Skip to main content
Three woman stand together looking at the camera

A Heartfelt Farewell for a Lifetime of Service

Written by Sarah Freeman on . Posted in Blog, News.

Director of Spiritual Formation Ellen Kogstad is Retiring

More than 45 years ago, when Ellen Kogstad saw young moms with babies who did not have a place to live in her Humboldt Park neighborhood, she was disturbed. How can a young person, let alone one who is caring for a baby, start off adulthood and build a stable life for themselves and their child when they are just trying to find a place to sleep each night? 

Ellen was a regular volunteer at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital and The Salvation Army Booth Memorial Hospital, where she often visited young moms who didn’t have family or support systems, so she knew the problem was pervasive. Ellen was moved to do what she thought was the only reasonable, moral response she could think of: She began distributing diapers and baby formula out of the trunk of her car to the young moms she saw in the community. Wanting to do more, Ellen thought she could build relationships with the young moms and link them to needed resources and find shelters – but she quickly discovered that wasn’t the case, because in the early 1980s, Chicago didn’t have much of a homeless services system. 

Ellen shared: “As an outreach worker at my church, I was able to see the gaps in not only our part of the city, but beyond. There were some service options for unhoused people, but most shelters did not want babies or children.” 

Of course, you can imagine how the story goes from here. What started as a simple act became the realization that the housing and services for young moms and their children were missing in the community – and that was really what Ellen needed to help create. So, she did. On Sept. 12,1983 New Moms was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the State of Illinois with Ellen Kogstad as its first Executive Director. 

Ellen went on to recruit friends and family in her church denomination and other churches to support the mission of New Moms. By the mid-80s, New Moms was providing housing and support services for young moms and their children who lived at their transitional living program in Humboldt Park. New Moms continued to grow, serving more families, and raising more funds to enable the work each year afterward. 

Ellen provided leadership not just at New Moms but also around the state focused on this special population. She served as a member of the Illinois Caucus on Teenage Pregnancy and chaired the committee on Homelessness, ensuring that young moms who experience the impacts of poverty had resources dedicated and designed for them. 

In April 1992, Ellen resigned from New Moms as she and her family moved out of state. New Moms continued to grow and Ellen continued her career as a spiritual director. She returned to Illinois and eventually was the co-founder of the Center for Spiritual Direction at North Park Theological Seminary. In 2008, then CEO Audalee McLoughlin brought Ellen back on staff in a unique part-time role as New Moms Director of Spiritual Formation. For the last 17 years, Ellen has faithfully served in this role, supporting staff and participants through optional spiritual formation activities. 

“At Audalee’s invitation, we crafted a role that would bring the gifts of spiritual formation and spiritual direction into the nonprofit world. That is still a rare combination. When Laura Zumdahl became CEO, she too wanted to see our young moms and our staff grow in faith and be touched by the love of God. These 17 years have been a gift of a lifetime. I am so grateful to have served under these brilliant women.”

Ellen has served faithfully at New Moms for two-thirds of its 42-year existence, in multiple roles. It’s a special and unique individual who can birth an idea, let it grow, set it free to grow under others leadership without ego, while deeply engaging in other ways that fit their emerging gifts. Ellen demonstrates a beautiful example of seizing the moment presented to her to take action about a problem in a simple way. Today, as a result of that first step, literally thousands of others have been motivated to join her in that mission, and over the last four-plus decades, thousands of young families’ lives have been changed. 

On Sept. 30, Ellen is retiring for the second and final time from New Moms. We will miss her deep commitment and love for the young moms and children in our program and her calm, approachable demeanor that welcomes everyone.

We wish her deep blessings in her next chapter of retirement and know she’ll forever be part of our story at New Moms.

With gratitude,

Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D.

President & CEO

A group of young moms pose for a photo during their New Moms baby shower

Welcoming More Babies, Building Stronger Bonds for Young Moms

Written by Sarah Freeman on . Posted in Blog.

2025 Brings Milestone Growth for Doula Program

Reflecting on our 2025 fiscal year, New Moms is honored that we’ve been able to support more expecting mothers than ever before through our Doula Program! 

In 2024-25, we provided prenatal services to 31 pregnant moms, a 26% increase, and welcomed an amazing (and adorable) 58 new babies, including two sets of twins! Moreover, 100% of participants finished all sessions, and 100% also initiated breastfeeding at birth. 

Our Doula Program is a key component of the services we offer young moms. Through seven sessions, moms-to-be get ready to welcome their little one as they gain skills and tools they’ll need as a new parent. For many, the program also creates a safe space where young moms find encouragement, connections and support.

“Every mom wants the best for their babies, but not every mom has the tools to do so,” said Eusebia Flores, a senior doula at New Moms. “It’s our job to provide the tools that the moms need.”

Eusebia has been with New Moms for six years, and during that time she’s seen the positive, long-term impact the doula program has on young moms. She’s watched many of these young women come into the program without the skills or support they need to be the moms they want to be. Beyond preparing for all the worries that come with having a baby – from delivery to breastfeeding and so much more – many of these young women are also dealing with many additional stressors, such as housing instability or lack of support from their family. 

“All women need non-judemental support,” Eusebia said, who is proud to help facilitate just that through the doula program. “We are there to make sure the prenatal group is a safe space and to provide the tools that they want so they can be the best moms for their babies.”

One of the highlights of each cohort is the New Moms baby shower for the expecting mothers, providing them with many of the necessities they’ll need for their baby in addition to the skills they’ve learned along the way. But the biggest gift, Eusebia says, are the connections that flourish among the young moms, as she watches them come together and create networks of support for each other. From group messages to playdates and more, these moms walk away with a newfound community as they welcome their babies into the world. 

Reflecting on the last cohort, Eusebia shared: “They had such a great experience and found a village of support among each other.”

Every Dream Deserves a Chance

Written by Lauren Callaghan on . Posted in Blog.

We all have dreams – but not everyone believes they have what it takes to achieve them. And for young moms feeling alone and stifled by poverty and housing instability, their dreams can feel out of reach. 

At New Moms, our dream is to uplift these young women – to help them recognize their incredible potential, inspire their confidence to dream boldly, and equip them with the tools needed to turn their dreams into reality.

Lanetta, a young mom of two little girls, found New Moms at a time when she was feeling low, struggling through postpartum depression after the birth of her second daughter. In this community, she immediately found the support she needed to help her along the way. 

“New Moms changed a lot in my path, because my path was that I didn’t know what I was going to do or what I was going to be,” Lanetta shared. “Now, I’m on a path and prioritizing what can be done. I’m making short-term and long-term goals to see what’s realistic, and which ones might take time.” 

A promise to our participants 

At New Moms, we’ve dedicated more than 40 years to building on the strength, skills and potential of young moms – investing in the beauty and power of being a mother. Through our comprehensive approach, participants can access housing, paid job training, academic and financial coaching, mental wellness services, and family support for themselves and their children. 

For Lanetta, she jumped into just about each of our core programs with dedication and zest! While in our job training program, she worked in multiple areas of our social enterprise Bright Endeavors, from pouring candles to product finishing, and even selling the candles out in the community. 

Through it all, she not only gained valuable work experience, but also found a new tool that she will carry with her no matter where her path takes her: “The executive skills they engrave in you,” she said, speaking to these core capabilities she learned to organize, self-regulate and get things done. “They really do put you in a position where you can use those skills not just at New Moms but everywhere in general.” 

Help young moms reach their dreams

As New Moms nears the end of our 2025 fiscal year, we are turning to the community to ask for support in keeping this important work going. We need to raise $30,000 before June 30 so that we can continue offering resources and support for young moms. 

When you give, you’re not just making a donation – you’re showing these young moms that their dreams matter and that you believe in them.

Lanetta is proof of the difference this vote of confidence can make for young moms. Today, she is thriving, working a full-time job and enrolled in college to study administration.

She believes in the power of New Moms programs and the hope they offer young moms in carving a new path and a brighter future, like she did.

“If you need help, it’s OK to ask. You don’t have to feel alone,” Lanetta shared as advice to other young moms. “We all have different walks of life, and you don’t know who might be wearing the same shoes as you. Definitely reach out to New Moms.”

GIVE A GIFT

With love and hope,

Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D.
President & CEO

See more of Lanetta’s story in our 2025 mission video above.

Building Financial Confidence

Written by Lauren Callaghan on . Posted in Blog.

For New Moms Financial Coach Nia, tax season is more than just paperwork—it’s a chance to connect with young moms about their financial goals. In her role, she helps participants in New Moms’ programs with budgeting, monitoring credit scores, opening checking and high-yield savings accounts, and planning for the future.

Nia meets moms at different stages of their financial journey. Some are just starting their first job and learning to manage a steady income, so she focuses on catching up on bills and setting financial goals. Others, like those working at Bright Endeavors, may be ready to open a bank account, and Nia helps them explore their options—even guiding them through the application process on the spot!

“Some participants haven’t had support with managing finances, so I try to remove the fear and inspire confidence in budgeting and reaching their goals,” Nia explains.

Helping Moms Access Free Tax Services

On Fridays, Nia takes participants to Wilbur Wright College, where nonprofit partner LadderUp offers a free tax refund clinic. There, tax professionals help moms file their taxes at no cost.

“It breaks my heart when I hear about a mom in our program who paid $200–300 to file her taxes when she could have done it for free,” Nia shares. “They’re already financially stressed, so it’s so important that we help them take advantage of these services.”

Beyond filing taxes, Nia also helps participants plan how to use their refunds wisely. Are they behind on rent or bills? Are they working toward a savings goal? This process helps them practice financial planning and prioritization.

Defining Success

For Nia, success is when a mom takes the initiative—whether by reaching out to say she’s starting a savings account or asking for advice on a financial decision.

“It tells me they’re applying what we talked about and taking steps toward a stable future,” she says.

At New Moms, we believe every young mom has the potential to build a thriving future for her family. Through financial coaching, we’re helping them lay a strong foundation—one smart decision at a time.

Thank You for Supporting Operation Santa 2024!

Written by Jenna Hammond on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Thank You for Supporting Operation Santa 2024!

A Heartfelt Thank You for Another Incredible Year of Operation Santa!

Since 2020, our holiday celebrations at New Moms have looked a little different, and for four years, Operation Santa has been at the heart of it all. This wonderful Christmas toy drive has grown stronger each year, helping us better support families and strengthen our New Moms community. It’s been inspiring to watch people from all walks of life—families, businesses, and multiple generations—come together to surround our families with LOVE and help create unforgettable holiday memories.

This year, we received 2,665 gifts donated! Thanks to the generosity of our community, we received even more gifts after the registry closed, making it possible for us to spread joy to so many families.

We are deeply grateful to all the volunteers, donors, and supporters who made this possible. Your participation in Operation Santa ensures that love, connection, and the hope for a bright future continue to shine brightly for the young families in our programs.

Wishing you a joyful, healthy, and peaceful holiday season!

Glimmer of Hope

Written by Jenna Hammond on . Posted in Blog.

De’Avioun felt completely alone.

She was in the final months of her first pregnancy with little support from her family. She questioned the quality of life she could provide for her child and considered putting her baby up for adoption. How could she do this all alone?

One day, in a final effort to find support, she searched the internet and discovered New Moms.

When she learned how New Moms’ programs supported young moms just like her, she courageously walked through the front door of New Moms, where she was warmly met by our Family Support Manager, Courtney.

This step changed everything; she found a glimmer of hope.

For De’Avioun, New Moms’ programs became a lifeline. She enrolled in New Moms’ doula
services two weeks before welcoming her baby girl into the world. With this new supportive
community around her, she no longer felt she had to parent alone. De’Avioun saw a future
where she could be a wonderful mom to her baby. She named her daughter “Elenisse” meaning
“ray of sunshine.” Light is a meaningful theme in her life. “Even when Elenisse was born, it was
raining, but then the sun came out. It felt like hope,’” De’Avioun said.

De’Avioun sees a bright future for herself and Elenisse. Encouraged by New Moms staff, she
has enrolled at Triton College to pursue an associate’s degree in architecture and plans to
graduate in 2026. De’Avioun’s personal experience with housing insecurity fuels her aspirations to design residential homes. She hopes that her future work as an architect becomes a reflection of her journey.
A single glimmer of hope can transform a person’s journey from shadows to light.

Today De’Avioun is leaning on the supportive community of New Moms while she discovers the joy of
parenting and achieves her goals.

“New Moms has helped me gain more self-awareness and given me the confidence to be a mom, because I didn’t have it before.”

As 2024 comes to a close, New Moms needs your help to reach our critical goal of $283,000 by December 31.

Your generosity impacts over 767 young moms and their children, like De’Avioun and Elenisse, each year. You ensure they have a community of support that can give them hope for the future.

GIVE A GIFT

Give to New Moms today and be a part of the glimmer of hope that drives change in the lives of young families.

With Deep Gratitude,

Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D.
President & CEO

Watch this video to hear more from De’Avioun and other young moms at New Moms.

New Moms named one of Crain’s 2024 Best Places to Work in Chicago

Written by Jenna Hammond on . Posted in Blog.

“As a leader at New Moms, I want it to be a place where folks are able to accomplish their best work and enjoy their workplace.” -Laura Zumdahl, New Moms CEO

We’re thrilled to announce that New Moms has been named one of Crain’s 2024 Best Places to Work in Chicago and are recognized as one of the top 100 companies to work for in this great city.

Mallory Tesauro, Director of Human Resources at New Moms played a major role in the Crain’s Chicago application process and was stopped in her tracks after receiving an email announcing the award. She couldn’t wait to share the news. 

“I am proud to work with people who are deeply invested in one another. New Moms has a culture of community. We come together for a common purpose that we care about, and we believe we do our best work together. We have the most welcoming staff who can’t wait to embrace new employees and make sure they feel included throughout their journey.”

In order to be considered for the award, at least 40% of employees need to voluntarily complete the survey. “We had almost 70% complete the survey!  It was their great feedback that allowed New Moms to be recognized, Mallory said. “Our employees are our greatest ambassadors and it was awesome to see how much they love being part of this great organization.”

Every day our team creates safe, positive spaces for the young moms we partner with as they achieve multigenerational success. To our New Moms team: A tremendous thank you for making our workplace truly exceptional. Here’s to continuing our remarkable work and making a difference in the lives of our young families!

Check out more articles about the Crain’s 2024 Best Places to Work in Chicago recognition here!

Defining Purpose 

Written by Lauren Callaghan on . Posted in Blog.

With curious eyes, a child looks to their parents to guide them through life’s major milestones.

From a baby’s first words to their first steps ­­­─ a parent is their child’s first and best teacher.

When Dilley realized her boys were curious about her while they shared young aspirations of being racecar drivers and policemen, she wanted to tell them that she enjoyed her work. Determined to get the support she needed to make that a reality, she found New Moms.

Economic instability creates added stress on young moms as they define their purpose and pursue a future for their families. At New Moms, each young mom is surrounded by a supportive community that walks alongside her. Through our comprehensive programs and multi-generational approach, young moms take control of their lives by setting and accomplishing goals that move them closer to their vision of a strong future.

Before New Moms, Dilley worked temporary jobs without a clear career trajectory to help sustain her and her three young sons whose ages range from infant to 7.

Dilley felt stifled in her previous jobs. She knew her capabilities, but she was not encouraged to develop those skills.

“I used to work at a restaurant, and I was a crew trainer. They’d be like, ‘you’re a crew trainer, not a supervisor’,” Dilley shared. “I feel like I’ve always had some sort of push back, like, ‘hey, limit yourself. You’re not as big as you think.”

At New Moms her strengths were celebrated! She could refine her skills and unlock new career pathways.

With the support of her career coach, Dilley hit the ground running. She had a new-found confidence in her leadership abilities and access to new career opportunities.

“Initially I thought I was just showing up to have an income for my children,” Dilley expressed. “The staff at New Moms showed me I was there for so much more! They showed me I was there to be the fierce leader I forgot I was.”

With New Moms’ support, Dilley was hired as a receptionist. Our programs help young moms like Dilley, write their own story and create lasting success.

The work at New Moms takes a community that is committed to seeing every young family thrive. Your generosity makes a powerful, multigenerational impact on the lives of over 695 young moms and their children each year.

Our Fiscal Year 2024 is concluding, and now is an important moment for you to help young moms continue to be driven by their purpose and achieve positive outcomes for their families.

We need your help to raise $30,000 before June 30, 2024, so that New Moms can continue to be a strong and stable resource for young moms and their children.

GIVE A GIFT

Give to New Moms today and be the community young families can rely on to build stable foundations and create lasting, bright futures.

With gratitude & hope,

Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D.
President & CEO

Watch above to hear more about Dilley’s and other young moms’ partnerships with New Moms!

Woman smiling with skyline of Chicago in background.

Letter From the President: A Reflection of 10 Years

Written by newmomsmly on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Letter From the President: A Reflection of 10 Years

Dear Friends,

I recently celebrated my 10-year anniversary serving as the President and CEO at New Moms. As I reflect on a decade of leading New Moms, I’m filled with a profound sense of gratitude for the journey. Our core values of love, grit, possibility, connection, and equity are the guiding force behind our work with the remarkable young mothers and their children we have the privilege to support. And over the last decade, I’ve watched New Moms become an even more distinctive and special place, with a nationally recognized model. Serving in this role has been the biggest privilege of my professional life. The New Moms community is full of grace, goodwill, and a relentless push toward excellence, and I’m grateful to be part of this unique and wonderful team.

Perhaps the question I’m often asked in my role is: “How do you know if New Moms is making a difference for the young families you serve?”

While I often find myself sharing data about our impact — our exceptional results on family well-being, economic mobility, and family stability measures — that presents an incomplete picture. Sometimes I give an example of a recent young family we served through a story about how their life changed as the result of accomplishing their goals. But that too, just tells part of the story.

The real answer is I can’t tell you…yet.

Because things, especially big, hard life transitions, take time. Getting a degree can lead to better job opportunities. Better financial options can ensure that you stay housed and have enough money for the essentials. And the stability of all these factors increases the emotional resources parents have for their children. But all these things take hard work, goal-driven persistence, and time.

We know that we’re just part of the story of a young family at New Moms. Our participants do the hard work and we come alongside them during a chapter on their journey — supporting, coaching, and cheering them on as they work to build strong families. And the result of their hard work? The impact of New Moms? That we will more fully know in a generation.

What I do know is that because of the support of New Moms, we are privileged to witness the beginning of this generational change. Dominique is now living in her own apartment and is beginning her career in her first job. Latoya refers back to the skills she learned at New Moms seven years ago which helped her weather job transitions during COVID and persist to pursue a career where she finds great opportunity — she’s even saving for a down payment on a home for her and her three boys! I do know that moms in our programs consistently express an increased confidence in their ability to lead their families and navigate the very real challenges that life brings their way. And I know that New Moms’ outcomes consistently surpass national averages compared to programs doing similar work. I know, because of each story, and the robust data that we collect, that New Moms is making a significant impact in this critical time in the life of a young family. It is this community of support that gives a young mom the space that she needs to build a foundation that will give her stability when she moves past her time with us.

New Moms celebrated our 40th anniversary last year, a natural moment to look back. Stories like Eliza’s, who was a young mom in our programs in 1995 and now provides leadership to New Moms as a member of our board of directors, show us that only when we look back can we really see the lasting impact of our work. We can see how an entire family was changed by their interaction with New Moms, and the children that were part of our community 25 years ago are now thriving adults. Multi-generational change is the long-game, and we’re here for it.

So, while 10 years feels like a long time, it’s not long enough to know the full impact. I’m going to stick around for a while longer because I want in on the impact — I want to be part of ensuring that every young family thrives.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Stick around and be part of the change!

With gratitude & hope,

Laura Zumdahl, Ph.D.
President & CEO

Poverty is Expensive…

Written by Malik MLY on . Posted in Blog. No Comments on Poverty is Expensive…

It may seem counter-intuitive, but in reality, Poverty is Expensive. Poverty looks like: Hopelessness for families who can’t find a safe place to sleep at night A 19-year-old mother who didn’t graduate from high school, is struggling to find a job and has a baby who’s dependent on her Generations of families never rising above cycles of unemployment, gang involvement and drug use Decisions made out of desperation, leading to unstable, dangerous communities Poverty increases costs of police, government dependence, mental health and foster care services, and more.  It costs ALL of us more. Your support of New Moms helps the fight against poverty with a model of transformation that makes economic sense.
Thank You! – LaToya

When we fight poverty, amazing things happen. We see LaToya, a recent graduate from New Moms Workforce Development program, on a path towards self-sufficiency. She has a full-time retail job, and has already been promoted to assistant manager-providing stability and resources for herself and her son and daughter. But most of all she has hope, knowing the cycle of poverty stops with her. It’s been a particularly challenging year with the Illinois State budget impasse, which has left New Moms without 20% of our funding.  

Will you help us raise the $25,000 we need before our fiscal year end on June 30? Join us in this fight and make a gift today – providing hope and transformation for two generations of youth. 

GIVE A GIFT!