title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF KATE (CATHERINE ELLEN) MAHONEY
WHEREAS, Kate Mahoney, an Evanston resident and long-time advocate for mental health services and overcoming the stigma of mental health illness and treatment, died on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 after a long illness; and
WHEREAS, Kate was born in 1959 and is survived by her siblings Steve Mahoney (Sally Swiss), Laura Mahoney, and Brian Mahoney (Dr. Kathleen Mahoney), and was cherished by her nephews Brendan Mahoney (deceased), Dr. Reid Mahoney, and Mark, Dylan, Clark and Colin Mahoney She earned her bachelor's degree in Sociology and Women's Studies from Northwestern University and completed her master's in Social Work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; and
WHEREAS, Kate worked at PEER Services for over 30 years, including 25 years as executive director. She built PEER Services into a robust organization that provides high-quality substance use prevention and treatment services to Evanston and neighboring communities across Northern Cook County. PEER Services opened in 1975 and provides community-based prevention and treatment services to residents of Evanston, Northfield, New Trier, Maine, and Niles Township, in addition to the north side of Chicago. Her pioneering work in youth prevention and her tireless fight against stigma made contributions locally and nationally, setting the standard for important work that continues to this day; and
WHEREAS, Maureen McDonnell, the current executive director of PEER Services wrote," I met Kate when we were both advocating for more resources for community substance use disorder treatment through the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health. Her deep understanding of recovery and the ways that community services support recovery helped a generation of leaders learn, grow, and do better."; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, Kate was selected as the new executive director of The Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Educ...
Click here for full text