Our History
Students for Life of Illinois is a relatively new organization. Though we have been active since February of 2006, we were officially incorporated in October of 2006. Since then we have been building the SFLI Network, hosting events, and providing resources to college students in Illinois and surrounding states.
Where did it begin?
By the encouragement of Students for Life of America and Students for Life of Michigan, John-Paul Deddens founded Students for Life of Illinois in October of 2006.
Since then, the organization has grown to include over 30 campuses in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin. SFLI’s network has helped to promote many campus and community pro-life events. We have held Summer Leadership Retreats, Sidewalk Counseling Training and an annual State-wide Conference. SFLI was instrumental in placing multiple students in pro-life jobs and has worked to decrease community funding to Planned Parenthood.
SFLI has already demonstrated that students are not only the future of the pro-life movement, but they are also an important part of the movement today!
Where are we going?
Beginning in the summer of 2008, Students for Life of Illinois has had a full time staff member to engage students directly on their campuses, providing direct training and activism support on their campuses.
Our Executive Director provides the following essential elements to the collegiate pro-life movement in Illinois:
- Sustainability and Accountability
- Direct Training and Group Optimization
- Rapid Support and Radical Availability
In the summer of 2009, we created an Executive Assistant position which provides overall support for the daily operations of SFLI. We also began our Summer Internship Program, allowing three college students the opportunity to advance the pro-life movement in a unique and intensive way.
This summer we hope to hire a Campus Mentor who will assist with leadership building and educational outreach on 4-6 of our campuses.
More to come…
