About Neli
A first-generation American, the young Neli Vazquez-Rowland, was a natural leader, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. For 13 years, as an investment banker, Vazquez-Rowland lead several firms across the nation. It was during her time as an investment banker, Neli had to rise up to the challenging and emotionally-draining task of overcoming an issue of alcoholism in her family.
This incident fueled a strong belief in Neli that no family should have to suffer through an already-tragic situation and in 1994, she established A Safe Haven with her husband, Brian Rowland. An organization determined to join forces with the private and public sector to ensure an efficient and sustainable approach to battle poverty and homelessness, A Safe Haven was welcomed instantly by business, academia and public policy leaders for its innovative and ground-breaking approach to an issue that has long plagued economies
ACHIEVEMENTS
Neli holds a variety of achievements which you can find conveniently on her Achievements page.
PRESS
Videos and articles are always arriving on Neli’s Press page highlighting her exploits. View it here!
NEWS
Looking to grab regular updates? Head over to her Neli Says Blog page for some great stuff.
My Mission
Neli Vazquez-Rowland is determined to discuss her ideas to bring about change with anyone who shares a social or even cultural responsibility towards this agenda, from Board Members and C-Suite Executives, Sustainability Officers, Social Entrepreneurs and Institutional Investors to Affordable Housing and Senior Housing Investors, Program Fund Leaders, Academics and Religious Leaders to everyone in between. Everyone in position to help create new sources of funding and help find the root causes of homelessness, poverty and alcohol addiction to cause paradigm shift towards a better future is welcomed warmly to join A Safe Haven’s mission.
Even though the ‘whys’ of the movement have been strikingly clear since its establishment in the early 90s, the ‘hows’ have been subject to many changes over the years. In her successful journey to create effective and sustainable collaboration between private and public sector, Neli Vazquez-Rowland has earned several awards and accolades in recognition of her unique life-altering work. “The Champion of Change” by the White House, “Humanitarian of the Year” by Illinois Secretary of State and “Chicagoan of the Year” by Chicago Magazine are just a few among the many prestigious titles Neli has earned over the years.
Speaking Events:
Neli has appeared on many stages across the country including spots at Harvard University, Romney Public Policy Institute, Notre Dame, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Loyola University, Illinois Chamber of Commerce and many more.
Other Speaking Engagements
August 2017 – Midwestern Career College Graduation
August 2017 – Cook County’s Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness – Nora (HUD)
September 2017 – Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference
November 2017 – WTS (Women in Transportation) Industry Leader Panel
December 2017 – Women’s Justice Initiative Panel
February 2018 – Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship Business Model Competition
March 2018 – Illinois Chamber of Commerce- “Women, Second to No One”
April 2018 – Neli speaks at Representative La Shawn K. Ford’s Heroin Task Force Event
April 2018 – The Boeing Company nonprofit partner convening.
May 2018 – Gateway Green Partnership Expressway Beautification Project Announcement
May 2018 – Triple Threat: University Center and SAMHSA
August 2019 – Opportunity Zone Expo Chicago – One Goal: How Communities Can Tap into the Potential of OZ’s
October 2020 – Belgium and Paris, France during Today’s Inspired Latina Volume VI Book Launch
February 2020 – EmpowerLeaders Event
April 2020 – ASH Medical Respite Isolation Center
May 2020 – Latino Thought Makers interview with Rick Najera
May 2020 – Daily Homeless Debrief with State Representative La Shawn K Ford.
May 2020 – State Representative La Shawn K. Ford and Neli Vazquez Rowland host Zoom Press Conference with Homeless and Healthcare providers ahead of CARES Budget Votes
May 2020 – My Mind Matters, A Virtual Mental Health Awareness Month Conference
June 2020 – Leading During Difficult Times with Jaqueline Camacho
June 2020 – Entrepreneur Freedom Success Summit Digital Series Event
June 2020 – Panel Discussion Mental Health, Host Nikelcia Marcelin
Pressing On
Today, A Safe Haven serves the Chicagoland area with over 39 locations and over 200 employees who help transition thousands of individuals each year back to sustainable self-sufficiency. The model is innovative and one-of-a-kind and is rooted in 20 years of experience with results that have been repeatable and scalable and it is Neli Vazquez-Rowland’s belief that A Safe Haven’s model and management team could be placed in any other high need community in the country and succeed.
When Neli isn’t on site for A Safe Haven in the Chicagoland area she is often speaking at public events, serving as a media subject matter expert or sitting as a panelist on many business, academic and government forums. Through her exploits she has also been asked on to many local and national television news stations as well as has been featured in articles on the local, national and international level in prominent magazines highlighting her work. In her free time Neli enjoys running and she has participated in a number of triathlons and marathons. She lives with her husband and A Safe Haven co-founder Brian Rowland and is the proud mother of her two sons, Devin and Dylan.
Contact:
info@nelivr.com
A SAFE HAVEN
2750 West Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL 60608
773.435.8300