Meet TSG Governing Board Member, Judith Allen
We’re so excited to announce and introduce you to our newest TSG Governing Board Member, Judith Allen. Learn more about her below and join us in welcoming her to The Simple Good!
Where are you from originally and what brought you to Chicago? I was born in the Chicago area but moved when I was 10 years old to Iowa City, Iowa. After graduate school, I moved to NYC for 12 years, then to Dallas Texas where I raised my son. I moved to Chicago 2.5 years ago (after my son graduated from college) to be closer to family & friends but also be centrally located for ease of access to my son, who is in the Navy.
What is your professional background and what do you currently do for a living? I am a child psychologist with a focus on PTSD in adolescents. Currently working as Chief Operating Officer and Clinical Director with Communities In Schools of Chicago.
How do you connect to the arts? I connect to the arts via my current position with CIS -to support the engagement of our community partners in helping student express themselves via art, music, theatre, spoken word, etc. I am also co-chair of the Chicago Affiliate of the National Do the Write Thing Stop the Violence Campaign (helping children lend voice to violence they experience in their lives).
How did you get connected to The Simple Good and what has it meant to you to be a member of the Board? I reached out via LinkedIn — after reading information on TSG, and also hearing about the organization from a member of the Associate Board. I have also participated in community meetings & training with CIS of Chicago where Priya Shah was present — so I learned more about her and TSG.
How have you seen The Simple Good make an impact since joining the organization? To date, I have only participated in the recent fundraiser on October 7th at the ChopShop. It was an amazing experience.
What does The Simple Good mean to you? To me, ‘the simple good’ means helping children define “good” in their own terms through expression and giving voice to their experiences. Children can find “good” in places, in themselves, and in the world around them — they can also be the catalyst for so much of that “good”.
What do you want to see in the future for The Simple Good? I want more people to know what TSG means and the impact the mission can have on children in the city of Chicago. I also want more artists to be aware of the role they can play in changing the lives of children thru art, music, language — creating a cultural awakening on what social service and servant leadership means when actualized.
You can connect with Judith on LinkedIn and congratulate her on joining the TSG family!
Find more on our mission, support our programs and get your TSG Gear by visiting our website: http://www.thesimplegood.org/
