr is a sought-after speaker and expert on domestic violence issues and on programs that can break the cycle in families. To inquire about speaking engagements for Rebecca Darr, please call 847-519-7820.

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