Started being a Recovery Educator in April 2009, but since April 2004,She have facilitated PSR classes in W.R.A.P., Self-Advocacy, Healthy Grieving, Understanding Bipolar Disorder, Ready for Change, Stress Management, Expressive Writing/Poetry, Expressive Arts, and various Pre-Vocational Classes at the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD). Her classes average 6-12 students, so each gets individualized attention, and the opportunity to express their points of view. She has witnessed much growth in many people during that period of time. She has also mentored some of my peers to lead classes on their own, e.g. Basic Drawing, Theater, and Arts & Crafts. In February 2010, She was promoted to a PSR Specialist. She believes she has a talent sharing her knowledge and experiences so that others may learn and benefit from them.
An ambassador for the arts, am President of The Awakenings Project, where she has curated, organized exhibits, and written grants for this internationally recognized organization for the past 20 years. She worked full-time for nearly 20 years with Bell Laboratories, now Alcatel-Lucent, while living with and openly speaking about her bipolar disorder. While working full-time, She finished her B.S. degree, majoring in Computer Science, and graduated in 1986, Magna Cum Laude, from North Central College.
She respects diversity and individual differences, and is open to learning more about all cultures. She speaks German, Spanish, and am proficient in American Sign Language. She was one of four illustrators of a children’s book entitled, “Coffee, Cream and In Between.” She has been prominently featured in several videos and articles produced by various media organizations, describing The Awakenings Project. She also maintains our website: www.awakeningsproject.org and have done so for several years.
She believes she is an effective communicator, both individually and in groups. She has spoken publicly about Awakenings and about mental illnesses for many years. She loves my job, my volunteer work for Awakenings, and she loves people. I continue to do much public speaking about recovery. I believe I am a beacon of hope and encouragement for the people who receive services at DCHD, for Awakenings artists, for the general public, and she also learns a lot from everyone I come in contact with.
