MOLINE, ILLINOIS (August 31, 2021) — SAL Family and Community Services (SAL), the non-profit agency that offers Skip-a-Long Child Development Services and Open Door Crisis Assistance, among other programs, is adding four new members to its board of directors.
“Throughout our fifty-year history, SAL has always valued the role local community members play in our work by serving on our board — their expertise and knowledge is crucial to moving the dial on issues important to our region,” said Marcy Mendenhall, president and CEO of SAL. “That’s especially true during a time of unprecedented growth at SAL.”
The new elections to the board come just months after SAL won a $3.8 million annual grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services to establish the first and only Early Head Start Child Care Partnership program serving the Illinois Quad Cities.
For William Jackson, CEO of the non-profit Quad Cities Community Broadcasting Group, joining the board is a chance to put his skills in service of SAL’s continued momentum. “With more than 20 years of professional experience and accomplishments as an executive in business and the non-profit sector, I believe that I can help facilitate the progression of SAL’s mission,” he said.
It’s also a way for him to support a cause that matters. “As an African American and business leader, I feel obligated to advocate for social change and equality and to take advantage of every opportunity to further that cause,” said Jackson, whose organization promotes cultural diversity and awareness to help address social issues in the community.
Tyla Sherwin-Cole leads another local non-profit closely aligned with SAL’s commitment to fostering a more equitable and inclusive region. As executive director of Dress for Success Quad Cities, Sherwin-Cole oversees the organization’s efforts to provide interview outfits and advice as well as career coaching for women seeking employment. She brings over 10 years of non-profit experience to SAL’s board of directors.
A third addition, Tammy Landgraf comes to the board with direct expertise in SAL’s focus on early child-care and education. As the Early Childhood Education program coordinator at Illinois Valley Community College, Landgraf teaches courses on topics from child growth and development to early-childhood curriculum programming.
The final new member of SAL’s board brings yet a different set of skills and perspective. Dennis Sekharan is a claims manager at Illinois Casualty Company, where he has worked since 2009. The company, which provides insurance for the food and beverage industry, has a history of corporate citizenship, including an employee volunteer program and donations to local and national non-profits.
“Ultimately, SAL’s work benefits the entire community,” said Mendenhall. “That’s why, as we look to where we can go next, we need the support and expertise of people of all backgrounds from all across our community.”
JUST THE FACTS
Founded in 1970 by a community action group who saw a need for quality child care for low-income working families in the Moline area, today SAL Family and Community Services (SAL) provides support not only for children but also for adults. SAL operates six community-focused programs: Skip-a-Long Child Development Services, the Home Child Care Network, Early Head Start Child Care Partnerships, Open Door Crisis Assistance, SAL Child Care Connection, and Child Care Resource and Referral.
SAL’s new board members are:
- William Jackson, CEO of Quad Cities Community Broadcasting Group
- Tammy Landgraf, ECE Program Coordinator at Illinois Valley Community College
- Dennis Sekharan, Claims Manager at Illinois Casualty Company
- Tyla Sherwin-Cole, Executive Director at Dress for Success Quad Cities
