Seventy-two participants gathered at the historic Fortnightly of Chicago for the Spark of Hope Gala to thank our Redemptorist leadership for supporting Life Directions. The organization was started in 1973 to identify the cause of violence in Detroit.



Life Directions expanded to a second city – Chicago – in 1990 under the leadership of Fr. Jim Shea, who joined the Board of Directors. Fr. Dick Thibodeau, his successor as Provincial Superior, also served on the Board. We are looking to generate additional support to continue the mission, even as we struggle with the unexpected death of Van Bensett, our Project Director in Chicago.

Our work in Detroit and in Chicago is recognized by its unique response to a major source of trauma: homicide and suicide among youth and young adults. The response of Life Directions centers on the responsibility to forgive with a social emotional learning process that has two points.



First, never need a reason to forgive; and second, we want to forgive for the sake of the next generation. When Victor Dickson, CEO of the Safer Foundation who leads a process to rehabilitate convicts, shared that he learned the principles he uses while he served on the Board for nine years, the community of compassion at the gathering were stunned. When Annette Howard of Detroit witnessed her story as a teenager in 1974 and Robin Amankwah of Chicago witnessed her story as a teenager in 1997, people clapped. What a way to hear the Message of Hope!

Over 170,000 people have been directly touched by the work of Life Directions. The Board of Life Directions in Chicago thought it was an opportune time to pay tribute to and thank the Redemptorists for 49 years of support – a lifetime commitment. It was a joy to see Blue Cross Blue Shield, BMO Harris, All State and the Safer Foundation join the many benefactors to spread the mission and vision of Life Directions – “Peers Inspiring Peers Through Forgiving.”



Now the action plan is in the making. We pray for the momentum to continue – to get to the cause of violence through building peace. May the Spark of Hope continue to radiate for the sake of the poor to whom Life Directions is sent.