Leadership
WIN Recovery’s leadership structure consists of formerly incarcerated women and LGBTQ2 individuals. We cultivate strong determined leaders that have made great strides to change their lives and the lives of others.
WHO WE ARE
BETHANY BRITTON LITTLE
MSW, QMHP
Founder & Executive Director
Bethany Britton graduated in December 2018, from the University of Illinois Master’s MSW Program with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health.
In 2017, she received her bachelor’s in communication from the University of Illinois. She was awarded the YMCA Bailey’s Fellowship, for her service in creativity passion, and commitment through community organization. The 2017 Fred H. Turner Leadership Award was awarded as she proceeded to complete her bachelor degree.
In 2018 she was awarded Roxie A. Watson Student Leadership Award for succeeding in academic pursuit despite encountering her person obstacles. While working toward her MSW, she founded the non-profit organization “Women in Need Recovery”.
Bethany was inspired to make a change due to her own experience of despair with homeless and involvement with the justice system. She began to pursue transitional housing for women and LGBTQ population who are being discharged from treatment or released from Jail and/or prison.
WIN Staff
Alexandria Kohn
Melorene Grantham
Client Resource Coordinator
Mel started working for WIN Recovery in August of 2021 as our amazing Client Resource Coordinator. She has been able to witness WIN Recovery grow into the organization that it is today. Mel loves how WIN is like a home for the staff and the women living in the homes.
Mel has stated before that working for this organization has given her a purpose and she strives to be a leader for our clients. She loves how she is able to meet with other organizations in the community and be someone for our women to look up to.
Mel has an immense amount of knowledge about substance abuse and addiction due to having family members who are in recovery or in active addiction. This knowledge gives her insight to better help our clients. She was raised around the “Narcotics Anonymous” (NA) community and continues to attend meetings to further her education about substance abuse.
Mel has always had a passion for helping people and she had a desire to become the person people go to and trust which is exactly what she is at WIN Recovery.
Vanessa D. Beaver
Co-Deputy Director
Vanessa D. Beaver is an Executive Administrator for-profit and nonprofit entities for over 13 years. In Vanessa’s previous role she was the Admissions Coordinator for Stepping Stones Treatment Center. She oversaw the admissions process for inpatient and outpatient clients. While being in service there, she was able to create new ways to connect with referral sources and streamline processes for paperwork for admittance.
Vanessa is an advocate in her local communities from leadership roles to feeding the homeless. During these past 32 years of community help, she has served in numerous areas such as a Chief Financial Officer for 4 years for a non-for-profit entity, Executive Administrator for over 13 years for corporate and non-for-profit businesses, Life Coach for 14 years, and Inspirational Speaker for 18 years.
She stands as the Founder of Cycle Breakers Healing Centers. Cycle Breaker’s program consists of recovery homes and safe houses for women dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues. Vanessa is currently working toward her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
Board of Directors
Vera Moore
Founder/Executive Director of True Beginning
Colette Payne
Director of the Reclamation Project
Gail T. Smith
Director (Attorney at Law)
Liz Cruz
Senior Advisor/Care Coordinator
Gregory Burks Sr, PhD, MBA
President
Berwyn Site Location
PATRICIA CASTRILLION
Administrative Assistant
Our History
WIN Recovery was founded in 2015 by Bethany Little, a formerly incarcerated person in recovery who was eager to support other women returning from prison.
In 2019, WIN Recovery opened its first home and became part of the SAFE Housing Network, created by A New Way of Life Reentry Project and dedicated to supporting the replication of its innovative, internationally acclaimed reentry model. In 2020, WIN Recovery opened its second home and began planning to create a statewide network.
Through two homes that serve up to 30 women annually, WIN Recovery provides housing, access to comprehensive community-based support services, and trauma-informed, gender-responsive programming to provide a stable foundation.