Welcome Our New Executive Director

John Evans, a Rockford native who has more than 30 years of experience working with local churches both large and small, is the new Executive Director of Rockford Reachout Jail Ministry.

For more than 40 years, Rockford Reachout has been helping the community by ministering to the men, women, and youth at the Winnebago County Jail. For the past several years, Reachout has been expanding its ministry to working with inmates from jail and prison as they re-enter the community.  “There are a number of people on our board who have worked with John in collaborative community projects, and we all felt he would be a good fit for our ministry. John's diversified experience of working with Weed and Seed, the Greater Rockford Re-Entry Coalition, and the Joyner Neighborhood Resource Center will help in those efforts,” said Laura Ortiz, Reachout board chairman.

“My experience has taught me that the most efficient way to work is collaboratively,” said Evans. “Funding sources for charitable organizations have been decreasing in recent years. Rather than trying to compete for the same funding, there are ways to collaborate strategically using monies that are available, especially when it comes to re-entry. One of my initial priorities is to personally connect with existing partners."

Evans lives in Rockford with his wife, Becky. The couple has five children and six grandchildren.