The Salvation Army in Chicago recently marked an exciting milestone as eight young professionals were installed on its Echelon Executive Board by National Commander Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder. It marks a new chapter for Echelon Chicago, a group of young professionals dedicated to supporting The Salvation Army’s mission through community involvement, modern outreach, and passionate volunteerism.
The installation ceremony at the National Advisory Board dinner, hosted by the North & Central Illinois Division, was filled with excitement as these young professionals, who had been preparing for this moment since last February, were officially welcomed into their roles. Commissioner Hodder’s induction was awe-inspiring and deeply personal for new executive board members Katie Sopic (Echelon Chicago President), Kwame Crawford, Alex Karasik, Mia Riese, Sianna Smith, Dallyn Stubbs, Grace Sylvester, and Claire Durkin.
Other highlights of the evening included a heartfelt message about hope in Chicago by Territorial
Commander Commissioner Evie Diaz and a moving testimonial from WGN Radio personality John Williams, a loyal Salvation Army supporter. The Central Territorial Staff Songsters added a beautiful touch of music to the evening, and everyone was fully immersed.
The biggest highlight of the night came when the Echelon board and Commissioner Hodder met in person. Having memorized details about the board members’ backgrounds, the National Commander spoke to each with a personal message of encouragement. With compassion, he shared his vision and concluded with a powerful message for the group to continue The Salvation Army’s work. A delightful surprise of the evening came when Commissioner Hodder learned it was the birthday of one of the new board members and led the room in singing “Happy Birthday” and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
Echelon Chicago will work closely with the Chicago Advisory Board, keeping their efforts aligned with The Salvation Army’s mission while introducing new, creative ways to engage the community. Echelon members bring a wide range of experience and talents—from legal and graphic design skills to data analytics and project management. These will be crucial in creating an effective approach to community service that resonates with younger demographics.
A few priorities of Echelon Chicago are increasing public awareness of The Salvation Army through social media, events, and outreach; improving marketing efforts to build a more robust support network; recruiting volunteers to serve at Salvation Army activities; and organizing events to engage Chicago’s young, emerging leaders. Through their work, Echelon Chicago hopes to bridge the gap between seasoned leadership and the next generation of supporters. Together, they embody the Army’s timeless mission and are motivated by Commissioner Hodder’s charge to “Do The Most Good” for those in need.
