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Macomb Feminist Network’s 2023 Writing Women into History Honorees

February 1, 2023

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MACOMB, IL -- The Macomb Feminist Network has selected Brenda Allison, Andrea Henderson, and Sandra Mosley as recipients of its 2023 Writing Women into History Awards. The women will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the local community Saturday, March 4, during a reception at the Wesley Village Community Center.

A light brunch begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by an awards ceremony, and reservations are not required.

Through this award, the Macomb Feminist Network seeks to expand public knowledge and appreciation of individual women whose initiatives, advocacy and engagement have strengthened the local community in significant ways. This year's honorees, like earlier honorees, have excelled as role models and community leaders over many years.

Allison was born in Macomb, and has roots here that run deep. She can trace them to anti-slavery activists and participants in the Underground Railroad. Her career took her to other parts of the state, but after retiring, Allison returned to McDonough County and, following a family tradition of service, took up the life of a dedicated community leader. She transferred the computer skills she had honed as AFSCME IT director to multiple organizations here and proved to be particularly helpful when COVID sent many residents to their computers for work, as well as for communication that bridged physical distances. She coupled her computer expertise with leadership roles, most significantly in the Macomb GFWC Women's Club.

Henderson's contributions to the community demonstrate her care for others and her willingness to take on difficult tasks. Empathy and integrity characterize her service. At Western Illinois University, as a certified Affirmative Action professional and director of WIU's Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, Henderson demonstrated the skills needed to make difficult, equitable decisions. She has used these same skills during her long tenure on Macomb's Fire and Police Commission, where a firm grasp of state regulations requires an aptitude for legalese and a fine-tuned understanding of complex issues. She has been an active member of the Samaritan Well and McDonough County Housing Authority boards, and a champion of youth.

Mosley has been engaged in the community for over 40 years. At once self-effacing, gracious, and regal, she has become ubiquitous throughout the area as an accomplished pianist, performing as soloist or accompanist in numerous venues. Her Quality of Life Award reflects her invaluable and generous contributions of talent and time to the community. She expanded her many years as a classroom teacher through her Mosley Piano Lab, a simultaneously independent and communal learning environment that allows students to move forward on their own timetable and level of interest. Her unique pedagogy allows learning from inside out and is characterized by Mosley's deep commitment to inclusion and diversity.

These women join the women who have been honored previously with the Writing Women into History Award: Wanda Black, Mary Ellen Graff, Rosa Julestrom and Beth Stiffler (2010); Connie Berg, Marcia Moll and Ruth Parks (2011); Maria Dunstan, Judith Kohler and Donna Werner (2012); Josephine Johnson, Elizabeth Kaspar and Janice Welsch (2013); Gordana Rezab, Alice Swain and Mary Warnock (2014); Lois Ganyard, Margaret Ovitt and Suzan Nash (2015); Alice Henry, Alta Sargent and Peggy Scharfenburg (2016); Lorraine Epperson, Debbie Maguire, Pamella McLean and Rebecca "Becky" Parker (2017); Sally Egler, Martha Klems, Maurine Magliocco and Paula Wise (2018); Belinda Carr, Susan Lawhorn, Winona Malpass, Essie Rutledge and Patricia Walton (2019); Janine Cavicchia, Patricia "Patti" Jones, Lois Lueck and Sue Scott (2020); and Gayle Carper, Nancy "Nan" Crossman, Verneata Jones and Jill Joline Myers.

Information about these women's contributions to the city and county is available on the Macomb Feminist Network's website at macombfeminists.org/.

During the March 4 event, honorees will share their stories of community commitment and civic responsibility. Their stories will also be live-streamed on the Macomb Feminist Network's Facebook page.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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