{"id":463,"date":"2024-10-03T21:03:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T21:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/?page_id=463"},"modified":"2024-10-09T23:30:58","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T23:30:58","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/?page_id=463","title":{"rendered":"ABOUT"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"463\" class=\"elementor elementor-463\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-32cff58 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"32cff58\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2942b02 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"2942b02\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8bc9c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e8bc9c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ABOUT<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3e19138 elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3e19138\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2524cd1 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"2524cd1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1cd1b08 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1cd1b08\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;sticky&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;sticky_on&quot;:[&quot;tablet&quot;],&quot;sticky_parent&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;sticky_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_effects_offset&quot;:0,&quot;sticky_anchor_link_offset&quot;:0}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Tonys-Photo-5.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-grow attachment-full size-full wp-image-809\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Tonys-Photo-5.jpg 799w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Tonys-Photo-5-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Tonys-Photo-5-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Tonys-Photo-5-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-85a3a4a animated-slow elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"85a3a4a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd6662c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cd6662c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CEO and Founder<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38aab0b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38aab0b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My name is <strong>Tony Salaam<\/strong>, and I have spent the last 20 years in social service, dedicated to serving underprivileged and marginalized populations. This work is both my profession and spiritual calling, shaped by personal experiences and the impact of violence on communities.<\/p><p>I hold a Master\u2019s in Social Work from Chicago State University (2003), an MBA from National Louis University (2007), and a doctorate in social work from Aurora University. I am also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and have taught as an adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois at Chicago.<\/p><p>I have created various programs, including &#8220;Transition to Careers&#8221; for individuals with criminal records, which helps participants find employment while engaging in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I also founded a non-profit to assist individuals in their transition back into society. I am excited to join a dedicated group working to uplift black and brown communities in Chicago and beyond.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a3aeab1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a3aeab1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d6f5571 animated-slow elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"d6f5571\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d08fd90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d08fd90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Chief Operational Officer<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ba33d4 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ba33d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Stephanie Lambert, BSN, RN, IL-PEL, CSN<\/strong> is a dedicated registered nurse working with Branches of Life, committed to providing compassionate, community-focused care. With 4 years of experience in in pediatrics, mental health, and school nursing. Stephanie specializes in supporting underserved populations, ensuring equitable access to healthcare. Passionate about advocacy and education, Stephanie is driven to improve health outcomes for all.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8a5276 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e8a5276\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Stephanie Lambert, BSN, RN, IL-PEL, CSN<\/strong> is a dedicated registered nurse working with Branches of Life, committed to providing compassionate, community-focused care. With four years of experience in pediatrics, mental health, and school nursing. Stephanie specializes in supporting underserved populations, ensuring equitable access to healthcare. Passionate about advocacy and education, Stephanie is driven to improve health outcomes for all.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7b81c01 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"7b81c01\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26a5d3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"26a5d3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1170\" height=\"1534\" src=\"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Stphanies-Photo.png\" class=\"elementor-animation-grow attachment-full size-full wp-image-810\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Stphanies-Photo.png 1170w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Stphanies-Photo-229x300.png 229w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Stphanies-Photo-781x1024.png 781w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Stphanies-Photo-768x1007.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-95316b1 elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"95316b1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b758601 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"b758601\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ea990b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7ea990b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1128\" height=\"1977\" src=\"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dannettes-Photo.jpg\" class=\"elementor-animation-grow attachment-full size-full wp-image-812\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dannettes-Photo.jpg 1128w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dannettes-Photo-171x300.jpg 171w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dannettes-Photo-584x1024.jpg 584w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dannettes-Photo-768x1346.jpg 768w, https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dannettes-Photo-876x1536.jpg 876w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1128px) 100vw, 1128px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d429983 animated-slow elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"d429983\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da359a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"da359a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Executive Director<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5deb55e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5deb55e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Hello, I&#8217;m <strong>Dannette Salaam.<\/strong> With over a decade of dedicated service in social work, my passion lies in supporting individuals dealing with mental health issues, addiction, reintegration into society, and displaced families. At The Branches of Life we strive to create a safe and supportive community for all.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ABOUT CEO and Founder My name is Tony Salaam, and I have spent the last 20 years in social service, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-463","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=463"}],"version-history":[{"count":95,"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":955,"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/463\/revisions\/955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/branchesoflifeinstitute.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}