Suzy's Place: From a Passion to a Cause

(NEWS REPORTING EXAMPLE)

(OCT 2018)

What started as a former jailhouse teacher’s desire to help a woman recover from an abusive relationship quickly transformed into a nonprofit women’s center in Rogers Park.

“I’ve always been an activist,” said Arshia Hasnain, who formerly taught English as a Second Language to women prisoners in west suburban St. Charles.

Hasnain said she made friends with a woman named Suzy, despite rules prohibiting her from getting close to the inmates.

“When Suzy got out of jail, she reached out to me,” Hasnain said.

She said it was her feeling of powerlessness to help that prompted her to start Suzy’s Place with her friend and businesswoman Shahida Khan.

Hasnain quickly saw a niche.

“The shelters already in place were still not enough,” Hasnain said.

“Nothing was laid out. Many shelters didn’t have enough space. It was hard for these women to navigate through the system; it was hard for them to know where to go for an order of protection.”

Suzy’s Place houses 40 women for up to three months, compared with most shelter’s one-month limit. It also provides them with English classes and free legal and mental-health counseling.

Ambreen Jafri, a financial contributor to Suzy’s Place, said Hasnain’s drive is inspiring.

“Suzy’s Place proves that if you believe in something, people will support you,” she said. “You may face hindrance, but [you] will succeed.”