Women's History Month: 6 women helping other women in McLean County

What she may not realize is that there's another list of women looking back at her as their role model. Bloomington-Normal has a strong network of women who support and lift each other up.

This week, The Pantagraph introduces six of these "Women Helping Women," in honor of Women's History Month.

Mary Campbell

About Mary: Mary is co-director of Dreams Are Possible, co-founder of Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women (now under YWCA), a member of the Heartland Community College Board of Trustees, and a certified Master Naturalist.

Tell us about your mentors or role models.

My role models and mentors have been scattered throughout my life, and I am so deeply grateful to each of them. My father was an advocate on behalf of all the others where he worked as a bus garage mechanic. He became a union shop steward so he could speak to management on their behalf. There was a nun, who was a social worker, who worked in the housing project in Pittsburgh where I volunteered as a high school student, who showed me how to show true compassion and respect for others who were very different than I. Carol Reitan, the first female mayor of Normal, was a mentor who I met when I moved to town. My best friend, Jeanne Howard, a faculty colleague, has mentored me for 40-plus years. There have been few, but scattered across my lifetime and always present when I needed inspiration and guidance. Women like Judy Stone, who began Habitat in McLean County, and Charline Watts, along with her friend Marilyn Townley, who began Crossroads Global Handcraft, were women who inspired me and whom I have been blessed to call my friends.

What’s still on your to-do list in life? What are your goals?

My "to-do" list just keeps growing. I really want to get funding to buy an old house, maybe a duplex, work with the building trades to teach women the skills to renovate the property, and then make it affordable for a family to move in and rent or buy. The women would get hands-on exposure to careers in the trades, and many might move on to become apprentices. I've had this on my "to-do" list since before I retired from Illinois State University in 2010. My goal is to stay healthy so that I can continue to provide opportunities for women and their families in a variety of ways.

Who is a woman in history that you admire, and why?

With Women's History Month, I am so grateful to learn about the women in our past who are being raised up for their contributions, their brilliance and the work they did to make their communities better. I love reading about them and feel like my generation was totally devoid of their stories in our history books, and only now are they being brought into the light. When I think about how their stories were left untold, and we were left without female role models, it makes me angry. I have two women in history whom I admire so much and who inspired me to be a better, outspoken advocate. The two whom I have always looked up to are Jane Addams, the founder of the field of social work, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who pushed her husband to enact massive changes in the way our country dealt with poverty, the elderly and the unemployed. Eleanor took a stand against racial segregation when she hosted Marian Anderson to perform on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 after the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow her to sing from the stage of their Constitution Hall because of the color of her skin. I cannot imagine doing what they both did, almost 90 years ago, when women had no rights and were definitely second-class citizens.

What is your hope for women 100 years from now?

My hope is that by 2124, and decades before that certainly, that women of all races will not experience discrimination in any field they choose to enter. I hope that the USA will finally have implemented into law (something that has existed for years in all other developed countries) policies that guarantee that the parent(s) of every newborn is guaranteed extensive maternity and paternity leave so that they can bond with their baby, and that fully funded quality day care is available for all children. I hope that women can know the history of women who went before them and be inspired to believe they have an important place to contribute to make this a better world.

What can people do to support your efforts at work or in the community?

People who believe that women who are returning from prison and want to turn their lives around, become productive members of this community, reunite with their children but understand that they cannot do it alone can financially support the Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women through our local YWCA.

People who believe that women deserve the opportunity to create their own dreams for a better future for themselves and their family can support our work with donations to the Dreams Are Possible Fund at Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.

Each and every one of us, no matter what talent or resources we possess, can treat each and every one they encounter with respect, thank them for their work and employ them at a livable wage (not minimum wage of $14 per hour that no one can live on). We can all share our resources, no matter how little, with our many food pantries; we can volunteer at schools and smile at strangers.

Michell Cervantes

About Michell: Michell has worked with Mid Central Community Action’s Countering Domestic Violence program for 18 years and is currently the program’s director. She is a graduate of Illinois State University, a licensed certified domestic violence professional since 2010, a licensed child welfare specialist, and a Soroptimist International member. Michell sits on the outreach committee for the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is part of the McLean County Community Response Team, and is part of the Central Illinois Continuum of Care.

What inspires you in your work?

Often, we take safety for granted. A child living with domestic violence isn’t afraid of the monster under their bed; they are afraid of and for their parents. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home. At times, individuals come to us so broken and quite literally with only the clothes on their backs. There is no greater feeling than to see that same individual or that family smile, laugh and feel safe.

Being able to see the quality of life improving and the lives we have impacted in such a short time is so inspiring to me. Understanding that success looks different for everyone, and meeting somewhere where they are and focusing on individual needs is essential. Providing tools for safety and success are things individuals can carry with them their entire lives. We get to educate, empower and equip individuals to achieve healthy relationships, finances, homes and neighborhoods. There is nothing more inspiring than that.

What words of wisdom do you have for young girls or women in today’s world?

Don’t let anyone dim your shine. Don’t believe everything you are told or read; educate yourself and ask as many questions as you need to. Listen to understand instead of listening to respond, and most importantly, vote.

What community or world issue are you passionate about, and why?

Safeguarding rights and equity for all. Without equal rights and fair systems, people living in poverty lack the protections and resources to live peacefully and safely. All people, regardless of their race, gender, sexual identity or orientation and abilities must have access to justice and equal rights. Marginalized groups are disproportionately impacted by issues of equity and justice mainly due to the barriers they face, which include poverty, discrimination and lack of education. We have a responsibility to do better.

What do you think makes a good leader?

I think great leaders adapt to their people and staff instead of making them adapt to you. Leaders bring out the best in their team. When you appreciate others, encourage them and help them reach their potential, they will in turn appreciate you and the work we are doing as a team. Knowledge is shared, not hoarded.

What can people do to support your efforts at work or in the community?

Give back! Last year, the Countering Domestic Violence Program answered over 4,428 hotline calls, served over 884 clients and assisted with over 447 orders of protection. All of our services are free and confidential. We operate 24/7/365, which includes all holidays. We couldn’t do this without the community's support and willingness to give back. You can help make a difference. The CDV’s 24-hour hotline is 309-827-7070.

Michelle Cook

About Michelle: Michelle is coordinator and board president for Joy Care Center and Jobs Partnership BloNo, working to facilitate ministry to ex-offenders, providing tools and helping them to build skills for employment.

What inspires you in your work?

Helping people rise to their full potential.

What words of wisdom do you have for young girls or women in today’s world?

Be yourself, tell the truth, and treat others the way you want to be treated. Don't let anyone define who you are but God.

What community or world issue are you passionate about, and why?

Injustice of any kind. We were all created equal and should all be treated with kindness and respect and dignity.

What do you think makes a good leader?

Integrity, consistency, respect and humility.

What is your hope for women 100 years from now?

That they live in a fair and just world where they are judged by their character and treated with respect.

What can people do to support your efforts at work or in the community?

Joy Care Jobs Partnership BloNo can always use financial donations and volunteers.

Gaynett Hoskins

About Gaynett: Gaynett is the director of Safe Harbor at The Salvation Army in Bloomington and an advocate for LGBTQ people.

What words of wisdom do you have for young girls or women in today’s world?

Young girls and women, please know that you are everything. You are uniquely you. You deserve to have every part of you loved — even if it’s only by you. You are not too much to handle. You were never created to be handled. Your hair, face, body, personality, etc., was molded just for you. Keep learning, speaking and teaching. The world may not truly deserve you, but the people around you do. Show up and show out — the women and young girls around you are watching.

What community or world issue are you passionate about, and why?

The world issue that I’m most passionate about would be acceptance. Although this is extremely broad and most wouldn’t consider it a “world or community issue,” I truly believe every other issue would crumble if we truly accepted and embraced our differences and gave respect to things that we did not understand. If we truly treated people the way they wanted to be treated, if we learned that everyone has a strength and a growth area, and we were more intentional with looking for and acknowledging the strengths as opposed to the places that needed just a little more support, if we were intentional with listening to understand instead of to respond or pass judgment — what would it look like if we decided to “accept and take you as you are?” Acceptance is what we all strive for, but we all fall short on mostly!

If we learn to accept that we may not truly understand a person, issue, policy, community, etc., and empathize with the fact that many of us are misunderstood but still deserving of love, we would be much better humans.

What do you think makes a good leader?

A good leader, by my definition, is one that knows that they cannot do it all on their own. They acknowledge and receive the resilience, strengths and gifts of the people around them. Everyone is better because of their interactions with a “leader” (even if it’s just sharing a smile). A good leader is reflected in each person that they lead. A good leader is accountable but will not fester in defeat. A good leader is an advocate. They will use their voice while helping the people they care about most to find their own. A good leader can identify the strength of a person even if that person does not see it within themselves. A good leader is cared for wholly because they expect for the people they care about to model the exact same. A good leader exudes confidence, but has no problem with stepping back when they see someone else trying to do the same. A good leader is thoughtful, knowledgeable, honorable, approachable, strong and willing to sacrifice everything but their morals and integrity because they know, with the right team, they can get everything else back 100 times over.

Who is a woman in history that you admire, and why?

Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother among the Asante. She was a warrior, advocate and motivator to her people. She fought fearlessly alongside other women and men to care for her land. She honored her ancestors and fought with them in mind, always. She experienced loss after loss and still found the strength to fight. Many considered her to be an agitator because she was so different from the others in her kingdom, but she remained steadfast and kept advocating and fighting when diplomacy wasn’t an option. Yaa Asantewaa is every woman that I see today pushing through socialized norms, gender ideals and trauma. She was loud and proud, and although many despised her for being her, three times more people loved her because of who she was.

What is your hope for women 100 years from now?

One-hundred years from now, I am speaking forward, that women have kept and enhanced their voices, that women no longer feel like they must choose between strength and likability, career and family, beauty and being taken seriously. Women will no longer have the “and/or” option, as they will be accepted as both by themselves and others.

Jill Hutchison

About Jill: Jill retired from coaching in 1999 after becoming the winningest basketball coach in Illinois State University history. She has long been an advocate for women’s athletics and Title IX and was inducted in the halls of fame for Women’s Basketball, the Missouri Valley Conference and ISU. Today she occasionally serves as a color commentator for ISU women’s basketball games when televised, having previously given commentary for MVC and ESPN.

What words of wisdom do you have for young girls or women in today’s world?

There are no limits to what you can do or what you can accomplish. It is never easy, and there will be obstacles. Pursue your passion, and always reach down to lift up those who follow.

What do you think makes a good leader?

Leadership is a quality always in process. It requires excellent communication skills — both speaking and listening. Leadership is the ability to motivate and guide others toward a unified task. Strong leaders are genuine — they are comfortable in their own skin. They have the ability to “get outside themselves” to identify problems as well as solutions. Leaders are able to analyze the crux of issues and navigate solutions. Being flexible and adapting to change is critical in leadership, as well as empathy for those around you. Leadership is very much people skills.

What inspired you in your work?

Working with young women and feeling you are making a difference in their lives is what collegiate athletics are all about. College years can be very formative, and many individuals test their core values. Coaches can be influential in those processes.

Who is a woman in history that you admire and why?

I have always admired Billie Jean King. It began with the match versus Bobby Riggs in the ’70s when she proved women could compete on the highest level. It continued when she helped women’s pro tennis gain some degree of equity in financial purses. Now, she is a role model for women in all sports at all levels — a true icon!

What is your hope for women 100 years from now?

It is my sincere hope that women have reached complete equity with their male counterparts and are respected for their skills and talents in all aspects of life. I would hope political issues no longer exist for gender equity because they are not necessary.

Mendy Smith

About Mendy: Mendy is regional vice president of the central region and interim vice president of early childhood services for Brightpoint.

What inspires you in your work?

Inspiration for me is to witness the teams that I get to work with each day facing challenges and working together to find solutions. These challenges include limited resources, difficult protocols and day-to-day changes in the scope of the work, but through their dedication, they look to build on strengths, to find the why behind the end goal, and their overall passion for the work they help children and families thrive. It isn’t one thing, but rather so many small moments and overall strategy becoming a reality for the communities we serve that bring me such pride in what we do at Brightpoint. The growth of quality early childhood services and family support programming in our communities remains one of the things I am most proud of from our teams. The hard work that goes into creating programs that build on family strengths to provide preventive family-centered services is so inspiring. The way that programs have brought the participant and community voice to the forefront has been a game changer in how we provide services to children and families. When we see families we serve get engaged in services and get involved to serve as volunteers, use their voice and participate on our boards, and even become future Brightpoint employees is such a powerful statement to our agency why. These things drive our mission, and this inspires me each day.

Tell us about your mentors or role models.

I have been very lucky to work around some amazing mentors through my 25 years at Brightpoint. Retired Regional Vice President Lisa Pieper and retired Chief Operating Officer Jan Stepto-Millet both supported my journey as a leader. They encouraged me to further my education and knowledge in the field and supported me to always use my voice to advocate for our cause. The one thing that stands out about my time with these mentors was how they looked to develop women leaders all around them and to find ways to get our seat at the table to lead. I learned that leading starts with listening and then supporting others to grow around an aligned mission to serve others and our communities. I have been blessed to work alongside so many women in the field that have passion to serve and to collaborate to make systems better for families. Growing up, I had wonderful women teachers and coaches who encouraged my creativity, hard work ethic and overall support system. I also grew up with a role model who taught me how to treat others and to believe in young girls becoming whatever they have the drive to become, which is my mom. She not only pushed me to go after goals, she laid the foundation on how to treat others with respect and kindness. Every step of the way it has been her voice telling me, “you can do this,” and she instilled a belief in myself to not fear making mistakes and to find ways to support others.

What words of wisdom do you have for young girls or women in today’s world?

My message would be to get involved, to not pick one thing but really take the time to gain a variety of experiences. Volunteer, read and find women mentors who inspire you. In most fields, the services are relationship-based services, meaning skills around listening, encouraging and supporting one another are critical. We don’t do this alone; when women help to build other women up, good things happen. Find ways to not only develop yourself, but help build others around you; this is when movements turn to real change. And lastly, do not be afraid to fail. Every success and every failure helps to create the next big chapter, and to always know you do not have to do this alone.

What do you think makes a good leader?

A good leader is someone who listens before answering. A good leader is someone who asks questions and collaborates to find not only answers for today's problems, but looks to the future. A good leader makes sure they are not running ahead before others are on board. They need to develop clear strategy and help others achieve their goals around the strategy. They know the “why” behind what we do and can share this passion to engage others in the process. A good leader is never done learning and is not afraid of making mistakes but rather accepts when things don’t go as planned and finds future solutions. They are learning from the past and ready to ask what’s next? A good leader supports their staff with empathy and respect and builds future leaders.

Who is a woman in history that you admire, and why?

Jane Addams, the founder of the Hull House in Chicago, a settlement house that provided social services and education services to families. She was a progressive social reformer and activist, and she was also the first American woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. I remember during my time at ISU in the Master of Social Work program reading about her and all of the work she did for child labor laws and creating a place where families could receive services to attack poverty and gain education resources. I admired how she used her voice to bring up systems that were hurting families and that she found solutions while creating a safe place where families could find support. I admire the courage it took to call out the wrongs in the world around her and the ability to find solutions in a time where the people around her were not used to listening to that voice coming from a woman. Her work in the past helped to build the work we do in the field of social work today.