Jennifer Gabrenya, MS, CDVP

Jennifer Gabrenya joined Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse as the Executive Director in June of 2016. Jennifer has worked in the area of violence against women and children her entire adult life. She is also a child survivor of domestic violence, an experience she draws on often when considering program design and policy implications. She has previously held management positions at Family Shelter Service, the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, the La Rabida Joli Burrell Children’s Advocacy Center and the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. She is an accomplished and well regarded trainer with audiences ranging from pre-school children to judges. During her career, she has developed expertise on children exposed to violence, the practice of trauma-informed care and participatory democracy. Her leadership values are compassion, dignity, transparency, respect and diversity. Jennifer holds a BA in Women’s Studies and an MS in Public Service, both from DePaul University.