I came to Chicago Foundation for Women in February 2015 from the Alphawood Foundation to connect the dots, particularly around gender-based violence/family violence, and the impact it has on many of the social, health, youth and economic issues  we see in communities. Fields like environmental justice, health, and the arts, are often regarded as separate issues. When you dig deep into the ways women and girls are impacted by violence and trauma, though, you see that they are interconnected. Being able to make those connections, inform strategies, collaborate and build coalitions with other stakeholders makes me hopeful for the future of women and girls’ lives.