After an eight-month search, we are excited to share that Verda Bhatti has been appointed as the new Executive Director of Between Friends. Below is an email shared by Daniel R. Hernandez, Esq., our Board President announcing the news to the Between Friends community.
The Between Friends Board of Directors is pleased to share that we recently appointed Verda Bhatti as the Executive Director of the agency. This appointment takes effect on May 26th, 2023. The Board of Directors, with the assistance of the Morten Group, led a rigorous selection process that included multiple rounds of interviews and key stakeholder feedback. We are so grateful to everyone who played an important role in identifying a strong leader who will support the mission and work of Between Friends for the next several years.
Verda joined Between Friends in December 2021 as the Director of Prevention and Community Education and has served as the Interim Executive Director since September 2022. During her time as the Director of Prevention and Community Education, her programs have doubled their staff and this school year reached over 7,000 students in classrooms across Chicago and the suburbs. Not to mention, the over 2,500 professionals who participated in Between Friends’ programs. Prior to these roles, Bhatti served as Director of Prevention Education and Outreach Manager for YWCA Evanston Northshore. With her professional experiences spanning over 27 years and in multi-cultural global settings; she has a deep understanding of the interpersonal, social, and societal factors that contribute to domestic violence and strong relationships with other leaders in the domestic violence prevention and intervention field.
“Verda is a true leader and visionary who possesses the necessary experience and qualifications to lead Between Friends in fulfilling its vision of a society free from domestic violence and abuse,” said Daniel R. Hernandez, President of the Board of Directors. “The future is extremely bright at Between Friends with Verda as the Executive Director.”
Please join the Between Friends Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers in welcoming Verda Bhatti! Together, we will continue to be dedicated to preventing domestic violence and ending the cycle of abuse by equipping our communities with the tools necessary for everyone to feel safe and equal in their relationships.
With gratitude,
Daniel R. Hernandez, Esq.
Board President
Between Friends