Your journey from Baltimore to Urbana-Champaign is truly inspiring. Given your own experiences growing up and overcoming challenges, what was the defining moment that made you realize working with children and youth was your true calling?

My story begins with my mother who abandoned me with a lady who lived in our neighborhood. My paternal grandmother, Ms. Grace Elizabeth Simms, found me in the home and asked if I could live with her and the lady obliged. We moved into the McCulloh Homes Projects where I lived through high school. I got married at 18, had a daughter, but the marriage ended because neither of us were ready for marriage. A few years later I lived in my own public housing unit with my daughter down the court from my grandmother.

I had several jobs that included: clerk in a department store, barmaid, nurse’s aide, and telephone operator. My daughter was about 3 years old and got extremely sick during the same time as my grandmother was very ill. Thus, I had to stay home and take care of both. That is when I applied for public assistance. It was an exceedingly challenging time for me, and on top of that I had a very unfriendly and judgmental supervisor who added to my stressors and I ended up quitting my job.

During one of my monthly meetings with my welfare caseworker who was very mean, we discussed personal and professional goals. I said that I really wanted to attend college. The caseworker said, “You are not college material” and had I thought about working in a hospital or working as an aide in the schools. I was angry and very hurt but something inside of me knew that I desired to obtain a higher education. Also, I vowed that day to always help those in need and wanting to work with families, youth, and children. It became my true calling.

You’ve dedicated your career to advocating for and supporting young people. How did your own struggles and triumphs shape the way you approach working with children and families in your community?

One word, Empathy. Having overcome childhood trauma, living in poverty, systemic racism, I learned that I never desired anyone else to go through what I had experienced. Everyone I encountered I treated them with compassion, a listening ear and showed empathy. We all make mistakes, but our mistakes do not define us and people can change.

You have dedicated a significant part of your life to social work. What are some of the most impactful challenges you’ve faced and the accomplishments you’re most proud of?

Challenges: Working with families who face socio-economic challenges as well as families who have had their parental rights terminated. It saddens me because the children are the ones who are affected the most.

Accomplishments: Graduating college and then obtaining my master’s in social work. Also, I have thirty-four ½ years as a School Social Worker. For the past 12 years, I have been the Director of a non-for-profit, which provides services for families and children involved in the child welfare system as well as being a beacon of light in the community.

April is the National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness and support efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. What does this month mean to you after decades of advocating for children?

The month is extremely near and dear to my heart because I was a neglected child growing up but if it were not for my grandmother stepping in, I do not know where I would be. Therefore, in April I often reflect on my upbringing. Having personal experience, advocating for children dealing with abuse and neglect is important to educating those in a position to protect our children. Also in decreases the number of cases in the welfare system. However, this topic needs to be done 365 days and not just 30.

As the Executive Director of Family Advocacy in Champaign County (FACC), you have mentored School of Social Work students during their internships. How do you approach mentorship, and what key lessons do you hope they take with them after their time at FACC?

Mentorship is something that I take very seriously because I am shaping new minds coming into the field. It is important that they are actively engaged in all the services we provide. I do not just look at them as students but as part of the FACC Team. The key lessons that I hope they take with them is that you do not show biases but empathy. Every client deserves to be treated with respect and learns tools and techniques on how to advocate for themselves. I keep an open-door policy, and the interns know they can pick my brain any time. I am encouraged to know that the interns will carry the torch that was given to me.