Today we’d like to introduce you to India Alexis Ehioba.
India Alexis, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my professional career in corporate communications in the 1980s. It was quite a time of change for women in corporate America. It was also a time when there were a lot of mergers and acquisitions of companies. It was time where corporate cultures literally changed overnight when companies changed hands. At the end of the 80s I decided it was time to hang out my shingle and start my own marketing and public relations firm. My father, always my inspiration, taught me “never to burn a bridge.” So my last employer, in fact my last 3 employers, became my first three clients.
I enjoyed the challenges, accomplishments and recognition for being a successful entrepreneur but after the death of my father, and a few years later, the loss of my mother, I sought more meaning to my life and work. I figured there had to be a more meaningful use of my skills for creativity, collaboration and persuasion that would mean more than just a financial transaction.
That is when I realized what I enjoyed most about being an entrepreneur: I liked having the ability to act on my dreams. And, while I had clients in corporate, government and nonprofit, the work I prized the most was with nonprofit human service organizations. In 1999, my husband took a new corporate position that moved us to New Jersey. The cross-country move from Ohio to New Jersey gave me the incentive to “clean the slate” and reinvent myself. That is when I decided to close my business and work full-time as a nonprofit professional. I had always volunteered with disabilities and had served on several boards for various nonprofits serving individuals with disabilities.
For 8 years I enjoyed being the director of public relations and development for a center for disabilities in New Jersey. Then, another corporate opportunity for my husband meant a move to Chicago. I had always wanted to live in the Chicagoland area and to me, and our family, it was a dream come true. Once again reevaluated my career goals. I loved working for an organization that had a mission that I truly believed in the importance and value. However, I wanted to be in a position to actually lead an impactful, community based organization as an executive director or CEO. And that, would take a Master’s Degree. But with 5 children, that didn’t look like a possibility for me.
Education was always important to me and my husband and we worked to instill that value in all of our children. Just last month, our youngest son of 5 graduated from Illinois State University. We achieved our goal of all five children graduating with a bachelor’s degree. Two went on to get master’s degrees and one is starting her 3rd year of Medical School!
Back in 2007, within in weeks of arriving in Chicago, I started working as the Director of Marketing and Development at Helping Hand Center. When I talked to the Executive Director at the time, Dr. Dennis F. Trybus, he suggested that I go on and get my master’s degree if I wanted to become an Executive Director/CEO. I told him it may be too late for me. In 2 years I’ll be 50! He told me that “in two years I’ll be 50 with or without a Master’s degree so I might as well be 50 with the master’s degree! So, with his help and encouragement, and the support of my husband and children, I did get my Master’s Degree at North Park University in May of 2012. It was exactly 30 years after getting my bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in 1982. Now, I am an adjunct instructor at North Park University where I teach fundraising as well as serve on the advisory board for the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One thing I’ve learned through 20 years of working in the disabilities field is that I needed to redefine what really constitutes a “struggle.” Whenever I think I have a struggle or challenge, I compare it alongside the individuals and families that I have worked with who face the challenges of autism spectrum diagnosis or intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. Over time, my view of what constitutes a “challenge” has changed. Now, I see that while things may feel difficult at the time, they aren’t really struggles at all but are merely opportunities to grow.
I am grateful for the challenges and difficulties I’ve faced in my career and my life. Every time I’ve had what seemed to be a real disappointment, it turned out to be an opportunity to learn, grow and achieve greater success. No one, no matter how great their achievements, got there without challenges and struggles along the way. It’s what shapes us. It’s what makes us who we are. It’s what makes us appreciate what we have and to aspire to where we want to be.
I’ve had learned that when “seemingly bad things happen, great things are only around the corner.”
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Shore Community Services, Inc. – what should we know?
OUR MISSION
To encourage and inspire Individuals at every level of developmental, intellectual and physical ability to embrace their challenges, empower their gifts and enrich their communities through benchmark programs and services.
WHY WE SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
The foundation of Shore is a belief that everyone is entitled to live a meaningful and satisfying life, especially society’s most vulnerable members – those with severe to profound intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are the catalysts for us to strive to be a beacon of inspiration to the entire Chicagoland DD community, as well as the world at large.
WHAT ARE WE MOST PROUD OF AS AN ORGANIZATION
Providing a “home” that embraces and empowers individuals with disabilities, and peace of mind to families that allows time and freedom to enjoy and enrich their own lives.
From humble beginnings in 1951, Shore Community Services has grown from providing essential services to one child to providing a comprehensive array of programs and services that benefit over 400 individuals each year throughout Chicago and its North and Northwest communities.
WHAT ATTRACTS FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS TO SHORE
It is our unique ability to develop and offer best in class programs that make a significant contribution to life enhancement, along with a remarkable set of values with a top priority of total inclusion. This is accomplished by offering a comprehensive range of services that include community-based activities, vocational options, volunteering, learning, and overall neighborhood engagement.
Our families also appreciate that unlike most disabilities organizations in Illinois, we have a remarkably high staff retention rate and particularly with our direct care providers. Typically, the disabilities industry sees a 40 -60% staff turnover rate for their direct care positions. At Shore our turnover rate has been as low as 5% and currently is around 20%. Families appreciate the continuity and consistency that we provide their loved ones.
I have been asked to speak to many groups of the top disabilities organizations in Illinois to share why we are not experiencing those same challenges and how they might be able to learn from what we are doing.
WHAT SETS SHORE APART FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
We have a core beliefs in compassion, collaboration and resource development that allows us to innovate and adapt what we do to best meet the changing needs of those we serve.
As a part of our commitment to excellence, Shore is accredited by CARF International and recognized for our ongoing innovation and adherence to the highest ‘best practice’ standards. In addition, Shore has received the highest accolade: 15 consecutive 3-year accreditations. In our most recent evaluation in March, we received a rare 100% on over 900 areas of review. Less than 3% of disabilities organizations worldwide have received a perfect score of 100%. Shore is also a GuideStar Platinum Level Approved Charity. Less than 5% of charities nationwide receive this rating.
Another remarkable Shore benchmark is a staff retention rate of 94% (2017). This is a stellar achievement given that the industry norm is less than 50%, year to year.
WHAT IS OUR SCOPE OF SERVICE
Shore has locations in Evanston, Morton Grove and Skokie, providing a comprehensive array of services that benefit over 400 individuals each year. These include:
• Small group homes
• Vocational Center – Senior and Adult Program
• Life in Motion – Community Integrated Day Program
• True North – Exploration and Employment Path Service
• Early Intervention for young children birth to 3 years old who have been diagnosed with a developmental delay
• In-Home Respite Care
• Home Based Support and Service Facilitation
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Family, friendships, faith, forgiveness and fortitude. Okay, I like to alliterate but it’s true. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful supportive husband and great kids who have grown up to be kind, caring and successful. My parents were encouraging and loving, my siblings are my best friends and also great professional resources for me as a brother and a sister are both CPA accountants, my other sister is a research librarian, and my youngest brother is an accomplished musician and high school band director. My faith in God and commitment to the principles of Christianity are based in “love” first and foremost. I also believe in the power of forgiveness. Forgiving others and forgiving ourselves. Forgiveness is truly one of the greatest and most rewarding things that we can do for our mind, body and spirit.
Fortitude is having courage when you feel overwhelmed, facing difficulties or even just doubting yourself. Courage is being afraid but going after your dreams anyway. I saw fortitude and faith in my parents as they struggled to raise 6 kids in the 60s and 70s. I see fortitude and faith in my siblings as they face challenges. I see fortitude and faith in many, many friends who have faced cancer and survived stronger and more vibrant. I see so many people who have encouraged me to always, always, always keep the faith.
I have a reputation for being persistent and “never taking no for an answer”. It can be exasperating at times to those around me, but it has allowed me to accomplish things that seemed impossible. It’s a quality that is beneficial in my career as a fundraiser.
Pricing:
- Donations to Shore Community Services are an investment into changing lives and giving back into communities. We are looking for friends who want to engage with us to help others to be their independent best selves.
- Consider joining our “Circle of Caring” group of friends who make a recurring monthly gift to Shore at $25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 per month.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8350 Laramie Avenue, Skokie Illinois 60077
- Website: www.shoreservices.org
- Phone: 847-982-2030
- Email: india@shoreservices.org
- Facebook: Shore Community Services, Inc.
- Other: www.shoreservices.org
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