To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re uplifting the voices and stories of Illinois Action for Children’s strong female leaders. Here, they answer questions about their backgrounds, their influences, and their leadership.
I grew up in Chicago living close to my extended family—grandmother, grandfather, and aunties—in a family-owned multi-unit building on the West Side of Chicago. I recall early mornings sitting around the kitchen table as they drank coffee, talked, laughed, swore, and shared family secrets. [I also remember] running up and down the three flights of stairs from apartment to apartment with my brother and sisters playing hide-and-seek with my mother, smelling my grandmother’s cinnamon rolls.
My mother’s oldest brother, my uncle, was a Chicago police officer and worked the night shift. [I have] memories of him returning home from work early in the morning to join us at the kitchen table where coffee, caution, tall tales, and wisdom was shared.
I did not have a favorite toy. I had an imaginary friend some years, she was the same age as I and she was a girl. I recall having this friend for a long time; she was a playmate and someone that I talked to often. I learned to read before I was five years old and had a huge imagination. I loved fairy tales and nursery rhymes as a child. I loved books and I made trips to the library with my grandmother often to get picture books with words. That is how I learned to read.
[My] college English Professor Leila Rumbaugh…she was tough and unsympathetic to inner-city kids with a lack of writing skills, limited writing ability, [or] command of English grammar and vocabulary. She was a good teacher, pushed me hard, and inspired me to gain a better understanding of the English language and the importance of the written word.
Many Black influences in my life were during the ’70s and linked to the ’70s music era. These songs become anthems and influenced much of my daily life and existence: songs from artists like Marvin Gaye—”What’s Going On?”—lyrics about the Vietnam War, police brutality in urban cities, protests of inequity and racism. Aretha Franklin’s, “Respect” became a kind of feminist anthem for women. Aretha spoke out about Angela Davis being set free and performed at fundraisers for Dr. King. One of my favorites then and now is Steve Wonder and his iconic 1976 album entitled, Songs in the Key of Life that featured songs like “Love Is in Need of Love,” “Living for the City,” and of course the 1980s “Happy Birthday” song, which was the rallying cry for Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday to become a national holiday!
I had worked at City Colleges [of Chicago] as the District Director of External Relations for four years. I then moved to the Michael and Juantia Jordan Endowment Fund, where I focused on grant funding for higher education scholarships locally and nationally. When I completed my master’s degree in Child and Family Law Advocacy at Loyola University Law School, I knew that I wanted to use my degree and the knowledge I had gained in my next position. Coming to work at IAFC was the next logical and important step in my career and desire to merge my graduate degree with my career path in education…
I did this work (at IAFC) for three years, and then an opportunity to work in Washington, D.C. became available. I knew that it would become an extension of the work I was doing here at IAFC, and that I would be a part of our country’s history, working in the administration of the first African American POTUS. [I served] as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of Education in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for 16 months. The work forever changed my perspective and desire to push and fight for what is right, fair, and equitable for those that have been marginalized and disenfranchised….The work we did at OCR helped to ensure schools were safe; students could access to the promise of elementary and secondary public education regardless of citizenship; and that English learners and students of every race, ethnicity, sex, and disability status received their fair share of resources and opportunities to succeed. After my time in D.C., I returned to IAFC—poised to fight the good fight and start some “good trouble,” according to Civil Rights Activist John Lewis.
In many ways, for me this work and mission are a calling of sorts. I believe our work should connect with our values, beliefs, and passion. Daily at IAFC, we get the opportunity to use our program work and policy/advocacy expertise to make change for babies, mothers, fathers, grandparents, child care providers— anyone caring for children. We build partnerships and connections that help us create programming and secure resources that ultimately transform the lives of individuals, families, and entire communities.
Today, as I reflect on Black History Month and Women’s History Month, the recent political landscape, and current events, I have experienced a range of emotional highs and low lows. But then it passes, and I am brought back to the reality that I, along with so many women, must persevere. We must mobilize and we must fight to win. And that means using the laws of the land, [leading] national marches, rallying, and organizing to build a movement at every level. The anticipation of this makes me feel strong and fearless.
