Meet Cynthia Bathurst | Safe Humane Co-founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cynthia Bathurst and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cynthia, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
There’s no other organization quite like Safe Humane. Its mission is to create safe and humane communities by inspiring positive relationships between people and animals. It’s about building bonds and changing lives for the better, using the positive, transformative power of the human-animal bond. It operates between the traditional systems of rescue, community welfare, and justice; collaborates with individuals and organizations who work in those systems; pioneers impactful programs; and then works to sustain them, first by implementing and running them and then transitioning them to organizations with a desire and commitment to make them their own.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is beginning a new chapter, at least in terms of social impact and personal growth. As I say about the Safe Humane organization to which I have devoted most of my attention for some twenty-five years, there’s no other organization quite like it. I co-founded it and lead it with very dedicated and compassionate people and lots of supporters and do-ers. It did not happen in a day or without lots of people and animals at different stages of life or even with lots of money. I am most proud of its dynamic, accessible programs that are proven to change lives, both human and non-human animal, such as the Court Case Dogs program, which transformed the way animals impacted by violence and trauma were treated and helped by government and communities; and our holistic healing approach that serves not just individuals, but entire communities, such as our Lifetime Bonds programs that provide healing and hope for people and animals impacted by trauma. I love that it remains a flexible organization and continues – with more people, animals, paths. The path is not always clear, but it moves toward impacting for the better the quality of life in our world, even by impacting individuals singly or in the tens or hundreds. I have learned over and over again to be open-minded, to learn to listen better and to be willing to learn and adjust. And to find ways to help others make safer, more humane and more just communities. My new chapter will focus more on mentoring and helping others accomplish similar goals in their own communities in their own ways.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The city of Chicago has such a rich and engaging diversity of life and sites to see that I find it difficult to choose one itinerary. For a friend who is interested in community welfare and engagement (i.e., people and animals) and personal growth and involvement, I’d try to start with some sort of overview and end with some unique experiences. We’d make sure we walk a lot, if that were feasible for my friend (or find ways to get around in this relatively accessible city) and check out these: — the top of the John Hancock (the lounge/bar rather than the 360 Center) or skydeck in Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)

— ride the el (elevated train) through the Loop
— walk or bike the lakefront trail at least from Belmont Harbor south to Jackson Park
— walk Millennium Park and take in a free concert if it’s summer or consider ice skating in Maggie Daley Park or along Michigan Avenue; be sure to walk through the beautiful four-season Lurie Garden
— tour Chicago Animal Care and Control and do either a Doggie Day Out or in-kennel enrichment activity and play with the cats; watch the awesome efforts of volunteers walking dogs, running doggie playgroups or socializing and training dogs in manners and skills classes
— observe one of Safe Humane Chicago’s programs for young people and dogs who have been impacted by trauma (perhaps at the Illinois Youth Center in Chicago if possible or Enlace Chicago if it’s summer
— visit the University of Chicago campus and enjoy breakfast in Hyde Park, perhaps at former President Obama’s favorite breakfast place
— enjoy a walk and sights along the 606 (trail, art, architecture, people and animals)
— take a Chicago Architectural Foundation boat tour along the Chicago River and/or a loop architecture walking tour; take a water taxi from Lake Michigan to the north branch of the Chicago River
— eat at Cafe Oliva and enjoy the Jane Addams Park and Milton Lee Olive Park
— have a beer at Goose Island Brewery
— enjoy jazz or blues at Jazz Showcase or Kingston Mines or Buddy Guy’s Legends
— eat a traditional Chicago breakfast, Chicago pizza, southside BBQ or soul food, Mexican food in Little Village, Italian food in Little Italy, Greek food in Greek Town, Indian food at a Devon Avenue restaurant — or a creative Mediterranean meal (and beignets!) at Pinched on the River
— visit the Native American exhibits at the Field Museum or the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
— go bird-watching at Montrose Point or McCormick Place bird sanctuaries
— shop at local boutiques or bakeries or architectural finds in various neighborhoods, depending on the interests of my friend
— consider taking in theatre or a show or concert or a comedy routine at someplace like The Second City
— if there’s time to go outside the city limits nearby, visit the Baha’i House of Worship and Chicago Botanic Gardens

That’s just a start. And so many community events we could join in on (such as events hosted by My Block My Hood My City, SociaBulls Packwalk events or Friends of the River). Of course we would find quiet a coffee or tea house just to sit and chat!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to every being — human, dog, cat — who is either in or contributed to the book A Ruff Road Home: The Court Case Dogs of Chicago and every being since that founding group of dogs and one cat and every being whose lives touch Safe Humane and/or me and help make the world and me better. It takes a village.

Website: https://safehumanechicago.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SafeHumaneChicago/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/7957347

Twitter: https://twitter.com/safehumanechicago

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SafeHumane/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SafeHumaneChicago

Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/safehumane

Image Credits
Josh Feeney Photography