Change Can Happen. Profiles in community leadership: Shannon Skilton

Central City Foundation is once again celebrating examples of extraordinary community leadership and innovation from the organizations we walk alongside and support. These individuals and their organizations have demonstrated that change can happen in our community. As part of this celebration, we asked each of our profiled leaders to share their thoughts on leadership, community and hope for a brighter future.

Shannon Skilton, Executive Director, Chrysalis Society

Shannon has been providing unwavering support for women challenged with addictions for over thirty years. In addition to leading the creation of numerous innovative programs and supports, Shannon has also been a singularly consistent voice for the unique intersectional and complex needs of women and has changed the landscape of addiction services in this province. Building on the legacy of caring that is the backbone of Chrysalis Society, Shannon has helped change the lives of so many women in our community.

Q:  How does your organization help address the conditions faced by people in the inner city?

Chrysalis Society believes that by providing non-institutional home-like environments, women can begin to address their addiction issues that, more often than not, correlate with histories of violence, poverty and homelessness. Chrysalis Society has three homes that are located in quiet, residential neighbourhoods in East and South Vancouver and we believe that women do better in recovery if they have a chance to be away from the Downtown Eastside. Our houses are very ‘homelike’ with trauma-informed environments.

Q: What barriers or opportunities are you attempting to address or create?

Chrysalis Society is an established and trusted resource and is recognized throughout Vancouver and surrounding areas for supporting significantly-barriered women in bed-based services to begin their recovery process from addiction. We pride ourselves in our accessibility to the population regardless of socio-economic status and don’t support a two-tiered system. We provide self-identifying women, including trans women, equal and equitable care and service with priority to women who are HIV+ and or pregnant.

Q:  How would you describe some of the common lived experiences, systemic inequalities/inequities and other challenges faced by the people you work with?

Our clients are highly stigmatized and marginalized women who are often Indigenous mothers, trans women, or survival sex workers who have histories of complex trauma and significant mental and medical health disorders. They have histories of fleeing violence, homelessness, and street entrenchment and are often multi-barriered due to being over-prescribed. Women are pathologized more than men within our medical system and are often over-prescribed medication, sometimes to the extent of being placed in chemical straitjackets. It’s not uncommon for women to arrive extremely medicated.

Q:  How would you describe the importance of community connections and a sense of acceptance and belonging for the people you work with?

It’s meant everything to the women we serve and to Chrysalis. Central City Foundation has supported us with new kitchen renovations at New Dawn and New Way, and a beautiful bathroom with an infrared sauna for the women at New Dawn. With over 100 clients a year, our homes experience a lot of wear and tear and with the support of Central City Foundation, the women in our care feel valued and worthy of a safe, clean and beautiful environment.

Q:  Looking ahead, can you share with us some of your thoughts about where you see that change can happen?

Given the necessary time and support in a non-institutionalized homelike environment, women can and do recover.

Q:  What are some examples that give you hope for a better future for the people with who you work?

We have many testimonials from women who have graduated from our programs and are now reunited with family, in education or are now employed. As an example, one of our Indigenous clients stayed within the Chrysalis program for 713 days. We supported her through her ongoing work on her complex trauma and her extreme history of violence. We walked beside her as she addressed her significant medical and dental needs and watched her flourish as a woman as she reconnected with her siblings, her children, and her grandchildren. We said farewell as she graduated from our program, secured safe and stable housing, and stepped into her role as the matriarch in her family to begin the healing of the intergenerational trauma of residential schools.

Q:  How would you describe the value of developing relationships and collaboration in your work and organizations like Central City Foundation?

It is very important for Chrysalis to have the support of organizations like Central City Foundation. We would not be able to continue to do our work if not for this support.

What has support from Central City Foundation meant for your organization?

It’s meant everything to the women we serve and to Chrysalis. Central City Foundation has supported us with new kitchen renovations at New Dawn and New Way, and a beautiful bathroom with an infrared sauna for the women at New Dawn. With over 100 clients a year, our homes experience a lot of wear and tear and with the support of the Central City Foundation, the women in our care feel valued and worthy of a safe, clean and beautiful environment.

Q:  Do you have a call to action for our CCF community that you would like to share?

We continue to require funding to keep our homes upgraded and maintained, including electrical upgrades and central air conditioning.