Clove Alliance is celebrating 25 years of compassionate service and impact in Iroquois County, where it has provided
support to survivors of sexual violence since 1999. The office began with a single advocate when it opened as Iroquois
Sexual Assault Services (ISAS), a satellite location of the Kankakee County Center Against Sexual Assault (KC-CASA).
They wanted to reach survivors in rural areas who had to travel long distances for specialized assistance—or go without.
The Watseka office has grown over the past quarter century and, like its other regional branches, is known as Clove
Alliance today. The location serves more than 50 survivors each year through counseling, advocacy, and legal services. It
also provides sexual harm prevention programs to more than 11,000 young people throughout the county annually.
WhenMarcie Sheridan became the first advocate at ISAS, she saw the challenges survivors faced in the rural region and
the need for local, survivor-focused support. “I will always remember a call I got in my first few weeks,” Marcie says. It
was from adistressed mother of a teen survivor whose case was going through the legal system. Marcie calmly
answered her questions and offered services. By the end of the call, the mother exclaimed with relief, “Where have you
been all this time?!”. Marcie was grateful to provide the support people in her community had been waiting for.
Strong Partnerships and Key Milestones
Over the years, strong relationships were built between advocates and local professionals, like police, investigators,
prosecutors, healthcare providers, schools, and other community organizations. This led to better responses to and
outcomes for survivors. “Marcie laid a foundation for so many of our community partnerships,” says Tammy Barragree,
whoserves as an advocate in Iroquois and Ford counties. She continues to work with many of the same local partners
Marcie first connected with over two decades ago.
Despite funding challenges that have closed other rural centers, the organization has kept all its locations open. Other
notable milestones for the Watseka-based office include its 2017 move to Jefferson Plaza, which provides a confidential,
welcoming space for survivors, and the formation of a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) for Iroquois County in
2018. In 2021, a new office was established in Paxton to serve Ford County, reaffirming their commitment to reaching
smaller communities. All the organization’s locations were unified under the Clove Alliance name in the same year.
Looking Forward
Clove Alliance is focused on providing hope and healing to survivors while working towards the elimination of sexual
violence—including in our rural communities. “We do everything we can to reach everyone we can,” says Clove Alliance
CEOTracey Noe Slach.
Clove Alliance expresses its gratitude to Iroquois County, community partners, and donors whose support has sustained
its mission for 25 years.
Clove Alliance invites the community to join in celebrating their legacy of hope and healing by attending a Business Before
Hours in partnership with the Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 1801 N. State Rt. 1,
Watseka. You can also back their work supporting survivors in Kankakee, Iroquois, and Ford County by donating or
volunteering. Details are at clovealliance.org.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Tracey Noe Slach
CEO
Clove Alliance
Phone: (815) 932-7273
Email: tracey@clovealliance.org
