Simone Mitchell-Peterson is proving that joy doesn’t age

“At the end of the day, we come into this world with nothing and we leave this world with nothing,” Simone Mitchell-Peterson tells me.

She isn’t speaking mournfully—just matter-of-factly, pointing out the parameters we are all given. Within that narrow window between the first nothing and the last, Mitchell-Peterson says, we’re offered a daily invitation: “I’ve learned about the fortitude in choosing joy each day—because I really believe that’s a choice. And if you can’t choose it for yourself, then let somebody help you along the way.”

For 21 years, Mitchell-Peterson has been helping older adults choose joy as the CEO of the Chicago chapter of Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, a national network of nonprofits that provides companionship and care for the aging community. Through food deliveries, visiting programs and summer getaways at Audrey’s House—the organization’s year-round community center in the western Chicago suburbs in Batavia, IL—Little Brothers supports roughly 1,000 adults aged 70 and over throughout Chicagoland.

While Mitchell-Peterson prioritizes celebration year-round—birthday parties, themed events and personalized gifts for older adults—the holiday season holds a special kind of excitement for both her and the community she serves. With the help of volunteers and donors, Little Brothers hosts family-style holiday gatherings complete with music, dancing and, of course, a hearty shared meal. The organization also prepares home-delivered holiday dinners with all the trimmings, and volunteers bring warmth and conversation to those spending the season alone in their homes or care facilities.

At the heart of Mitchell-Peterson’s work is a simple wish: that people feel remembered—and in being remembered, rediscover a little joy.

Tell me more about how you found Little Brothers and your role there.

I’ve spent my entire career in the nonprofit space. When I moved to Chicago about 24 years ago, the first job I had didn’t bring me joy. When I was going through the job search process, I wanted to do a little investigative work. I came into the Little Brothers Chicago office and approached the receptionist, saying I was interested in volunteer work. There was a real sense of welcome in the organization, and I thought, “This is something special. This is an environment I know I can thrive in.”

They hosted me and took me all through the organization, and I knew this was the place for me. I was successful in the job search process—they selected me as CEO—and I have never, ever, ever regretted it. Every day I’m thankful I have this place to come to, for 21 years now.

And you’ve been CEO for all 21 of those years?

Yes, and in running a nonprofit organization for the last 21 years, there have been highs and lows—but one constant has been our commitment to the mission. It’s very simple: We bring friendship and companionship to lonely and isolated old adults—that’s it. It takes shape in many different forms, but that is what we do. I say we because it’s not just me. It’s an actual community of people: staff and volunteers and older adults themselves that make this ecosystem the most special place.

Speaking to how you guide this ecosystem, tell me more about some of your proudest moments and milestones in this role.

When I arrived here, we had what we then called a “vacation program” (now called Summer Vacation Experiences).The house that we used was a good two-hour ride outside of the city, and the house… I knew we could do better, because it needed to be a place that was special.

Sometimes, the stars line up: The house’s pipes broke, which became the impetus for us to do something different. We found a beautiful property in Batavia, IL, and it’s become Audrey’s House, our year-round program center. It’s a seven-bedroom home that sits on many acres where you want to spend your time—nice fireplaces, lots of room to sit, a wonderful kitchen to cook and gather.

Finding that place and being responsible for the project management and interior design… it was a labor of love. It’s many, many years later, and we’ve done so much to grow the program. It used to be a vacationing space, but now it’s an extension of our program where we welcome older adults from western suburbs in DuPage and Kane Counties.

I love that, especially since living spaces for older adults tend to feel so sterile and not as thoughtful as other living spaces.

(Laughs) Yes, and we need to get away from the sage green and the mauve and all those florals. We can do better, and we do better. Anytime someone walks into Audrey’s House people say, “Wow, this is really special.” And why shouldn’t it be?

Can you tell me about the holiday-centered programs and support you offer to older adults?

We celebrate every holiday: Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Day of the Dead. The ones that I feel are most important in the program are Thanksgiving and Christmas. Everybody likes to be able to say they have a plan—for our older adults, there’s a real sense of validation when somebody asks them how they’re spending the holidays and they can say they’re spending it with their Little Brothers friends or family.

Human connection and community are the most valuable things we can hope to have.

We worry about all this stuff, but it’s those quiet moments when somebody sits down with you and really connects with you—about how you’re doing and what’s going on. And sometimes it’s really joyful things happening—it’s not always sad. But it’s about someone taking the time to hear that and not be distracted by the phone or whatever else is taking place. It’s the one-on-one [interactions] that makes this place special. I’m just proud to be the CEO.

“Somebody is depending on you to be that spark for them.”

I’m curious what inspires you to continue your work. Obviously, working in a nonprofit can be so challenging and emotional.

For me, it doesn’t take much to get up in the morning and come here, even though we’re all dealing with personal issues that come along in life. That is part of the joy of being part of this wonderful group of people—staff and volunteers—to make that happen. I love what I do, and I know that I have received more than I have given.

I hear that a lot from volunteers—that they’ve received more than they’ve given. Because it doesn’t take much. Sometimes it’s just listening to what’s not being said, being present in the moment. We always say, “How are you?” But how are you? [She leans forward, making intentional eye contact]—that’s different. And really taking the time to listen. Somebody is depending on you to be that spark for them—to find that joy within themselves and, ultimately, cultivate that within somebody else.

You mentioned the highs and lows of working in the nonprofit sector for the past 21 years. I watched your video statement about navigating Covid as the CEO of Little Brothers. Now, with SNAP benefits being in limbo—

—and ICE. We have a significant Latinx population that we serve, and we’ve put things in place so people know that we’re making [Little Brothers’ spaces] as safe as we can. When you’re part of Little Brothers, people trust us—they know that we’re gonna do everything we can for them, just as we did during Covid.

With Covid, it snapped our necks in terms of how quickly we had to respond, and we did some of our best, most impactful work at that time. When we benchmark the older adult population that we serve against the general population of older adults, our older adults survived at a higher rate. They knew the information we were going to give them was honest. They knew the advice we were going to give them came from a good place. They listened, and they were receptive. It kept them safe.

Post-Covid is a different situation for us because it has been a struggle. There’s something called “learned loneliness”—people learned new patterns, and they’re not as open to coming out, even though we’re still present in their lives. And there are new, younger older adults who have joined us, and they’re skeptical—because everyone’s skeptical right now. We have to work incredibly hard to let them know that we’re here for them.

But we’ve been around 65 years and going strong, and that’s because of that simple mission we have: to provide friendship and companionship to older adults.

I really appreciate that piece about being a trusted source of information and guidance.

We’re a trusted confidant, and everyone knows what that means. You can have friends, but are they a trusted confidant? If you’re lucky enough to have one in your life, you’re good.

Are there any standout stories from your time with Little Brothers?

There are so many, but this one struck me. There’s an older adult who had been coming to our events and parties for a long time, and during an interview we had with her, she expressed that she kept each of her nametags from every event. She had a whole collection of them. It reminds her of the good times and of the fact that people know and welcome her. And she’s going to use them for a scrapbook.

There’s another story of a gentleman who had a rough life. He didn’t know his father. He had children but didn’t have a great relationship with them. He moved back to the Chicago area and still wasn’t able to integrate himself with family. For him to express to us that Little Brothers is family to him—that our Christmas celebration is family day to him—that warms my heart. He says that at Little Brothers, he receives the love and affirmation that he doesn’t receive from blood. It makes me teary now just saying it.

Again, it’s about receiving sometimes more than you give.