(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Night Ministry, which has served the homeless and the poor of Chicago for almost 50 years, has a new leader, following the departure of its longtime CEO.
For more than 20 years, Paul Hamann was the face of the Night Ministry -- coordinating outreach and social service programs for thousands of people, many of whom live on the streets.
He left last fall, and according to a statement from the Night Ministry, Hamann "felt it was the most advantageous time to step away."
Now, Chicago native Carol Sharp will be the new CEO.
"When I think about all the things our team has done -- and volunteers have done -- to provide resources, I want to ensure that we're able to increase those opportunities,” Sharp tells WBBM Newsradio.
Sharp is taking over an organization that's seeing an increase in the number of young people who need help. As a child, Sharp said, she lived in a foster home in Englewood.
"I had a mentor, and she's still a dear friend of mine, who said to me in a staff meeting that I could speak up because my voice mattered,” Sharp said. "And at that time I was about 19 years old and that was the first time someone had said that to me."
Sharp begins her job as the Night Ministry's president and CEO on Monday.
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