A Place for Growth

When Kathy Booton Wilson started volunteering at Deborah’s Place, she didn’t anticipate the profound effect it would have on her, or that she would lead the organization 40 years later. 

Deborah’s Place offers supportive housing and services to women experiencing homelessness in Chicago and opens doors to help them heal, achieve their goals, and move on from the experience of homelessness.

“I encountered awe-inspiring women who did not fit the stereotypes associated with homelessness,” says Booton Wilson. “They were strong, smart, funny, resilient, and adaptable, and it occurred to me how much I had to learn from them.” 

From regular volunteer to administrative assistant to now CEO, Booton Wilson is integral to the organization’s mission, where she brings years of experience and expertise in social work.

Looking to encourage the nonprofit’s emerging leadership team and evaluate some of its long-standing processes, she applied for IGNITE with other members of her leadership team—Isaias Gonzalez and Lakeithia Butler. The nonprofit was one of nine organizations chosen for the 2026 cohort. 

IGNITE is the signature offering of the Golub Capital Social Impact Lab at the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation. The program, developed in partnership with Golub Capital and the Chicago Urban League, offers tailored resources to the leaders of nonprofits serving Chicago’s communities to strengthen and scale the impact of their organizations.

Deborah’s Place joined the fourth IGNITE cohort alongside Chicago Run, Friends of the Children - Chicago, Gardeneers, Grow Greater Englewood Inc., Guitars Over Guns, Musical Arts Institute, Playworks Illinois, and UtmostU.

“For myself, I wanted to find ways that I can continue to grow after almost 40 years in the field,” Booton Wilson explains. “We sometimes get lost in our day-to-day work. I hoped that IGNITE could help us to rise above our daily tasks and to view the work from a more holistic lens. We were not disappointed!”

For the Deborah’s Place team, the session on decision-making, taught by George Wu, John P. and Lillian A. Gould Professor of Behavioral Science at Chicago Booth, was eye-opening. They gained deeper insights into how they communicate as a team and how they handle conflict as an organization—an important lesson given that Deborah’s Place is on the cusp of some big agency changes.

Developing and refining their pitch was also valuable for the team, and Booton Wilson says they are already putting their knowledge to practice. “We are changing the ways that we develop our pitches and are incorporating more storytelling as well as working on consistency, while allowing for the unique voice of each person on our staff. We are having more real conversations about how we communicate and learning to deal with one another more directly.” 

The lessons learned from IGNITE created opportunities for growth and positive development within Deborah’s Place, and Booton Wilson says the community and support fostered among the cohort couldn’t have come at a better time for her: “As the program was beginning, I lost my father, for whom I had been primary caregiver for many years. I missed the first session and felt somewhat disconnected when I returned in February, but the other agency leaders welcomed me. It was transformative to be part of this group of passionate leaders who are fighting to make a difference.”

Applications for the 2027 IGNITE cohort will open in September. To learn more about Deborah’s Place and to offer your support, please visit their website and follow them on LinkedIn.