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
Dana McMahon
House Coordinator
Dana moved in to WIN Recovery on August 1, 2019. While at WIN Recovery Dana completed all groups, repaired relationships with family, build a foundation in recovery, and give back to her community through service work. One of her biggest accomplishments was getting her driver’s license back after 20 years and purchasing a new car.
Dana is able to share her experience and knowledge of recovery with the women in the house making her a great fit as the Housing Coordinator. She is able to show women empathy and kindness and hold them accountable at the same time.
She formed close relationships with women in the house while becoming someone they could confide in. Dana is committed to guiding the women that come into WIN with compassion and by living the example of how WIN helped her
Jenny Paul
Development Assistant
Jenny started working for WIN Recovery in May 2020 as a Development Assistant. She is a graduate of the program and a successful participant in WIN’s Decarceration program as well.
Jenny moved into WIN Recovery on September 1 2019 and instantly found the home she was always looking for. She made a decision to restart her life in Champaign after completing the program in April 2020.
During her time at WIN Recovery, she successfully completed all groups, worked through legal issues, complied with DCFS, and regained custody of her daughter all while focusing on her recovery building a strong foundation.
Jenny has a passion for helping people and giving back to the community which she now gets to do every day working at WIN with other women like her.
Board of Directors
Marla Elmore
Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center
Marnita harris
University of Illinois Housing
TRISH GULLEY
Goldbug
Paul Thornhill
Web Application Development Manager
Emily Cross Vayr
Busey Bank
Joan Dixon
Retired, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois
Akua Forkuo-Sekyere
University YMCA
JILLANNA MERCER
Gateway, Springfield Illinois
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 create a safe, stable recovery and reentry environment.