Leadership Transition in 2026

Big news from Comfort Station!

In January, Executive Director Jordan Martins, who has led Comfort Station since it was established as a nonprofit in 2016, will move on from his role after 15 years. Artistic Director Kitty Rauth will move into the role of Interim Executive Director.

“I’m incredibly excited about this moment, and proud of all of the work that has gotten us to this point,” Jordan says. “I couldn’t be more happy for Kitty to be the person that I’m passing the torch to. Comfort Station has meant so much to me personally and I always knew that there would be a natural time — both for me individually and the organization as a whole — to move on and for others to take over the roles and responsibilities that I’ve been overseeing for years.”

Kitty shares the sentiment: “I feel so infinitely grateful to have had the opportunity to steer the pirate ship that is Comfort Station with Jordan over the past few years,” they say. “It has been an absolute gift to be able to build with and learn from him, and I can say with my full heart that I am a better leader and organizer now because of my work beside him.”

Our leadership transition goes into effect January 1, 2026.

More big news:
A pause in programming, major renovations, and a celebration of our building’s centennial!

Next year’s leadership transition overlaps with a pause in programming so that our beloved 100-year-old building can undergo a major renovation — the first since it was re-opened to the public in 2010. This is a big deal, and we’re very excited!

Plans include basic but important maintenance and repair: exterior tuckpointing and painting; and interior plumbing, electrical, and lighting.

As Jordan says, “It won’t look dramatically different at first glance, but it will be way more functional and more intentionally designed.”

In tandem with the projected completion of Logan Square’s traffic circle/Milwaukee Avenue construction, the new-and-improved Comfort Station will reopen in Summer 2026 with a retrospective exhibition and a centennial celebration.