Ignite Names Stephanie Piccirilli as Next CEO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2020
Contact: Walker Post
Phone: 773-597-7504
Email: walker@prosper-strategies.com

Chicago Nonprofit, Ignite, names Social Sector Leader, 
Stephanie Piccirilli, as Next CEO

CHICAGO - Ignite, the leading nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty for youth in Chicago, announced Stephanie Piccirilli as its new CEO. Piccirilli was selected following an extensive search process and will assume her new role on July 1, 2020, following the retirement of current CEO, Jeri Linas. 

After more than 20 years working in the social sector, Stephanie has significant experience leading teams in the areas of housing, youth, workforce development, programming, and support services. Most recently, she served for three years as Ignite's vice president of mission engagement and innovation, leading the organization's communications and fundraising initiatives.

"As someone who intimately knows Ignite and has dedicated their life's work to advancing social equity and supporting people in reaching their full potential, Stephanie was a natural choice for our next CEO," said Isaac Stanley, the chair of Ignite's board of directors. "She has the experience, she has the vision and she has the passion for our mission to stand with youth on their journey to a home and a future with promise."

Each year, Ignite supports more than 500 youth in reaching their full potential through housing, education, employment, career planning, financial empowerment, mental health support, and community connection. Many of the youth Ignite works with go on to achieve financial stability and move into their own long-term homes. 

"When the board shared the news they had selected Stephanie as Ignite's next CEO, I was thrilled," said Linas. "She's played a critical leadership role for us over the past several years. She knows our youth, our team and our mission inside and out. She has strong relationships with many of our donors, funders, government and community partners who she will continue to work with to advance our mission."

Prior to joining Ignite, Piccirilli was vice president of programs and social enterprise at Cara Chicago, where she led a team to create its supportive service and economic empowerment programming and helped launch the organization's first social enterprise, Cleanslate. She went on to start her own nonprofit, Bright Endeavors, which creates transitional employment for young women rising out of poverty, eventually merging it with New Moms, bringing workforce development and social enterprise programming to their agency model. More recently, she worked with HHPLIFT to co-found their 1eleven program, a leadership and career development program creating pathways to equity and economic stability through employment, leadership training and career development.

"Ignite has accomplished so much under Jeri's leadership over the past 10 years, and the agency is stronger than ever. I am looking forward to working with the team and our board to continue to chart the course for Ignite as a thought leader in closing the equity gap for youth experiencing homelessness, and creating more opportunities for young people to secure safe and stable housing in Chicago," said Piccirilli.

Ignite's goal is to be the last program youth will ever need, and the place they can always call home.

For more information, contact Walker Post at 773-597-7504 or walker@prosper-strategies.com.

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Ignite helps unstably housed youth, ages 14 to 26, get their youth back and take the first step toward their journey to a stable home and a future with promise. There are hundreds of unstably housed youth who come to Ignite each year. Each of them have a chance at a new beginning. With each new beginning, Ignite aims to address the root causes of youth homelessness to build a stronger future for Chicago. For more information, visit www.ignitepromise.org.