Dear friends,

Five years ago, ConTextos launched our first programs in Chicago. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, after hearing about our innovative work in El Salvador, invited ConTextos to launch Authors Circle in Cook County Jail.

Now, five years later, ConTextos has already worked with over one thousand of those individuals closest to our city’s violence, Chicago’s most ignored, those who have borne the brunt of unjust systems. We expect to grow that number by 5x over the next 3 years as we have grown from a $25,000k pilot program to an annual budget of over $1.5million in Chicago. As of this year, our team has also expanded to 15 staff, with four Alumni from our first Circles in Chicago joining us in the past year.

But the real success is impact. ConTextos’ incredible team is inspiring and inspired. In our work, it is not what we do, but who does it.

In that spirit, it is in my incredible honor and privilege to announce Johnny Page as the new Executive Director of ConTextos in Chicago. Johnny is a connector. He is a trust-builder who inspires others to let down their walls as they lift up their own stories. His leadership attracts partnerships, and elevates lived experience.

I will continue to support Johnny and both our Chicago and Central American teams as I move into a new position as President and CEO of ConTextos Global. In this role, I will be building out a strategy, team and mentorship to guide our next steps as a transnational organization.

To all of our supporters, thank you. You have helped us connect so strongly with those we serve, construct ConTextos into an established Chicago institution, and now, we are so grateful for your on-going support as we continue onto ConTextos’ next level of growth.

With great admiration,

Debra Gitler

President, CEO & Founder

Make a donation to support our next chapter and to fuel Johnny’s vision for our impact in Chicago.