Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Nick Rizzo
Donna Kilgore has stepped into a new leadership role as Executive Director of Beacon House, a program of Concerned Citizens for Our Youth, Inc. that has served vulnerable adolescent girls in Alabama for more than 50 years.
Beacon House provides moderate residential services to girls ages 12 to 17 who are referred through the Alabama Department of Human Resources. The program focuses on healing, stability, and growth through structured support, individualized care plans, and a positive peer culture model.
Kilgore says that the role represents both a continuation of her life’s work and a meaningful return to her roots in social services. Early in her career, she worked in a residential group home setting outside of Atlanta, Georgia, an experience she says closely mirrors the work being done at Beacon House today.
“In a way, it feels like a bookend,” she says. “I started my career in this type of work, and toward what is probably the end of my working career, I’m coming back to something very similar.”
Kilgore brings 36 years of experience in the nonprofit and social services sector to the position. Her career includes almost 13 years with Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center, where she worked in outpatient counseling and substance abuse services, followed by leadership roles with the Walker County Children’s Policy Council and the Jasper Area Family Services Center. She became executive director of the Family Services Center in 2010 and spent more than two decades helping shape services and partnerships that strengthened families across the region.
As she transitions into her new role, Kilgore says her goals center on teamwork, commitment, and patience.
“Most work in social services is a marathon, not a sprint. You may see short-term progress, but long-term impact takes time, passion, and belief in the mission,” she says.
Although she has only been in the position a short time, Kilgore has already begun immersing herself in Beacon House’s day-to-day operations, reviewing budgets, funding sources, and program strengths while learning where growth opportunities exist.
Looking ahead, she hopes to see Beacon House continue to grow and serve as a model for residential care not only locally, but statewide.
“Beacon House has been around for about 50 years, which is a long time for a nonprofit,” she said. “I want to see it reach its full potential and be a model for services provided in a group home setting.”
Kilgore says a major focus will be supporting staff and, in turn, modeling resilience for the young women served by the program. She believes resiliency can be taught and strengthened through training, consistency, and supportive relationships.
“One of my goals is to emphasize continued staff training, professional development, and bonding. I believe in demonstrating resiliency to the young women who come here for services,” she says.
Kilgore also hopes to expand community engagement with Beacon House, noting that support goes far beyond financial contributions. Volunteer involvement, partnerships with churches and civic groups, and sharing personal skills or talents all contribute to creating a healthy, supportive environment for residents.
At the heart of Beacon House’s approach, she says, is meeting each resident where she is.
“It’s about identifying individual needs and helping each person reach goals that lead to a more sustainable future,” Kilgore says. “Whether that means returning home or transitioning elsewhere, the goal is to support them in being as healthy and happy as possible.”
While leaving the Jasper Area Family Services Center was bittersweet, Kilgore says she is grateful for every chapter of her career and for the community that supported her along the way.
“Walker County has a lot of resources, often more than people realize,” she says. “It’s a very giving community, and I’m grateful to have worked with people who are passionate about helping others.”
As she begins this next chapter at Beacon House, Kilgore says what continues to inspire her most is the opportunity to work with adolescents.
“Young minds and young hearts are moldable,” she said. “Sometimes simply being present and consistent in someone’s life can make a lasting difference.” WL
To learn more about Beacon House and Concerned Citizens for Our Youth Inc., visit https://beaconhouseprogram.org.
