Southwest Chicago Pads

Staff


Sr. Thérèse DelGenioSr. Thérèse DelGenio,  S.N.D. de N.
Executive Director
Sister Thérèse is a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Founder and Executive Director of Southwest Chicago PADS. She is a former teacher of 11 years with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to founding PADS, Sister Therese spent 17 years as Pastoral Associate and 5 years as Director of Ministry Placement at the Catholic Theological Union. She was previously Director of Harbor House, a shelter in East Chicago, Indiana for 16 years. She is a trained and certified spiritual director and addictions counselor at the state, national, and international levels. Her writings on addictions have been published and she has lectured extensively in the United States and Switzerland. In the 1970s, Thérèse was awarded outstanding teacher of the year. In 1995, she was given an award for outstanding contributions to the life of the church in Chicago. Thérèse received the 2008 Neighborhood Leadership Award from Neighborhood Housing Service of Chicago.


Rosie Lee RicksRosie Lee Ricks
Case Manager
Rosie served the Maria Shelter in Chicago in two capacities — as assistant director and shelter manager. She has also worked at Greer’s Residential as a case manager. Before coming to PADS, Rosie worked as house manager at Theresa House, a shelter for families at The Port in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. She has over 25 years experience in the field.





Sontranette DossSontranette C. Doss
Case Manager
After studying Early Childhood Developement at Chicago State University, Sontranette worked for five years with the Department of Children and Family Services in the TPSN program,which has a residential housing facility designed to address the needs of pregnant teens and teens who are moms. She completed certification as a case manager and then served as a manager of a 120 bed transitional shelter for families at The Port in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood through the City of Chicago’s homeless services. She has 20 years experience in the field.



Ellen Caffrey GarzaEllen Caffrey Garza
Director of Finance and Administration
Ellen has 30 years experience working with diverse, grass roots organizations throughout the US , focusing on workers’ rights and advocacy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Labor Studies from Antioch University and an Associate in Applied Science in Rehabilitation Technology from Middlesex Community College. Ellen has extensive teaching and training experience in leadership development, computer literacy, and labor & community relations. She served on the Board of Directors at Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, and received a Neighborhood Leadership Award in 1992. She is a former Vice President of the Chicago Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and Board Member of CTCNet Chicago.


James RohdeJames Rohde
Case Manager
Jim has an MA in Learning Disabilities from Northeastern Illinois University. He also earned a Masters of Social Work degree from Loyola University, Chicago. He has previously worked at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and completed social work field placements with Vitas Hospice and Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois. As an Americorps volunteer in St. Louis, Mo., Jim worked with adults who were coping with developmental disabilities as they progressed toward their goals. He has ten years experience in the field.