Meet Gina

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Gina.  Gina is the owner of Life Lens and Love, a family and portrait photography business in Downers Grove, IL.  Gina is also a Clinical Therapist with an expertise in eating disorders, body image, anxiety and depression, in Naperville, IL. Gina created The One of a Million Project this year to shine a light on talented people in her community who do good through their everyday jobs.  

I am Gina’s husband.  I have been able to get a behind-the-scenes look at the work my wife has put into showcasing the many talented people around us.  I am proud of my wife for giving “The Ones” the recognition they deserve. For the last interview of the series, I convinced her to let me interview her about the inspiration for the project.

B: You have written that the inspiration for the project stemmed from trying to break from all the negativity in the world, mostly resulting from the political environment.  How much light did you get out of this project and from all the people you talked to?  

G: I got a tremendous amount of light and energy from doing this project.  I feel like every time I sat down and talked with someone, I left those conversations feeling a lot of “warm fuzzies”.  I just felt such great energy in hearing what people are up to in the world.

B: Are we all just valuing the wrong stuff or what?

G: I don’t know if it’s that we are all valuing the wrong stuff, although I think that for some people there could be a component to that. For example, how much more time do we spend on social media rather than face to face, or how much time do we all, myself included, get caught up thinking about all of the things we don’t have rather than the things we do have?  It seems like there are all of these crazy things happening in the world, but I think that’s always been the case, probably since the beginning of time. It’s just louder now and its more in our faces now.  I think that for whatever reason we are collectively taking a step backwards now before we take a couple more leaps forward.

B: What drew you to the people you interviewed? 

G: I think all people in all jobs are interesting and have something they contribute to our society. A lot of the people I interviewed I already knew personally and had gotten something wonderful out of being involved with them in some way, and I wanted to shine a spotlight on that.  Other people I found out about just by being curious about something that I heard going on in our community and then wanting to share it. So there really wasn’t a specific genre or type of person I was looking to profile.  It just happened very organically and naturally as to who the next interview candidate was for me.

B: What led you to question, and why were you so curious to talk to people at all?  

G:  I think by nature I am a curious person about people.  I’m actually a licensed clinical social worker, and all of that background has me endlessly curious about people and their stories and what drives them to do what they do. I’ve always been that way.  I’ve always been fascinated by people and what motivates them and what makes them tick.  Being both a therapist and a photographer is just a combination of me being so invested in people’s stories. 

B: Ok, so what in your mind makes the people tick that you interviewed?

G: I think most people are motivated by a sense of wanting to do something for other people.  I think that was a running theme throughout the project.  It wasn’t just someone offering up a service for the sake of it just being their job.  There was an undercurrent of people being motivated by wanting to contribute to something greater than themselves in the world.  Whether it was someone contributing to educating kids, putting something beautiful out in to the world, or sharing information with the world.  Everybody was motivated in some way to be a part of something bigger.

B: What were your key takeaways from the interviews?  Also, what were your key takeaways from just undertaking this project at all?

G: I think the key takeaway was that we all have a part to play and that we are all making a difference.  I think so many people do things in service to others, even though they themselves can often lose sight of it.  I feel like a big part of why I wanted to do this project was because we are all unsung heroes in our own ways.  No matter what role or profession, people are offering up parts of themselves in some way for other people.  

B: To what extent do you think the people you interviewed ‘get their due’?  Do they care?  Surely people have egos and a need to be recognized at least to some degree, right?

G: I don’t think it’s anything that most people think about regularly when doing their jobs. What I found over time was that everyone I interviewed was extremely appreciative of having a moment to be in the sun and to have their family and friends see them in that light and acknowledge what they do in the world.  When that validation comes, it’s always like a little gift, right?  

B: There really is so much crap that needs to change going on in the world. How much did all of the current politics in the world impact this project?

G: There’s a million things wrong in the world, but in spite of all that there are good things happening in the world too.  The news horrifies me, and our divisiveness in this nation scares me.  All of these things trouble me deeply, but I feel like what came out of the project is that in spite of all of that, there are so many amazing people in this world.

I don’t know the political leanings of the people I interviewed.  I don’t know the specifics of their belief systems.  I don’t know how much we actually would agree on in terms of what’s happening nationally, politically, or globally.  But I do know that I very much respect what they are doing in the world, and I think that the world needs what they are doing.  I think that the heart of this project was to strip away everything that’s wrong with the world and just take a minute to focus on what is right.

B: What surprised you the most across all 29 interviews?

G: I didn’t really have too many expectations for it other than it was just something I wanted to do.  I got a lot of inspiration seeing it be well received by friends and family, and to get comments from people reaching out and telling me how much they loved reading the interviews was really special.  At the end of the day, I always just do things because I feel compelled to do them.  I don’t put a lot of expectations on them and I don’t put a lot of emphasis on the output, and so to see how positive it all was and to see how positive I felt in doing it was just really cool.  

B: I agree, that must be a good feeling.  So how has your view of our community changed and what thoughts do you want to leave people with regarding our community?

G: I’ve always felt that Downers Grove is an amazing community and I’ve always felt really lucky to have landed here.  We’ve always been so grateful to have our little tribe within the neighborhood.  It’s also been fun to just see how interconnected Downers Grove is and how everybody roots for each other.  In spite of what is happening in the country and in the world around us, here is this little village is made up of all of these people doing their part in creating something good and meaningful for the people that live here.

B: I think you have accomplished your goal of highlighting the unique and interesting things people are doing through their everyday jobs.  But on a personal level, what is next for you?

G: I love being a family photographer.  I cherish what I get to do in helping people document their family’s memories and their kids growing up, so I am excited to continue to do that.

One of the next things that is going to happen for me in 2019 is getting back into my clinical therapy practice working with eating disorders, self-injury, body-image, and mood disorders, which is something that’s always been a big part of who I am. Over the last several years, I’ve taken a break from that work, and so I really look forward to professionally throwing my hat back in that ring. 

I think that no matter what your profession or your career is, it’s important to always have something cooking up that you do just because it speaks to your soul or makes you feel a sense of joy.  I have some ideas of personal projects that I’d like to do in 2019 but they are still simmering. Professionally my life will be very full so we will see how that all plays out.  

B: One last thing...anything else you want to say or comment on about the project?  

G:  I would just like to root for people if they feel pulled to do something outside of their comfort zone.  We can all say we don’t have time for something, that we are we just are too busy, or that we don’t feel we can put ourselves out there in some way.  We can get caught up in wondering who will care about our idea or project.  I think it’s just important to take little leaps, whether it’s a creative leap, a project, or something bigger and more personal that you’ve always wanted to do for yourself because it will get you out of bed in the morning. I think it’s far too easy when we are on the hamster wheel of life to set aside those little things that actually are going to fill our cup and to put things out into the world that reflect who we are and what we are really passionate about.  I think that when we do that, it’s inspiring for all of us.

For the complete 30 interview series on The One of a Million Project, visit oneofamillionproject.com For more information about Gina’s photography work, visit lifelensandlove.com. To find out more about Gina’s clinical work, visit ginagrahamlcsw.com

Meet Dale and Cindi

No matter what we do, what we do matters. 

Meet Dale Emmet and Cindi Roselieb. At the start of 2018, Dale and Cindi created Everyday Deep, a monthly creative community meeting in Downers Grove, IL that inspires women to realize their deeper stories and potential. Dale’s experience as a Spiritual Director and Cindi’s work as a Positive Psychology Coach bring the spirit of exploration and depth to the monthly gatherings by offering featured topics and speakers to inspire and share their stories.

G: How did the Everyday Deep Community get started?

D: We had both been through our respective trainings and were both ready to go out into the world with our work. We realized that there were a lot of interesting women in our community who also wanted to get their work and their stories out in the world, so that was really how it all unfolded. We noticed that there wasn’t a platform for women to share their wisdom. We just hoped to bring inspiration to an audience of women for them to think about what’s on their hearts and what’s important to them.

C: It was really born out of a transitional period that we were both in. Our kids were getting a little bit older and we had both pursued what we were really interested in. We decided early on that we wanted to keep our eyes and ears open to what other women in our community were doing, and it has just really taken off.

G: You both went through these midlife transitions. How did your previous backgrounds impact what you are doing now?

C: I have a social work degree, and so I have always been more oriented towards relationship and self-help work. 

D: My background was in marketing and entrepreneurial endeavors and I feel like Everyday Deep brings together my creative talents, but for a purpose and to help others. I also was a reporter years ago and have a natural interest in getting to know people's stories. Spiritual direction is really about that for me as well and Everyday Deep is an extension of this work.

G: What would you say is the heart and soul of Everyday Deep?

D: I carried the two words “everyday” and “deep” around for a long time. I am really drawn to finding meaning in our lives, and finding a spirituality that is really about being human and our everyday lives. It’s about real and relatable women sharing their deeper selves and stories. There’s something awesome about seeing a famous speaker or author, but I think there is something really powerful about hearing from people who are right here in our community, and knowing you are not alone. You are hearing about things that people have been through, challenges they have had, and passions they have followed. I think that’s really meaningful. Our community really gives women an opportunity to share all of that. 

G: How did that first meeting last January come about?

C: We had an initial concept, but it changed pretty quickly. We knew we wanted to capture the momentum of the New Year and so we pushed it to start it then. The community was Dale’s concept and we both spoke at the first meeting, but we knew when we started that we wanted to find other women to share and not just keep presenting material ourselves each month.

D: I have said at the meeting that sometimes your heart knows before your head knows. There was this calling and moving towards want I wanted to create, and even now it continues to become more and more articulated. We do follow a lot of the Ted Talk format, and it evolved into each month featuring three speakers centered around a particular theme each speaking for about 20 minutes. 

G: After those initial meetings, what was the feedback about this idea that you had given birth to and this community that you had created?

D: From the beginning, we've wanted Everyday Deep to unfold organically. It started with our friends and grew to friends of friends to friends of speakers and outward from there. There are many connections in the room and that keeps a sense of community even as we grow. We've also grown into a bigger space, moving in September to The Treehouse, a creative space that is a wonderful setting for our gatherings. I remember one woman early on coming up to me after a gathering and excitedly saying, "What is this?!!" It really is a simple yet unique concept to see everyday women on a small stage sharing what's important to them. I think some of the best feedback too is that many people who have come from the beginning keep coming and several people who have come to see a friend speak come again after that  - and may even bring someone new along with them. Knowing that there are so many women who are interesting and interested has been great to see. We are just so grateful for the support of the community.

C: I recently got great feedback from a friend. We say in our logo to “jump into life” and this friend told me that she finally said yes to something she had been afraid to do because she’d felt inspired by one of the speaker’s stories. She had been empowered by what she heard here and decided to act. Anytime you hear that, that’s really what it’s all about. We have talked about what our individual gifts are, and we have been able to see on this journey how we have come together and each bring something to the process. It has been a surprise and really has taken on a life of its own.

D: There is something in our collaboration that both balances us but forces us both to grow in the strengths that we see in the other person, which has been neat to see. 

G: The whole vibe of what you are doing is based on the message to jump in and not be afraid to do something that is interesting to you or calling on your heart. Having an idea and vision is one thing. Executing it, though, is a whole other level, and often what holds people back. How have you overcome the challenges and obstacles of starting something up that initially was just a vision?

C: I'll be honest, I am definitely a work in progress on this subject!  Last month, right before our meeting started, I had overwhelming feelings of self-doubt and panic when I saw the size of the crowd. I have some experience speaking in front of people and leading small groups but have never done anything on this scale. I think focusing on being genuine, remembering your reasons for doing what you're doing and being willing to admit that you don't have all the answers is key.  

D: We are just everyday women getting up there. Part of the feedback that I am hearing is that if we can do it, so can someone else. We truly are living and showing the message in what we are saying. This is all new stuff to us. I definitely have pieces in my background that help me, but I have never done anything like this before. And we are inviting others to do the same. We are here to support and celebrate one another.

G: How has the group evolved throughout the year?

D: Finding the Treehouse, this open creative space here in Downers Grove has been great. We keep getting more and more people so we have had a space management issue. The whole thing has really just been organic in trying to find the next thing and just paying attention to how it is unfolding.

G: What do you see happening in 2019 for Everyday Deep?

D: We're now planning a separate small group program in addition to our big group get-togethers. It seems like the natural next thing. We are hoping to create a smaller, more interactive and intimate experience for participants who also want to explore their own deeper selves and stories.

G: What I love about this is that it keeps evolving and shifting. You are both so open to how it can continue to grow and serve the women in our community. What advice would you give to people who have an idea or have something they are thinking about doing in the world?

C: I think it’s really important to take the time to get quiet. I think that people really need to allow themselves that inner work. I also think it can be helpful to look to what others are doing that you think are aligned with what you want to do. Doing research into what others are doing, what you like about it, and how they are doing it can also help to hone in on what you want to do to serve it forward.

D: I think you need to incubate something, and to give it thought and reflection. At some point, though, you do have to take action. It’s such a personal thing, but just to know that those two parts are equally important. Both taking some steps and then drawing inward are both a part of that. I think knowing your “why” is critical. If you have to do things that are hard, or make you nervous, knowing your "why" makes those things worth doing.

G: Obviously a big part of your “why” is about the focus on community. Talk to me about what is meaningful for you about local community.

C: Knowing that you are not alone is a huge part of it. We are all living the same story, it’s just in a different order or with different characters. I think that when you are in a community of like-minded people it’s very empowering.

D: That mix of being both a part of community, but then standing out and sharing your individuality is important. My “why” is very much about all of us being authentically and fully who we are, as best as we can. I just think this is a vehicle for people sharing little pieces of that.

For more information and updates about meeting times, visit everydaydeep.com. You can also find the community Facebook page for updates and events on The Everyday Deep Facebook Group.

Meet Mary and Kathleen

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Mary Blanchard and Kathleen March. Mary and Kathleen started a program for local parents called Raising a Resilient Child at Anderson’s Bookstore in downtown Downers Grove, IL, where Kathleen is employed. The program, a free monthly meeting for parents with kids of all ages, features a new topic and speaker each month to give parents tools and resources to help their children grow in resilience and coping in these fast-paced and changing times.

G: How did Raising A Resilient Child get started?

K: It all started during the 2016 Election Campaign. The talk of the election was about the travel ban and banning Muslims, and the way that I cope with things that bother me in that way is to come into work and find books to educate our community about these issues. I found every possible book that I had and put it on display, and then worried that I might get fired, but I still felt good about it. Within a few hours, I had a Muslim-American woman come in and tell me how good it felt to come into our store and see herself and her son represented in the book display. The next day, another community member came in and commented in a positive way. It was at this time that I realized that you can take issues that are happening and use literature to educate and inform. It was then that the Raising a Global Citizen Program was born. 

M: Raising a Resilient Child morphed out of that first program. It was geared towards helping parents talk with their children about some of these tougher issues. At that time, as a country we were facing a refugee crisis. How do you talk to your kids about that? How do you teach your children about Islam in a positive light, rather than what we all hear about in the news? We all know that books and stories are ways to do that. At that time, Kathleen pulled all of what she could find in children’s literature so that parents could talk to their children about some of these issues and help broaden their children’s perspectives and their worlds.

G: How to Raise a Global Citizen ran through the year of 2017. Then what happened?

K: It had run its course and I felt we had covered just about every topic. It was tied to current events, and I felt there was still a need here and was trying to figure out what it was. It was then that I met Mary through being a customer here, and getting to know her and her son’s story, that I realized How to Raise A Resilient Child was going to be our next thing.

M: My son was really struggling, and Kathleen and I started talking about what was going on in our community and what we were hearing from parents and others. It was around this time that there was another suicide completion at the high school and the librarian said that the library had been his safe haven. She realized the importance of having resources in the library for kids to help them.

G: Mary, can you tell me more about your son’s story?

M: My son Dylan struggled early on with school refusal, and some issues that manifested as physical symptoms. We never realized that it was anxiety. When he was in high school, he ended up with a misdiagnosed medial issue. There was trauma and stress that came out of dealing with it, and he had some classic symptoms of narcotic withdrawal from the pain medications his doctors put him on for surgery. He just slid deeper and deeper at that point with missing school, and struggling with these issues, and I didn’t know what to do or how to advocate for him. Within a year, he fell into anxiety and depression, and it was a long battle. It was an anxious time for me, and I wasn’t always getting great advice or direction. When he started to get better, he started to share his story, and I felt that if he was brave enough to share, then maybe I could be brave enough to share. And I felt that maybe I could help other parents going through something similar. 

G: That is such a desperate situation. That’s where the power of having resources and connection can really pull you through. 

K: It was around this time that we were having coffee and the idea of these issues were in the back of my head, and I just didn’t know what the next thing was. It was at that meeting that it all came together and I just told Mary, “I know what you need to do. You need to help me” and that was really the start of it all.

M: We wanted to offer this monthly support for parents as a way to fight against the stigma of mental health. Fifty years ago, people wouldn't talk about cancer out loud, they would call it the “c word” or whisper it. Mental illness is the “cancer” of our time. We need to talk about it to annihilate stigma. At our first meeting we didn’t know what to expect, but we expected it to be small. We kept having to get more chairs for people coming in, and we were just bowled over with the response.

K: We knew we wanted it to be a safe space where people would feel like they could open up and talk about some of these darker, harder things that are going on in their families, and we were so blown away not just by the response, but by how open and trusting people were. We had to keep getting boxes of tissues.

G: What are some of the topics you have done?

M: There have been several running themes that have continued to surface. We worked with Hope for the Day, the suicide prevention organization for the first presentation. We have talked about going back to school, friendships, and bullying. We have talked about building up resilience for kids with self-care, how to have quality face-to-face time as a family, and how to have a family value system and system of priorities. We feel that the only way to start changing the societal construct of treating our children's lives like commodities is if parents make that change from the ground up. Schools are reacting to demands of parents and will continue to until we change our priorities for our children.

G: What has been the response from the participants in the group and in the community?

K: I think the biggest response is “thank you”. While I knew on the surface what was going on with kids in our community, to see these parents who had no idea where to turn to leave with hope, with ideas and resources and feeling better, has been the biggest thing.

M: What is really cool is to see parents come into the group and share ideas with each other. Every time someone says one thing, another parent offers something up. And this was really the idea, to create this community that could be there for one another and interact in that way.

One of the members of our group that has come each month said recently that she always comes with an open mind and always leaves with something she never would have thought of. She mentioned that her son came home with a grade on his report card she didn't expect and she was able to temper her response because of the things we've been discussing each month. 

G: What do you see happening with Raising a Resilient Child in 2019?

M: There are several topics that we haven’t covered, like college, sports for kids, and grieving. My son will be home from college on break this month is going to share his story and his experience, and I am hoping he can give parents some ideas in supporting their kids. 

K: Parents can even bring their kids this month to hear Dylan’s talk so that they can hear that they are not alone. In this day and age, where every family seems perfect on Instagram or Facebook, you can feel like a bad parent. This idea of not being alone in something has been a huge undercurrent in the work we are doing.

G: I feel like you are filling such a void for our community. We are all here together. Our kids are all students in this community. We are all parents in this community. They say, “It takes a village”. This is our village, and we are all here for each other. What else can you share about the power of community, which is at the heart of this group and what is ahead?

M: It’s about creating something that is allowing people to show up in person. We hope to hold new conversations about race. We need to talk about these things that are stigmatized and difficult to talk about that are fraying the fabric of our communities, ourselves and our country. 

K: Our focus in 2019 is going to be on our community through our stories. The one thing we all share together is our humanity and we express that through the stories of ourselves. When we forget that, when we forget to listen to those, that’s when division strikes. It’s the one thing we all have in common. 

The next meeting of Raising a Resilient Child will be held on December 13 at 6:30 pm. For more information go to andersonsbookshop.com. You can find out more about the group and follow along on Facebook at Raising a Resilient Child.

Meet Nancy

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Nancy Economou. While traveling with her husband to the Philippines in 2009, Nancy volunteered her time to help out at a local feeding program. While there, she was struck by the number of children and adults who had severe burns due to kerosene lamps, the only light source in the village. A mother of five, Nancy felt called to do something to help. It was in those moments that Watts of Love was born, now located in Downers Grove, IL. According to Watts of Love, “ 1.1 Billion People in the world live without electricity. That means more people live in darkness today than when the first light bulb was invented.”  

G: Tell me about that trip that inspired Watts of Love.

N: I had a house full of babies when my husband asked me to go on that business trip with him. I just felt like I was supposed to go there. While I was there, I wanted to go out and see how the locals were really living. I decided to volunteer my time at a feeding program. While there, I met a young girl who had scars and burns all over her face, and they were putting toothpaste on it. When I asked what they were doing, they explained that kids and adults were getting these terrible burns, and then were back in these situations every night that were causing the trauma. It was then that I learned about how they were living in this village with only these kerosene lamps for lighting. I came home from that trip and just felt called to bring solar lights to people, even though it didn’t make sense to me.

G: Did you know anything about solar lights at the time?

N: Nothing. I had no background in anything like this. These people were living in darkness, and that’s all I knew. The name Watts of Love came to me pretty quickly and I started to tell people about it. I knew I wanted to find the poorest people on the face of the earth. I just decided that if I was going to do this, this was how I wanted to serve. 

Around that time, I met a woman, and she was telling me about a company she was starting. When I told her about my dream, she looked at me and said, “You were given that dream for a reason. Don’t give up on it”. From my own personal faith, I truly believe that I will be held accountable for the desires of my heart, and I don’t want to be standing there wondering what would have happened had I not stepped out in faith. 

G: How did you get your start? How did people around you react to what you decided to do?

N: The reaction that I got a lot at first was that my idea was strange. It was pretty clear to me that I knew nothing about non-profits and solar lighting. I also had no idea how to find the people that needed them. In 2012, I was living with this idea, and then in July I decided to register the name with the State of Illinois. From there, I just started asking myself what my next step was. It became a process of getting things going and just moving forward. 

G: Tell me about that first trip to deliver solar lights?

N: The goal of the first trip was to get back to the Philippines where my heart was changed. I knew of a priest who was living there on an island that was so primitive that people were literally starving to death. The goal was to get 1,000 lights there. I knew nothing about getting lights imported into Manila and then onto a barge to get to this island. Logistically it was almost impossible. When I got to the island, all of my lights were stuck in customs, and I felt like a failure. I had only three lights in my suitcase. 

I told the priest to find three of the poorest people that we could give these lights to. So instead of distributing 1,000 lights all at one time, which was my original vision, I had to go to a woman’s house, learn her name, look in her eyes, and give her the light. I got to see how she lived. She had never owned a pair of shoes and the entire back of her house was burned.

The second light I gave out was to a mother of seven kids. When I went to check on her the next day, she told me that after she put her kids to bed, she stayed up and made 1,000 bamboo barbecue sticks. It was then that I realized the value and the ability to produce an income for this woman by having this light. Because I got to listen to these stories, I slowed down enough to process the impact and the financial implications of giving light to these people. 

The third light was given to a man and his wife who had no food. When I returned to them on the next trip 30 days later, they reported that they hadn’t gone hungry since getting the light because they didn’t have to pay each day for kerosene.

G: It sounds like it hit you pretty quickly that you were giving these villagers more than just light to see by at night and a safer way to go about their lives when the sun was down. Tell me more about what that was like?

N: When we came home after those first trips, we created a model of education about how the light can impact education, safety, income and sustainability for the recipients. We give them the tool, and then teach them to be empowered themselves. 

We did a capstone study with NYU in January on the impacts of Watts of Love in Haiti, and the study showed that the two biggest factors that came out of the light distribution was self-worth and economic freedom.  Who would have thought you could create those changes with a solar powered light? You can literally lift a family out of poverty in one generation. The impact is incredible to see. Watts of Love has a global solution for eradicating darkness and changing peoples’ lives. We have given out over 30,000 lights in over 30 countries in five years.

G: How have you processed all of this? Within six years of starting this with a vision, it has grown so much. It is literally changing the fabric of communities. 

N: It gives me a sense of urgency. You see how immediately a village can transform, so I am motivated to tell as many people as possible. I have a whole plan for starting to light entire nations. 

G: How has the technology evolved since you started out?

N: When we first started distributing the lights, the original light was really good. It has a solar panel and MP3 and radio capability, which means they can hear news of the outside world. Before they were so cut off. Now we can give them information about issues like hurricanes, human trafficking, and information that was never available to them before. The light itself has evolved into something that can go further and farther into the remote areas. I just designed and patented a new one with Molex here in Lisle to cut down on the shipping and packaging costs. We went from twelve lights in a box to over 100 lights in a smaller box. It’s more portable. It’s water-resistant. They can physically wear this new light on their body or on their head and be hands free or it can hang somewhere in their home. It doesn’t seem like it’s a big deal, but it’s a huge deal. It’s a game-changer. 

G: I’m blown away by all of the moving parts and pieces, innovation, and learning curve for you. How have you managed all of that along the way? You knew nothing about any of this when this idea hit you.

N: I am willing to be teachable, vulnerable, and make a mistake. And I am willing to ask for help. I also know what I am good at, and then I am getting comfortable with what I am not good at and finding the resources that can help me. I think it’s important to be okay filling in our weaknesses and our gaps with the help of others. 

G: You are a Mom of five boys. Watts of Love calls on you to travel all over the world. How do you juggle it all? 

N: It comes down to what you have control over and where you place value, and that’s different for everyone. I have been both a stay at home mom, and a working Mom, and everyone has to decide what’s right for them. For me, what I have invested into has shifted radically. My laundry is not up to date. My house is not as clean as it used to be. It’s about releasing the control of what used to maybe look better and just being okay with letting some of that go. I also make a point to teach my boys to cook and to clean. They are young men, and it’s about becoming more of a unit in getting things done, which I believe has allowed them to mature in a lot of ways. We made a decision as a family about what we value, and we invest our time and energy there. I believe this investment has changed the course of their lives. With my older sons, I am now getting to see them now carry it into their own lives.

G: What do you want people in our community to know about Watts of Love?

N: All are welcome. That’s it. That’s really the biggest thing for us. We can make excuses for not getting involved because we differ on religious views or political views. Light shines on all equally, no matter where you stand. We need passionate people with purpose to come alongside us. 

Mark your calendars for Giving Tuesday on November 27. For more information about Watts of Love, visit wattsoflove.org

Meet Amy

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Amy Brown. Amy is the owner of Evelyn Jane Boutique in Downtown Downers Grove, IL, and most recently Evelyn on Second, the sister store in Elmhurst, IL. Amy has a thoughtful and curated collection in both stores of jewelry, gift, and bespoke items to offer local shoppers.

G: This project is all about our local community. I have always loved your store, and you are always a friendly face when I come into the shop. I just think your shop is something really special for our downtown.

A: Thank you. That has been the biggest part of this. Just getting to know people and seeing familiar faces come in the store. Now that I have a second location, I am the new kid there, and it’s a lot of unfamiliar faces coming in. It has been fun getting to know new people at the second store, and then when I come back into the Downers Grove store, it’s like coming home. Most of the people that come in, I recognize, and it’s so awesome. I love it.

G: Tell me about this original store. How did it all come about?

A: My background is in retail. I started working part-time in retail in high school, and then full-time for 16 years starting in college and over breaks. I worked for Crate and Barrel for a lot of those years and really loved it. At one point, they started restructuring, and things started changing. At that point I felt like maybe it was time to move on. I always had the idea of a store like this sitting on my shoulder. It’s like it was always right there somewhere, and it always kept coming back to that. Then I got serious about looking at space, writing a business plan, and seeing if it could work. There were certainly obstacles, but by and large the universe was definitely pointing me in this direction so I just decided to go for it.

G: I love that. Tell me about the obstacles. It sounds like you had the end game in mind, but in starting a business it’s always those things we don’t know about or learn along the way that are there and can be challenging.

A: The first thing I did was look for a space. It was January of 2013, and I was ready to figure out what my next moves would be. I peeked in the window of the store, which was up for rent, and I thought it would be perfect. I knew I needed some help in writing a business plan and so I was lucky enough to work with a few retired businessmen who help individuals starting up. It’s tough for sure starting up a business and securing a loan, but my husband, who works in finance, has been so supportive and helpful. He never doubted my ability to make it successful. At the end of the day, it is as big risk. I had this vision, but I didn’t really know what it was going to look like in reality. I felt for sure that there was a niche for a shop like this in Downers Grove, but you can’t assume anything.

G: It sounds like you had a very clear vision for the store and what you wanted to offer to the community. Tell me about that vision. What is the essence of the store about?

A: I always had friends who were creative. They were makers and they were artists, and back when I was in college, there was no Etsy. There were no craft festivals, or an online presence for people who made things. I always used to joke with my friends that I was going to open up a place where they could sell their wares. There was nothing like that at the time. So even then I had that idea to have a place with an artisanal flair, but was also casual and fun and energetic and young. I grew up in Downers Grove and I always shopped the businesses here, but there were things I knew I couldn’t get or weren’t being offered in a lot of the local stores at that time, and I just wanted it to be a fun place with good music playing and a comfortable atmosphere for people to shop locally.

G: I love the idea that someone’s craft can be offered up as a gift or as something to purchase. Tell me about the importance to you of shopping local and sourcing in our community. And what do you feel the value is in that?

A: I have been featuring local artisans and makers since day one. It is such a pleasure meeting talented people from the area, getting to know them, showing off, and hopefully selling their work. One of my vendors Becky, the incredible poncho maker, even started working part-time at the shop last year! I love having this local representation and the customers love it too.Over time, I have been able to hone in on what I need to offer and what the community seems to want. In that I have discovered that the community likes to buy fair trade items, or merchandise with meaning in one way or another. So now it is a blend of different sources. I have also evolved to a place where I have rounded out my collection, so that I have a variety of different price points, based on demand within the community. I still offer a lot of artisanal or handmade items, or things made in the USA, but what I have learned from that is that of course you can have a vision, and you have to be true to that vision, but you also have to be flexible enough to find and offer what your customers are asking for and to appeal to as many of my customers as you can.

G: You used the phrase “merchandise with meaning”. What does that mean to you? What do you hope your customers experience while here or take out of here when they leave the store?

A: One thing that I hear over and over, which I love, is that customers will see something and say that it is something they have never seen before in another store. To me that is the greatest compliment. I love finding fair trade items or items made in communities that give opportunities to the women making the items, or women who have been victims of human trafficking. Those things have always appealed to me, and I have been pleasantly surprised at how much that appeals to my customers as well. It is such a win-win.

G: I love that there is an ask for that. We live in a time when we can go online and order something from Amazon that can be delivered later that day. It’s an interesting time for local small business owners in light of this climate.

A: We all shop that way. As the owner of a local brick and mortar store, it’s always something that is looming. I find that it’s not that big of an issue though. People in this community definitely want to support their local businesses. They don’t want to see vacant shops. One thing that I pride myself on and I really strive for is to make the experience of shopping in my store special. To create an experience in such a way that it makes people want to come in to the store. I also offer things that may not be that easy to find online in that marketplace. I also try to be very fair in my pricing. Most of all I do really believe that the experience and the relationships that are formed with my customers in shopping here is enough to keep them coming here. 

G: I am so glad to hear that. Tell me about opening your second store and what it has meant to you.

A: It’s been a great experience. I love to do this, so it’s just been fun expanding what I do. It’s been doing well and it’s exciting to see that there is another town supporting a shop like this. It’s been hard to be away from and missing my customers here, but I am building new relationships with customers there, and at the heart of this for me it’s all about building relationships. I have enjoyed getting to meet new people in my own way, as the local shopkeeper. 

G: Tell me about how you manage it all. Running your own business is more than a full-time job, and you are a Mom and have a lot of different roles in your life. What keeps you afloat?

A: I love what I do. Work-life balance of course is a challenge, and sometimes I end up working at night or at home. Some people unwind by reading a book, but I never mind doing my work. I have an amazing husband who is totally supportive and knew going into this that he would be involved both at home and at the shop. Having family support from him and my parents has been absolutely essential. And I have a great staff. I have people that I trust. I have great friends and we reciprocate helping each other out. I have learned to not be afraid to ask for help. They say “it takes a village”, but it’s true. 

My 10 year-old son is very aware of how much I work, and we call it “our business”. I think it’s important for him to know that if I miss a game or I am out of town on a buying trip that it’s never more important than him. I also think it’s important for my son to see me follow my dreams, and to have an example of what it looks like to go out and do something that makes you happy and be successful. I think those are good values for him to see, and that helps me with that Mom guilt. My friends really helped me to see that. A fulfilled parent is an important example for your child. 

G: What would you tell someone out there who has a dream or a vision, but is afraid to take a risk?

A: I think you have to listen to that inner voice. Intuition is so key. I think people need to really tune into that. The answers aren’t always right there. You have to find your way of listening to your voice and looking for that direction. It’s there, but I think we are all too busy to slow down and listen to it. I would also say to find who your support people are and lean on them. Find the people that believe in you and will encourage you. And realizing that if it doesn’t work out it’s not going to define you. There is always something else out there. 

For more about Amy and to visit Evelyn Jane Boutique, visit www.evelynjaneboutique.com. And don’t forget to shop Small Business Saturday on November 24. 

Meet Julie

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Julie Chen. Julie is a book designer at Tyndale House Publishers in Wheaton, IL. In addition to her work there, Julie is an accomplished photographer and artist, and the creator of Life Verse Design. A true artist, Julie is an inspiration in creative expression.

G: I want to hear all about your job. What do you do, and how do you do it?

J: I am a Senior Designer at Tyndale House Publishers. I have been there on and off for 21 years. I design books, and I love it! People don’t always understand what a book designer does, because they often think I am the author, the photographer, or the illustrator. To which I tell them “no, no and no”. I then explain that I put the face on the book. The covers always come to me only with the title, the byline, and then the manuscript. I work with a team, and we begin the process, usually before the book is even fully written. The work that we do is a key part of marketing the book before it is released.

G: What is the whole process like from start to finish?

J: The Acquisitions Editor will give me a synopsis of the book. Sometimes I get a manuscript, or a table of contents. We go through key words of what the audience should think or feel when they view the cover. Do we want them to feel calm and hopeful? Do we want them to feel intrigued? Do we want the author to appear trustworthy? We talk about the audience. No two projects are the same, which is one of the things I like about my job. I am always getting to do something new and fresh and different. It’s a lot of problem-solving and creativity.

Everything on the cover has some meaning. I am always thinking about colors, typography, and images to create the art for the cover. It’s more than just creating a pretty face. As the designer, I create anywhere from 5-7 covers for each book to present to my design team, which we then present to the marketing and acquisitions teams.

G: There is so much that goes into the designing of a book cover. Oftentimes, it’s the thing that we gravitate towards the most when we are picking up a book. And yet, most of us don’t realize the depth and thought that goes into creating that cover.

J: People always say, “Never judge a book by it’s cover”. But I always say, “You should choose a book by it’s cover!”. It’s the first thing someone sees. We have five seconds to grab someone’s attention, especially in today’s age of shopping on Amazon. We are all overloaded with visuals all the time.

G: Right? We are all scrolling through and so bombarded, more so than ever, with what we see visually. And you are having to compete with all of that.

J: Yes, that’s true. Another thing I think is interesting about book design is that people go to the library or the book store, and they never think about the five to twenty covers that were rejected before the book got to that point. Any book you see out in the world has a cover that was not the first one that was created.

G: Tell me about that. In the creative process, sometimes we can get invested in something that we make. But in this sense, the author might reject what you have created. Your team might reject it. How do you handle that rejection?

J: It’s come with 21 years of experience. I am very passionate about my work. I am not going to go half-way. I am all-in or nothing. So, I will give it my heart and soul until the end. Dealing with the rejection comes with time and learning to trust the team. I think one thing that helps that process is looking back at past books I have done. The covers might not have been my favorite at the time, but now that the book is out into the world and I see the whole scope of the project and who is gravitating towards that book, I can look at it and feel confident knowing it was the right cover for what it had to be, even though it might not artistically be the most creative or my favorite.

G: You get to see these books go out into the world and end up on people’s bookshelves, at the library, at the beach or the pool. What is it like for you to take a seed of a creative idea and see it published and given expression?

J: It is very humbling. It’s joyful. Every day when I go to work and even think about my work, it is such an honor to do what I do, because I know that every book cover that I create, and every Bible that I help create, is going to touch and literally change lives. I’ll never forget the first time I saw a book that I worked on in an actual bookstore. I was with my husband and I just felt giddy, like a kid in a candy store. I felt like, “I did that!”. It’s an awesome thing to be a part of.

G: You obviously love what you do. You are such a creative person, and when it’s your job, can it sometimes be hard to find that inspiration? How do you deal with the ebb and flow of creativity and the muse? How do you push through the creative ruts?

J: Pinterest is a great resource, and I am always pinning books. The big thing for me is my co-workers though. At Tyndale we work as a team, so that helps. We bounce things off of each other and they can bring their strengths to my weaknesses. My strength is always the image, finding photography, and art directing the illustrators. My covers are always image-driven. But I will also just go to Anderson’s or another bookstore and just get lost. I also use word lists when I get stuck and they spin off ideas and colors.

G: You are also a photographer and are such an artist all around. What are the things that fill your creative well?

J: My first thought is nature, for sure. I definitely come to life in nature. It’s everything. The lines, the branches, the textures, the colors changing. Just the little small details of flowers, the grandeur of the mountains. All of that. I just really live life to the fullest when I am out in nature. I also collect children’s books. I just love picture books. They inspire me so much. I don’t know how that translates to my job, but I am sure it does in some way. But I have a deep appreciation for illustration.

G: Are you an avid reader? What is it you feel about reading is important? Why are books important?

J: My kids are big readers, probably because I read so many children’s books to them. If I do get time to pick up a book, it will likely be non-fiction. I want to learn and be changed by it. I think books are great tools to inspire us, to change us, to give us knowledge. And then on the other side, I think of my 13 year-old, who escapes through books. It’s really cool how a book can put you in this whole different world. In a movie, someone has already visualized it all for you. But when you read a book, you get to do all of that imagination in your head. I just think it is so important to fill your shelves with books.

G: I agree. I think there is something magical about what we get out of books and carry into our lives. There are so many ways we are affected by what we see or read. You are a busy, working Mom of three. How do you juggle it all?

J: Definitely my spiritual life. Reading my bible, and prayer. Talking walks with the dog. Being out in nature in the fresh air. Even if it is freezing cold out. I love photography, and that is a personal creative outlet for me. In the last two years I have started exercising more. I am not always a good self-care person. I can tend to pour myself out too much. But I try to exercise three or four days a week and make that a priority even when I don’t feel like it. I never regret going, and I feel like it makes a difference. Spending time with friends is always big for me. The laundry will always be there, but if a friend needs to go for a walk and talk, I’ll do that. Relationships are very important to me.

G: Is there anything else you want to share?

J: Looking back on my life, I was very influenced by my high school art teacher. I often think about how important it is for us to encourage our kids in their giftedness. I had parents who were so supportive. Going into the arts is a risk. Not many people make it. Not many are able to use their passion as their job, so I always think about how fortunate I have been to be really encouraged by that teacher and my parents. To then give my dreams over to God and see Him make them come true has been amazing. I will joke with my husband, “I got paid to paint today!”. It’s just the best. So, I would just say to encourage your kids in their passions and what they love. You never know what they will make of it.

For more information about Julie and her personal work, visit lifeversedesign.com

Meet Chad

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Chad Esslinger. Chad is a designer who took a leap in 2011 to start his own interior design firm in Downers Grove, IL. Chad has transformed the homes and interiors for countless people, and has been featured on HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation.

G: I am a visual person and love interior design, the creative process, and how spaces come together. How did you get into interior design?

C: I have always really loved everything about homes and where people live. When I was growing up, my Grandmother had a beautiful historic home that she maintained really well and she entertained there a lot. She had nice furniture and it was just a beautiful space, and I always remembered that. I remember thinking early on that the home is so important. It’s your sanctuary. It’s your happy place. It’s your place. I just always felt really connected to things inside the home.

G: As you grew up, did you know that this is what you wanted to do?

C: I was always a really creative kid. I was really into Transformers, but I didn’t have the actual toys. I did, though, have tons of Legos so I just built my own, and I was always trying to build things and problem-solve that way. I went to The University of Illinois with the intention of studying architecture. While I was there I found out about Industrial Design, designing products for industry. After graduation, I was doing design and product development of home décor and furniture for large retailers and wholesalers, which required a lot of traveling both domestic and overseas. But as I got older and started a family, the work-life balance wasn’t there. With the support of my wife, I knew I had the chance to rethink my career. So in 2011, when my youngest was born, I decided to start my own business. 

G: I always love talking to people who start their own businesses. It’s super gutsy.

C: I knew I wanted to do more product design of furniture and home décor. I also knew though, that eventually I wanted to do more interior design and work with people who owned homes, not just people who made things. Slowly I started doing small projects for friends and family:a gallery wall of frames, a small kitchen remodel, furniture layouts for a living room. I discovered that my passion is designing spaces for people to love and enjoy for years and years. Now, 7 years later, my work is almost 100% residential interior design, with some graphic design and creative work for local organizations from time to time.

G: Did you have a specific vision or dream at the time? Or has it resulted in something unexpected and organic?

C: At that time, I was commuting and traveling all the time, and that lifestyle of working for companies designing products just gave me no joy anymore. I had this vision of what my life could be in being self-employed. It would mean being close to home, having a home office, and being there for my family. It meant that I could be there for soccer practice. I knew I would figure the work part of it out, but that whole work-life balance was really important to me. I also liked the idea of meeting new people and working with them face-to-face to make their homes functional and beautiful. I liked the fact that I could do that versus sit behind a desk and create things in the hopes that somebody eventually would enjoy them. 

G: When you think back to that time starting out, putting it all together and seeing those spaces come together, what do you remember that being like? What resonated with you?

C: I remember walking around the city one day years ago, and a house that I passed by had a birdhouse that I had designed. I thought it was really cool that something I designed was being used and enjoyed by someone, versus something that just goes on a shelf somewhere and maybe somebody buys it someday. When I started doing interior design with clients and their homes would start to take shape, I got that immediate feeling from them that I was making a difference in their life. That their home was becoming a place where they wanted to entertain, and to be with their friends and family. I have always felt that your home is your most important place to be. It made me feel good to help these people with their spaces. Before I was kind of detached from that.

Most people I work with have kids. Having a place where you can raise a family and have everyone be comfortable and feel nurtured is so important. It’s a crazy world out there. And as a parent, it is cool to design a place where all the kids want to be and hang out with their friends. 

G: I have always felt that there is something meaningful about being in a beautiful space. We can even look to nature to see how the world was meant to be beautiful, colorful and pleasing to the eye. 

C: A lot of people want their spaces to be trendy, or what I say is more of a “museum of pretty things”. On the surface it’s beautiful, but it can feel shallow. My goal is to make it beautiful but also meaningful. I like to combine things that are personal, like things that you have been given from your Grandmother, photographs, or things you got from a trip, and see how that ties in to something new that you buy, or the paint colors that you choose. Anybody can just look in a magazine and make their house “pretty”, but the important part is that you walk into a space and it tells a story of who you are, who your family is, how you came to be, or your perspective on life. It makes your home that much richer because it brings all of your experiences from your whole life into your home. 

I believe that every room should have a function, a flow, a reason to be, and a story. It just feels really good to bring a sense of calm and comfort to the home, because the home is the most important place for people. I tell people that if they look in their home, the things in their home should either have a specific function or give them a positive feeling. I try to create spaces that exude positivity and joy.

G: What is your approach in working with clients?

C: I always tell people as the project starts that I want to be an extension of who they are, a voice for them. Everyone comes in with a different perspective, and most people know what they like or they don’t like, they just don’t know how to make it all work together in their house. I don’t want to come in and just change it for the sake of change. I try to listen and learn from them and I want to ask questions and help them find the answers for themselves. At the end it really feels like a collaborative project, not a situation where they left the house and came back and it was transformed. Our homes are never really “done”, right? But I always try to leave a project in a place where clients feel confident making tweaks on their own, or if they don’t they can call me again.

G: You mentioned big reveals for tv, and we have to talk about your appearance on HGTV. What was it like to get that call?

C: Well, it was life-changing. It was an incredible experience but it was also a real project, with real clients, and it was just really fun. It was amazing. 

G: There are always issues and a major need for problem-solving with renovations. You are also working with people with different personalities, on a project that is very personal, their homes. How do you deal with all of those challenges and the potential for conflict?

C: I try to be a neutral party, like the glue that sticks things together or the oil that keeps things moving. It is inevitable that there will be issues. Every project is different, and it is tough. When I become aware that things are going off the rails, I just stay present and address it head on before more money is spent and mistakes are made. It’s a total juggling act.

G: You run your own business, handle multiple projects at once, and are also a Dad and have a family and a life outside of work. What are some of your go-to ways to stay afloat and keep all of the balls in the air?

C: It’s tough because I work from home, and so, if I let myself, I could end up working every waking moment. The challenge for me is when to shut it down. I am constantly thinking and working, and there are definitely times when I am working late at night after my kids go to bed. Having someone who can help with the kids after school, delegating things, and my wife working close to home also helps. We all do our part and just make it work.

G: What you do is super creative, and every project is different. Your clients all have a different aesthetic.  What keeps you inspired? 

C: I am inspired by a lot of things. I am inspired by other designers, seeing who can push the envelope and do different things. I am inspired by travel, by going to new places with new perspectives and different points of view. I love to get out and see the world. Colors inspire me. And my clients inspire me. They come in with different ideas. 

G: I almost always ask this question: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

C: My to-do list! At the end of every day, I leave it all out there, physically, emotionally, and mentally. When I wake up in the morning, my brain just instantly turns on. I get up wanting to make a difference, whether it’s for work, or my personal growth, or my family’s growth. It’s just time to get things done. Even as a child, I never took naps. I have always been a do-er. A go-getter. I had a great family life and upbringing, but we had humble means. In everything I have done, I have created the life I live because of decisions I have made or those little things that have happened to me that just change the course of a life.

To find out more about Chad, visit www.ChadEsslingerDesign.com

Meet Katie

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Katie Chesters. Katie is an Early Childhood Speech Language Pathologist at the Ann Reid Early Childhood Center in Naperville, Illinois. Katie has been in this role since the school opened in 2010, and has been working in her field for 17 years. 

G: This place seems so special. Tell me more about this school and this space.

K: This center was built in 2010 specifically for 3 to 5 year-olds with special needs. For example, some of our students may be non-ambulatory, so the architects were keeping in mind whether or not the classrooms could accommodate wheelchairs and whether or not those kids could still see out the window.  A lot of consulting went into building this structure. Our tile floors are heated because we are on the floor with the children all day. Our school is equipped with an FM system that links directly into children’s hearing aids if they are hearing impaired. It is also a green building, so our roof is a garden. 

We are part of District 203, so we do have kids who have special needs, but we also have kids who are considered at-risk and qualify for grants. We also have the community students, who are our tuition paying students from the community. All three groups are put together in a blended classroom. Our desire is to make it look like any other typical classroom with supports. All of these kids help and model for each other how to learn and follow a routine. It’s a pretty amazing building with a ton of specialists.

G: What a neat little place! Tell me a little bit about your day to day routine here.

K: Technically, a Speech Language Pathologist is responsible for identifying children who present with language delays, communication delays and/or disorders in many different areas of communication. We screen a child if there is an area of concern, we evaluate them with formal and informal measures, we determine whether or not they are eligible for services based on criteria, we develop goals for them to work on so that they can meet developmental milestones, and then we provide therapy for those children. 

We are looking at children who maybe have difficulties expressing and understanding language, or whether or not they can interact with others. Do they know how to effectively communicate their wants and needs? In order to work on these areas and other areas where kids struggle, we might modify the curriculum, give them speech generating devices, or provide visuals. We work side-by-side with physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists, early childhood teachers and extra staff within the building, like the teaching assistants who are so important. It takes a village.

G: It sounds like you juggle so many different elements within this one role. How did you get into this career?

K: I thought I was going to go to medical school, and I knew I wanted to do something that was helping others. I also knew I wanted to go to Michigan State, and they had a top program in Audiology and Speech Sciences. I took the track of Speech Language Pathology, but I found my niche with kids and I knew I wanted to be a Mom someday. I just loved being in a school setting. I just felt like it was where I was supposed to be, like it was my calling. 

G: It is SO your calling. You are a friend of mine, and over the years I have seen you interact with kids. You always talk about your job with such enthusiasm. What is it that you love so much about this job? I feel like I have seen so much of your passion for it over the years.

K: First of all, working at this level, I see so much progress in my students. Their brains are like sponges, and I see the most progress at the early childhood level. Kids with special needs need to start therapy as soon as possible because that is when they have the most potential for growth, and it sets them up for success in the older years. For me, it is so incredibly rewarding to watch these children from one day to another, literally within 24 hours, gain a skill set that they are going to be able to build on in the area of communication. I think it’s also rewarding because we work with families. Developing relationships with families, gaining trust with them, and showing them what they can do at home with their kids to improve communication is just so instrumental in getting them to make progress. And frankly, these kids still think I am a Disney princess so they like seeing me. I can hula hoop and juggle and do all of these silly things and they think we are just having fun, and really it’s therapy. And I love the kids so much. I love the people I work with. The staff, the kids, you learn something new every day.

G: Your personality by nature is infectious and positive and upbeat. I have always loved that about you. That being said, we are all human and have our challenging days. What are some of the challenges that you face?

K: One of the biggest challenges is that the caseload size increases as you go through the year. Anytime a child turns three and ages in, you have a new kid who doesn’t know the routine. And each child needs services, so it’s challenging to meet the minutes that they each individually need as the caseload goes up and to still feel like you are doing a good job. Another frustrating part is just the huge amount of paperwork. We can’t do any of the paperwork during the school day, so it happens at home, sometimes until midnight. Finding time to make quality materials and do lesson plans and juggling it all is just challenging.

G: That’s a lot to balance. You are at school all day with high energy to meet the needs of the kids, then you come home to your own kids and family and then have more work to do before the day ends. How do you manage it all?

K: You just do it. This is all I know. I have been a full-time employee since 2002 and then my own children have come into my life. I just make it work. I would say having a routine is helpful. My boys and I are in a routine, and my husband is amazingly helpful and awesome. He and I are definitely 50/50 when it comes to being parents and caring for the house. I just come home, lay down the rules, and we get it done. After dinner we take the dog for a walk and that is such a release. I love going for a walk. Sometimes it’s with my boys, sometimes I just want to be alone. Then we try to do a little more family time before bed and then I make lunches, might have time to watch a little tv, and then we just do the same thing the next day. Life is good. I have no complaints. I have a great job, my family is awesome, and you just make it work.

G: What are some of the things that you feel are the end results and goals of the work that you do for these kids? How do you see kids’ lives being changed as a result of the work that you do?

K: It truly takes a village. When a child enters our building, our goals for them are not about what he or she is going to be able to do this year. It’s about “what are they going to need to be ready for kindergarten?” but also “what are they going to need to be ready as an adult?”. We are the foundation, that base of knowledge that they are going to need to build on to become independent, fully-functioning adults. We are already thinking about them being active members of our community. What I am looking for is their ability to functionally communicate to express their thoughts, their wants, and their needs with others. 

There are so many factors that have to be in alignment for me to be able to tell you, “I need help”. It’s not always about speech, it may be something else. It may be a gesture, it may be a low-tech picture board to communicate wants and needs. Really and truly it’s about the child expressing themselves effectively with any mode of communication. For these families, it’s about a child being able to place an order at a restaurant, or go bowling and ask for a pair of shoes, and not need to rely on their parents or an adult next to them for the rest of their lives. They need to be independent. It’s so important. 

G: I never thought about it in the sense that it’s not always about only developing language and speech, but that it’s at the heart about communication alone. I am sure so many families appreciate that shift and feel peace of mind when they see emerging independence for their child.

K: Yes. I have one child who I gave a speech generating device, and the parents were really focusing on their child learning to talk. But as soon as I gave that child the device he was able to say for the first time, “Love Mommy”. Maybe the language is going to come much later, but for these kids they find ways now to say, “I love you Mom” or “I’m really hungry” or “I want to go outside and play with my friend”, and we can do that with other modes of communication other than just speech. 

G: What is that like for you in getting to be a part of that? It can be easy after 17 years in the same job to lose sight of the importance of our roles in life. What an incredible gift to these families and these kids.

K: It’s so rewarding to see that my hard work shows results for these families. I am just so happy for that child and for that family, that they are witnessing communication together. That develops their relationships, and those family ties. Just being able to see how it brings kids together and how they engage with each other. Teaching these alternate forms of communication creates a space where relationships can grow. Every human being needs a friend. And it is so important for these children to be able to engage with others and share. And to be able to laugh and giggle and play. It’s just the most important thing for this age.

G: Is there anything else you think is important for others to know about the work that you do?

K: Just the point about early intervention. If a parent suspects a delay of any kind in communication, screenings are free. Call your school district and get it checked out. The earlier the better. Let’s work on those skills now. I also would like for the community to know to not refer to children by their syndrome or their disorder first. They might say “That Autistic Child” or “That Down Syndrome Kid”. That is not who they are. They may have that, but that does not encompass who that amazing person is. We call them “A child who has Autism”, or “A child who has Down Syndrome”. These kids are so much more than what we label them as. Please put the child first. It is so important for these kids to grow up knowing that they are so much more than their disability.  

Meet Maureen

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Maureen Benjamins, PHD. Maureen is an Epidemiologist at Sinai Health System on the West Side of Chicago, IL. Maureen’s work focuses on providing research, data, and recommendations to improve health outcomes for at-risk populations in Chicago and beyond.

G: What exactly is an Epidemiologist and what does your job entail?

M: As an Epidemiologist, I do research on diseases and risk factors for diseases across populations. We do a lot of studies looking at local and national data to understand disparities in health. 

G: You have been at Sinai Health System for 13 years. What is it about working at Sinai that has kept you involved over the years?

M: Sinai is really unique. It is a safety net hospital system, serving the poorer communities on the west and southwest side of the city. They have four hospitals, The Sinai Community Institute, which provides community social services, and then the Sinai Urban Health Institute, which is where my work is done. There are not many examples nationally of safety net hospital systems that also invest money in research on and within the community, which makes it even more unique. 

G: How is the research funded?

M: The system supports some of our work, but most of my work is supported by grants. We are constantly writing proposals, submitting them, and trying to get funding to cover ourselves and our teams. In the past I have gotten grants from The American Cancer Society, and Chicago Community Trust. We appeal to a lot of local organizations, but we are always hoping to get more national funding. It’s a bigger pot. 

G: Tell me more about some of the work that you have done thus far and what are some of the key findings in the population that you serve.

M: I worked initially on a health survey within the Orthodox Jewish Community on the North Side of Chicago. What that study found was a huge prevalence of childhood obesity, even bigger than the city averages. That was really surprising to that community, so we were able to develop a program that they could implement within their private school system. I spent many years running that childhood wellness program. Another big project was working on The Sinai Community Health Survey, which we have done twice. The most recent one focused on the southwest and west sides, and showed that you have to look within the individual communities, not just city-wide data for behaviors and risk factors. The city provides data on mortality rates, but they don’t have much data on the specifics within each community and that’s what our data showed for the first time. 

The findings were incredibly sad in a lot of the cases. The levels of food insecurity is just one example. In some areas there are 40 percent of households reporting not having enough food to eat. A lot of the communities had really high rates of intimate partner violence. And the difference between the communities was really striking, so we found that to be really important. For example, the city- wide average for smoking rates within the community could be 15-20 percent. But in some Chicago communities, about 50% of adults smoke. So it helps the city to focus more on who needs what help in what areas, and I think that has been some of our most important work.

G: That’s amazing. How is this research then used to impact these communities? What do you do with the data that you find? 

M: We try with all of our work to create a data dissemination plan so that the data both goes back to the community involved as well as advancing science in general, like in scientific and medical journals. For the first survey we wrote a book, which is used in schools of public health and medical schools throughout the city today. We talk a lot in the medical community locally about our Chicago data. We have studied a lot of the social factors and how they relate to health. Things like discrimination and religion, and those finding are interesting because not that many people are studying how those factors influence health. We got a lot of media hits and interviews for the health survey data because it was new and expensive and hard to get scientifically. A lot of people are very interested in those findings and will be for years because no one else is collecting that right now. 

G: You mentioned The American Cancer Society work that you have done. What can you tell me about that project and your findings?

M: We were looking at discrimination and how that influences whether or not people get cancer screenings. The communities that we work in are predominantly minority. The different groups of minorities within these communities have different reasons of why they might feel discriminated against and have high levels of mistrust within the system, whether its historic or based on nativity and immigration status. A lot of people are reporting that they feel discriminated against when they see their doctor and then they are not getting the preventive screenings that they need, which leads to health problems down the road. It helps us to understand some of the factors of why minorities have poorer outcomes compared to the white population. 

G: Given that you are seeing all of this data reflecting the needs in these communities, and how these communities are affected by issues such as discrimination and poor health outcomes, how do you deal with the difficult and sad findings?

M: That part can be really hard. Over and over we are reporting about how these communities have high levels of almost every problem. The extent of that gets pretty sad. When you drive through these communities and see that almost every other house doesn’t have enough to eat at the end of the month, it can be really discouraging. But then I see the Community Health Workers out in these communities, day after day. They are coming back with stories about how they convinced a few women to get their first mammograms, or worked with parents on how to control their kids’ asthma symptoms. They see the positive changes in the health of the individuals and that helps to balance that out. 

G: What I love about what you just said is that there is a direction connection between the research and how it comes back to serve the individual. At the end of the day it is helping those who are having a health crisis hopefully, right?

M: Usually in research we are at our computers a lot during the day, so we don’t get to see how our work impacts individuals. When we do get to see that it’s neat. We did a huge series of studies on disparities of mortality between blacks and whites at the city level, which hasn’t been done before. It started with breast cancer, and we found that Chicago was one of the worst. We had this huge gap where blacks were way more likely to die than whites, and what is interesting is that some major cities don’t have any disparities like that. We also looked at heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes and stroke. What we found is that those disparities don’t have to exist. It’s something about the structure of how our cities are organized that leads to these disparities that we need to change. So now we are working on a plan to target that problem based on the cities that are doing well in that area. So, the optimistic message is that it can be fixed. 

G: What is a typical day like for you? 

M: We are pretty lean and don’t have a lot of resources so many of us write proposals, manage the studies, manage the budgets, and do the hiring. We also do our own statistical analyses and then write up the finding so there is always a lot that we are juggling. I think one of the parts that I like the most is the teaching. I run an internship program and I am teaching the medical students to understand that medicine is not just about treatment regimens and medications, but that most things that influence peoples’ health are non-medical and outside the clinical healthcare system. It’s amazing and eye opening to them. We take them on tours and introduce them to community health care workers. You can see where down the road that makes them a better physician. And then who knows how many more people they can help with that understanding? 

G: There are a lot of challenges in your job. How do you overcome those or deal with those? What keeps you motivated and inspired to show up every day?

M: Among my team, there is a real sense of comradery and we all know we are in it for the same reason. Generally, if you work at Sinai you are pretty mission-driven, because there are so many places right down the street where you could have nicer accommodations and more resources. So, it’s nice to work with a group of really committed people. Everyone wants everyone else to succeed. And just bringing it back to the wins. The feel-good stories that we get every once in a while.

G: Outside of your job, you are a busy mom of three. What are some of your personal habits or strategies to help you juggle it all?

M: Friends are survival for me; finding other women that I admire who are doing jobs that are tough and are admirable parents and wanting to work toward what they are doing. Trading ideas with other Moms has been super helpful for me. I have been trying to get better at self- care, so I have gone back to playing volleyball recently. Making time to visit my Grandma or going on walks, that kind of thing. I have been trying hard to not go on Pinterest and see what I am not doing well, but just hitting on all of the important things; kids, husband, friends, personal health. 

G: Juggling it all today for people is so hard. What gets you out of bed in the morning?

M: One thing that I think is really important about my job is that it is such a contrast to where I live and how I grew up. Driving in and out of here every day always makes me count my blessings. These communities need a lot of support; maybe they have no grocery stores or have high rates of violence. Seeing that on a daily basis helps me remember to be grateful for what I have. Working with many of the people that I do is inspiring to me, so it has helped me to change my mindset. When you grow up in a small town in Southern Indiana, you have this idea of how the world works. And then when I got here to Lawndale after many, many years of school, I realized that’s not how it works. People aren’t poor just because they make bad choices. They aren’t unhealthy because they make bad choices. They make bad choices because of what was offered to them, and their range of choices are not the same as my range of choices. It reminds me constantly that you cannot judge unless you yourself have been there. 

Meet Debbie

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Debbie Davero. Debbie is a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Reiki Master who works with clients suffering from trauma, eating disorders, addiction, depression, and anxiety in Naperville, Illinois. Debbie’s unique therapeutic approach goes beyond traditional talk therapy to incorporate the use of Reiki, an ancient energy healing modality that helps her clients reach deeper levels of insight, relaxation, stress management, and clinical gains.

G: What exactly is Reiki and what’s the easiest way to explain it?

D: Reiki is an ancient healing method which is once again becoming popular in our modern age. The word “Reiki” (pronounced “ray-key”) means “Universal Life Energy”.  The origins of Reiki go back to ancient Buddhist scriptures in which a Japanese priest, Dr. Mikao Usui, discovered the foundations of the Reiki healing system. Reiki is a dynamic energy. This energy has different names, depending on cultural background but the most commonly known is probably the Japanese word “Ki”. Since Einstein and the discovery of quantum physics, it has been known that everything that exists is energy: “Energy is all there is”. Science has now proven that invisible energy flows through and connects ALL living things.  

In order to simplify the concept of how this works, I found a nice analogy that I like to use between how Reiki works and how the internet works.  You see, Reiki is much like the Internet and the infamous “Cloud” function.  Both are derived from “unseen energy sources” that are extracted from outside the earth’s surface. We can’t see the Cloud or the Internet but we know it exists through the development and use of computers.  Reiki, the Internet, and the Cloud are all similar forms of unseen energy and information derived from outside the earth’s surface used for increasing the flow of energy within our minds and bodies.     

G: What are the benefits of tapping into this life force energy?

D: Reiki not only promotes your physical well-being but also has a positive effect on your emotional and spiritual equilibrium. That is why, after a treatment with Reiki, many people feel refreshed, relaxed, clearer and more content with themselves. Reiki is suitable for healthy and sick people of all ages. You can use it to replenish your vital energy, to strengthen the immune system, and to ward off disease. At the same time, Reiki helps in healing ailments and illnesses such as headaches, body tensions, exhaustion, depression and fears, as well as acute chronic disorders of all kinds. 

G: How did you find out about Reiki and eventually pursue a certification to become a Reiki Master?

D: I heard about Reiki at various junctures in my search for Holistic approaches to healing trauma, addictions and anxiety disorders. As I was pursuing my certifications in various holistic trainings and embarking on a search for less traditional ways to assist clients in developing coping mechanisms, it quickly became apparent that this “unseen energy” had great potential to truly assist in healing clients and bringing a balance back to their lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  When working with addictions and trauma, I have found that clients often are out of balance in all those areas of their lives. For me, there was one specific moment that I knew it was the right time to pursue this training and adopting a Reiki lifestyle and practice. From there, I spent close to a year and a half completing the coursework, practicing on myself and family members as well as clients, while working towards receiving 3 levels of “attunements” from a certified Dr. Usui trained Reiki Master Teacher. 

G: What are some of the ways you use Reiki in your private practice? What are the benefits you are noticing with clients?  

D: I have begun to incorporate Reiki as a tool to help clients heal their physical symptoms of migraine headaches, insomnia, medication withdrawal (especially from benzodiazepines), neck pain, chronic nerve pain, diabetic numbness in legs, broken bones, and inflammation in athletes from muscle overuse.  I also have clients seeking Reiki for anxiety reduction and adrenal exhaustion.  Clients have all responded positively to the Reiki and commonly schedule their sessions on a weekly basis. Many clients have seen a noticeable reduction in symptoms particularly those surrounding sleep difficulties, increased relaxation, discontinued use of anxiety medication, and in chronic pain symptoms. As a clinical psychologist working with various levels of trauma, I observed that clients needed some more support to calm their elevated adrenaline glands and reducing anxiety symptoms, and Reiki has helped them in that way.

G: How do you begin to introduce and approach the concept of Reiki with your clients? What is the common reaction you receive from clients?  

D: When considering to introduce the concept of Reiki to a client, I assess where they are in their spiritual growth and development in their current lives and whether or not they might be open to understanding the energy process.  If my intuition is strong and guiding me to share this process with a client, I trust it and begin explaining the energy process of Reiki and how it works as a tool in the healing process. I typically have two responses towards Reiki. One group of clients have sought me out specifically for Reiki treatments. The other group of clients are the ones I approach in session, usually towards the beginning of their trauma and anxiety work. I have been finding that the overall response to trying reiki treatments has been surprisingly positive.  At this time, about a third of my clients have tried Reiki and many choose to continue to integrate these treatments into their overall treatment plan. 

G: What are the challenges that you face in the work that you do? What are some self-care practices you implement into your daily routine to maintain your own sense of balance and calm?

D: As a trauma and anxiety therapist who works with addictions and depression, I encounter many times when clients might deplete my energy levels. Often times, this energy exchange between clients and myself can feel very draining if I am not practicing self-care practices on a consistent basis. Some of the practices I have implemented into my current lifestyle are very basic. I have scheduled Reformer Pilates into my schedule twice a week. I make sure I eat a very well-balanced breakfast, lunch and dinner often high in protein.  I drink plenty of water every day all day and throughout my sessions. I schedule weekly chiropractor and massage appointments to address my own chronic pain and to help release tension within my body.  I make sure I try to meditate 20 to 30 minutes a day in my office before I see clients in an effort to stay grounded and reset my adrenaline and cortisol levels. I make sure I get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. I do not drink alcohol much at all. I diffuse a lavender essential oil during all my sessions to help to instill a sense of calm. I set limits on my time and try to make sure I am not over scheduled with clients or social events. 

I fight to keep a balance in this respect as to not drain myself and can have regular down time to re-energize and stay connected with my family.  I find when I don’t maintain a good balance with setting limits, things begin to fall off kilter and take a toll on my energy levels and ability to focus. However, most importantly, I have my own spiritual director/mentor with whom I meet with often to hold me accountable with my own spiritual growth and development. I also have a couple different therapists in my arsenal of healers that I reach out to on occasion to maintain the personal work I have done over the years, as well as to continue to challenge myself to grow both professionally and emotionally.  Oh… and of course...I give myself regular Reiki treatments at night while I relax in front of the TV at night!!!   

G: What inspires and motivates you to be a healer?

D: For most of my life, I have been drawn to listening and helping others with their life struggles. I consider myself an Empath and often can feel others’ pain and sadness.  I remember when I was a young child, I was walking down the sidewalk in front of my house one day. I couldn’t have been any older than 10 years old? At that time, I vividly recall deciding that I was going to grow up and become a psychologist to help others.  At that moment, I was thinking about a close friend of mine who was struggling with not fitting in and getting picked on at school.  I spent hours as a young kid and teen listening and consoling others when they were feeling down.  I know that I was born into this life to be a healer. My motivation is to spread positive energy, educate and empower clients while providing opportunities for clients to heal.  It really is an amazing feeling to see clients make progress changing their dysfunctional patterns and start to live in the light of positive energy!!  

For more information about Debbie and Reiki therapy, visit naturalmotivations.com

Meet Amanda

No matter what we do, what we do matters. 

It’s time to get back to school, and teachers all over are gearing up to have a good year with a fresh crop of students. Meet Amanda Limberg. Mrs. Limberg is an enthusiastic and creative third grade teacher at St. Joseph School in Downers Grove, IL. Mrs. Limberg is always coming up with new ideas to keep her students engaged and curious, all the while infusing the day with playful and infectious energy. Amanda is also a new transplant to the Midwest from the South with her family, and has two girls of her own at home.

G: You were new to our school last year, and when my son was assigned to your classroom, I was so curious about you. In those first emails about third grade, I could hear the enthusiasm for what you do coming through the computer. Can you tell me a little bit about what attracted you to the teaching profession?

A: In general I am a passionate person. I am either 110 percent all in or nothing! When I was in college, teaching felt so much like a calling that I almost pushed it away. It just felt too obvious. So I studied other things, and I really wanted to challenge myself and make sure that it was really what I wanted to do. I have an Art History Minor. I studied Mexican History. I felt passionate about those things too, but when it came down to it, I knew Education was where I needed to be. My first teaching experiences taught me that teachers have such a powerful voice, and that these kids hang on every word we say. So we have to use our voices carefully. I want my students to not only hear that I am excited about the Science project, but I want them to see and feel my excitement about the Science project. I love teaching, and after 17 years, it’s about finding new ways to get excited about teaching. These kids give instant feedback in their behavior and their enthusiasm for learning, so if they are not giving me that feedback it’s up to me to keep figuring out why.

G: You are a Mom to two girls. How do you juggle your job and life at home?

A: I think that it’s just finding what you love to do. I truly love this job. My girls keep me so busy at home, and it’s tempting to wonder if I should stay at home and be more available. But this job brings me happiness and I think I deserve that. I believe I deserve that creative outlet and it’s my passion. 

G: You said you have been teaching for 17 years. And yet you still seem so in love with your profession.

A: I am so in love! I know this job could seem so repetitive over the years, but every year and every class is so different. I am always learning, reading  and researching how to do thing differently. I think that each year I just try to do things bigger and better! 

G: It sounds like your inherent curiosity about the world and teaching itself keeps it from getting stale by approaching each year with a fresh set of eyes. It’s as if your own spirit for learning keeps you motivated and that each year you try to reinvent yourself.

A: I am always wondering what I can bring from the outside world into the classroom and turn it into. I like to put my own spin and twist on things. Maybe that’s why I enjoy it so much. I make things my own. I don’t force myself to be something I am not. I’ve been fortunate to work in an environment where I have the trust of the administrators, kids and parents to do it that way. 

G: I feel like I am hearing you say that you challenge the way something is “supposed” to be done. It has seemed lately in Education that teachers feel like they have to “stay in the box”. That they have to teach to the tests.

A: Yes, I agree 100 percent. I think I have just mastered a way to “tick all the boxes”, but still be authentic to myself. I am very much a “rule-follower”, but I just think I have found a way to do both. Sometimes I come up with things and don’t even know where it came from. In Catholic Education, I make it about what God would want me to in the lesson and the classroom. I couldn’t teach any other way.

G: I love that. I too believe that when we open ourselves to a greater source, and a Divine connection, we find inspiration and guidance. 

A: I think confidence is a big part of it too. I believe that when you are confident, you have a better chance of success in your field. I think for me this comes from my upbringing. I was always told I could do it, whatever “it” was. I remember my Dad always saying, “Whatever you choose, just be the best at it”. When I go into things with confidence, when I adhere to my faith and the school, then I can have more freedom. I am comfortable in my own skin and in what I am doing. I had confidence going into it even as a young teacher, and I think that comes from my parents. 

G: You have to know yourself well in order to be able to stay within the parameters of a given job, but still bring your authentic self in some way. 

A:I do a lot of self talk. Whether it’s teaching, working out, parenting, or cooking. Whatever it is I am doing, I try to coach myself up. And I am trying to teach this now to my middle school aged daughters, which is the hardest time! I have been telling my girls that no one is going to do that for them. They need to learn to talk to themselves in gratitude and to think positive. I can take the tiniest things and make myself genuinely happy about it. Life is tough. Being a Mom is tough. Dealing with social media is tough. Whether it’s teaching or parenting, you take them under your wing and you hope they can draw later on from what you are teaching them now. 

G: You spend so much time with your students all day. Yes, you are teaching them the academics, but you are also modeling enthusiasm and a mindset. As a parent, I see what you are doing as such a gift.

A: Thank you! I taught in one school system awhile back and I was forced to teach my own child one year. It really opened my eyes to how my teaching impacts parents. I had to give my own daughter a re-write and some constructive criticism about her writing. It was a new experience that taught me so much, and I believe it happened for a reason.

G: You seem to have such a positive attitude, which I am sure sets the tone for your students. I believe we all vibe off of each other’ so energy. What do you notice with the kids about how this mindset helps with classroom management?

A: I do believe it helps. But I also believe it’s important to be honest with the kids and for them to see me as a human. I don’t try to act like I know everything, so they see me having to problem solve too. I am lucky enough to be in a profession where I get a redo every day with these kids. As far as a mindset, I try to teach them to meet a higher expectation. Sometimes I throw a lot at them, but they rise to meet it. I believe it’s important to set standards and to show them they can do it. At the end of the day, with all of the things we are doing, whether it’s the Wax Museum project or the Math Fashion Show, I just want it to be memorable. I want them to have a plethora of things they can choose from that were their favorite projects from the year. 

G: What are some of the challenges you face in your profession?

A: Honestly, I think one of the biggest challenges is the lack of perceived professionalism about the teaching profession. I feel like maybe teachers are perceived as idealistic or simple. Or maybe that it’s “cute” to be a teacher. I am also a writer and sometimes I feel more inclined to tell people that’s what I do because I sense it is viewed as being more professional. The only time I have ever contemplated leaving teaching have been moments where I feel that vibe about how the profession is viewed. Which is crazy. Because we teachers are the ultimate managers. We manage people going in a million different directions but going for a common goal. I wish more people would think about it like that. I am taking multi-level abilities, trying to accomplish the same goal, meanwhile you have kids going through divorce, kids who are sick, kids whose focus I have to regain every day. There is a bigger picture to what we do. It’s not just sitting with the kids on the floor reading a book. The other third grade teacher and I are constantly bouncing ideas back and forth and working hard to create new ideas for the classroom. People sometimes assume too that in education, the goal is to become a principal, which is an entirely different job. But I know now to not focus on that and find other ways of feeling professional about what I do, like my continued education courses or my writing courses that I take.

G: You obviously really put a lot of thought into your career and work hard to bring your best self to your job every day. You also are a Mom managing a busy household. What keeps you inspired and motivated?

A: I love the idea of creating something out of nothing. I use inspiration, like Pinterest for projects and ideas. I get a spark, and then I pick projects where I can make things a little bit difficult for myself. I like to give myself challenges. I never settle, and I like to change things up as I go. The kids sometimes tease me, and say, “Mrs. Limberg, are you going to go too far”? I get so many ideas back from the kids in the classroom too. As far as finding inspiration outside of the classroom, I love to travel.  I take college courses, in Art History or in writing, and I like getting my writing published. I also love to read. I like to challenge myself and be proud of what I do, so that I can then share those experiences with my students too. I always just try to remember where I came from. My parents always made me feel comfortable in my own skin. I married a great spouse. My kids support me. And my students need me. And that is so special to me. 

Meet Amber

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Amber Saraceno. Amber is the owner of Expressions Dance Studio in Westmont, IL. Amber had a vision to bring dance to students and families at a young age, and is happy to have a flourishing studio focusing on inclusion and the joy of dance and movement. 

G: How did your studio get started?

A: I was 24 years old at the time and I had been teaching dance for about ten years. I just loved every minute of it. I felt strongly and passionately about doing it my own way, and I knew the time was just right. I wasn’t married at the time, and I didn’t have any kids, so I felt that if I didn’t succeed at least I will have tried something new. I knew my whole life I wanted to own a dance studio. So, I finally took the plunge and we opened in 2009. We started with 50 kids and by the end of that year we had 200 kids in our first recital. We now have over 600 students. 

G: What were your intentions in starting the studio? What did you want it to be about?

A: I wanted to create a space where everyone was welcome. I wanted to create a space where you didn’t have to be the best dancer in the world, you didn’t have to only want to dance or need previous experience. I truly wanted it to be about dance for every age and every ability. I just wanted it to be a warm and friendly place. That was all truly important to me.

G: I noticed your wall of painted handprints. What is that about?

A: I had the idea of the handprint wall with my first vision for the studio. I wanted kids to leave their mark and to always be a part of the studio. That was something I created and wanted to be a part of it right off the bat before we even created the space. I wanted the place to reflect the handprints and the colors, and be kid-family and family-friendly.

G: I grew up with dance 30 years ago and have two boys. My perception of the dance world is that it has gotten competitive, expensive and intense. I think of the reality tv show “Dance Moms”. Is this an accurate perception?

A: I think that studios are trying to trend away from that. But absolutely the competition world kind of took over. This is true of so many sports for kids these days. It felt like, if you started too late, how could you even try dance? When I was teaching before I started my own studio, the teachers wanted the competitive dancers that were there five or six days a week giving all of their time.  And then after three or four years those students were done. They were burnt out and they hated it. Here was something that they loved to do but it was being turned against them because we were trying to push and make everyone the best of the best. And that’s not how it has to be. Especially for dance. I feel very strongly about that. We all love to dance. We all love to hang out with our friends, or at the club. Maybe some are embarrassed. But I believe that everyone has an innate feeling of wanting to have fun and bounce around. 

G: It sounds like you really resonated with finding a market for parents who were looking for a difference experience with dance for their kids.

A: Yes. I felt from parents who mentioned the same thing that there was a need for it to be less intense. I just wanted to dial it back and simplify it. Here, there absolutely is a place for that dancer that wants to be here four or five days a week. But that’s not the way it has to be. We love to dance, and we want to find a level for everyone to be able to do it. So if you want to come once a week for 45 minutes you can. And you are loved and welcomed just as much as my elite dancers that are here five days a week. Or maybe you are a Mom that has wanted to learn to tap dance. I had a student that was 78 years old and had wanted to tap dance her whole life and now there is a place for her to do that. She did the recital and everything. It was so cool. And I couldn’t have been more proud for her. Our niche has been really family-driven and really simplifying it all. Keeping the kids, kids. Keeping them involved in their schools, involved in their communities, as well as still dancing. And finding that balance.

G: What a great philosophy! I came to hear about you through a family with a daughter who has special needs. Tell me more about your inclusivity here.

A: I feel like dance is the universal language for inclusivity. It doesn’t matter what your ability is, or disability is, we are all in this together, and that’s how life is reflected as well. I want when you walk through these doors for you to feel welcome, no matter what. No matter who you are. No matter your gender, color, ability, age. It’s really important to me that everyone feels really welcome. Life is not separate and segregated. It’s not how dance class should be either. I feel like it is just so important. It’s just the norm here. It’s the inclusion revolution.

G: You are so passionate about bringing dance to everyone. What is it about dance that you love so much?

A: I think back to when I started dancing, which my Mom says was in the womb! As a little kid, I just enjoyed it and I learned discipline from adults other than my parents. As I got older, it just became such an outlet. It became a safe place for me to express myself through anything I was feeling. Whether I was sad about losing a pet or getting in a fight with my friend. At any age, no matter what I was going through, to be able to physically let it all out was so therapeutic. To me, it is more of a release than talking through things sometimes. And then there’s the fact that it’s just fun. It’s just this really fun way of expressing yourself, enjoying your time, and being physically fit and active. I just love it. And I love music too.

G: You are one of those folks that takes something you are passionate about and then creates a business around it and a platform to give it to other people. There are so many things though, that come with running a business that are not part of your passion, right? How do you deal with those challenges?

A: I would certainly say when I was going through the process of opening, I never thought twice that I wouldn’t be able to do it. I just had a vision. I credit my parents for that. They have always supported my passions and my dreams. When I first got the space, I had to learn how to be my own foreman. I had to figure out how to get the mirrors, and deal with the space. Because I was only 24 years old, I found that it wasn’t that well received, because there were a lot of things I didn’t know. I felt like I wasn’t being respected and so it was a little bit of a battle at first so that people would take me seriously and respect me. Because this was my vision and it wasn’t handed to me I had a deeper passion to do it directly and not let people walk all over me. Now I can set that example for my students as well. That I can have a dream. I can follow through with it. And I can make it happen. It took me a long time to get there, but a few years in I realized the impact I was having on these kids. I take it very seriously.

G: What would you say have been your biggest influences in your life?

A: My family. I have always been taught the importance of bonding and spending time with family. It’s the Old Italian way. It’s all about ideals and family values. The importance of family in my business has just meshed. Family first always.

G: This past June you put on a recital with more than 600 students. What was that moment like for you?

A: It’s hard to put it into words. There was a moment at the end where everyone that is in the show, everyone in the balconies, all the teachers, the parents, everyone just joins in. I got to look and just watch how this vision back in 2009 came together. It’s an overwhelming, joyous feeling. It was a lot to take in. The fact that all of these people came together to be a part of and believe in this thing I have created is just amazing. 

For more info about Amber and Expressions Dance Studio, visit expressiondancestudio.com

Meet Grace

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Grace. Grace is a Massage Therapist at Asha Salon and Spa in Yorktown, IL. Grace is determined in her work with her clients to not just give them a relaxing experience, but to provide deep therapeutic healing to promote wellness from the inside out.

GG: You massage clients day in and day out. What you do is pretty repetitive. I have personally seen you now for a while, and I always feel so well taken care of when I leave. How do you manage to make everyone feel so good when they come to see you?

G: I’ll be honest, it’s hard sometimes on some days to push past that feeling of going through the motions and make sure that I bring my A game. When people come to see me, I want them to leave all their troubles at the door. It’s important to make them feel that way. I chose to do this, and I am going to keep doing it until I can’t do it anymore.

GG: How did you choose to get into massage therapy?

G: I grew up in a household with holistic chiropractic medicine. My Dad is a chiropractor and that field helped me to understand how our bodies are such amazing systems. It taught me the mechanics of it all. At first, I thought I wanted to be an athletic trainer. I also tried physical education, but when I graduated, I saw a lot of those programs on the chopping block at schools. Meanwhile in the summers during college I had always worked in my Dad’s office giving foot massages. The feedback that I would get from these patients was amazing. I thought about Massage Therapy school and everything just seemed to make sense, and it just clicked.

GG: It sounds like the feedback that you got from those patients really lit your fire. What was it about that that made you want more?

G: I knew the power of touch, and that it is so important in peoples’ lives. There is so much that can happen when someone gets that healing touch. It can alleviate symptoms, stress, pain, anxiety. This is the world we live in. The power of touch was just something that I loved. It all starts with infancy, and there is so much evidence to support the power of massage starting for babies even. If a new Mom gives massage to her baby, it decreases the risk of Postpartum Depression and helps with bonding. 

GG: What do you see and hear from your clients about what they get out of their sessions with you?

G: A lot of the clients that I see here at Asha are not just here for the relaxation. It’s almost like they come to me to “fix them”. I love a good challenge. I look at bodies, and I love to see how I can help them. I’ll ask them “What do you want me to work on?”, and I don’t want them to just tell me “relaxation”. A lot of my clients really like the deep tissue, therapeutic work that I do for them. It’s just my thing.

GG: You also give good tips for what clients can do when they leave to get the full benefits of their work with you. You look at the whole picture for the client, not just their time on the table for things they can take into their lives. What do you usually talk about with clients?

G: I like to give clients stretches and things to work on. I encourage them to try yoga. Sometimes a client will pop into my head when I am doing my own workouts so I think to tell them about a certain stretch or something that I tried that may help them. I had one client who had a huge muscle all knotted up that was stemming from a herniated disk. I got in there and in addition to working on the muscle, I gave her some tips and things to try, particularly at her job where she stands all day. I try to help people overall with their lives.

GG: What are the general benefits of massage?

G: Improved circulation. An overall improved sense of well-being. Detoxification. Breathing can be deepened and improved. Stress and anxiety can be relieved.

GG: What you do is very energy-driven. You give a tremendous amount of your physical energy to your clients, and when someone gets a massage, I believe there is a bit of an energy exchange. Do you sense that or feel that that is true?

G: I am very in tune with each and every one of my guests. No guest of mine is the same, and that is how I treat you. You come in and You are You. You are not who I saw before, and you are not who I am going to see after. This is all about you. I try to remember certain little things about people. I really try to personalize my massages when guests come in. When I give a massage, I am giving 100 percent. And I am giving everyone 100 percent. I think that’s my personal touch. I just care.

GG: Do you ever feel your clients’ negative energy?

G: I do. But I don’t back down. I just keep giving them what I’ve got until I hopefully feel that release. That negative energy can be a real challenge. Like if someone doesn’t want to be here. I still just do what I can do. I walk them out, and tell them to have a good day. And then it’s on to my next client. I can’t dwell on that. I’ll do my best.

GG: You are a high energy, positive person. You just give off that vibe. What are the things in your life outside of work that inspires you and helps you bring your A game? What motivates you?

G: I have deep faith. I am a firm believer in Christianity, and I think that is such a big part of my life. That’s where my good vibes come from. I have good support. My parents have always been there for me supporting me and motivating me. Growing up, we were always called out if we had bad attitudes, and we were taught that having a good attitude is what keeps you going. I also take care of myself and I don’t feel bad in doing that. I exercise. I surround myself with good energy. I surround myself with family, friends, and faith. 

GG: I think people sometimes feel such guilt in practicing self-care. I think it’s good for people to hear that. What do you do to help keep yourself physically strong to do what you do?

G: I agree. I don’t practice getting massage for myself as much, but I do think self-care is so important. I do a lot of weightlifting and cardio. About a year ago I started doing yoga, which helps me with breathing. 

GG: Do you see yourself as a healer?

G: Yes. I am constantly trying to learn more about healing. I think that stems from my Dad. He is a healer. Watching him has been fascinating. That’s how I am trying to be. A healer through touch. If I can have more knowledge, I can help people in even more ways.

GG: What gets you out of bed in the morning?

G: I woke up! It’s a good day. Life. Every day is a good day, even if it’s bad. 

To connect with Grace, visit ashasalonspa.com or call (630) 953-1400

Meet Kelly

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Kelly Neville. Kelly is a young woman who has taken her passion for jewelry and fashion, and turned it into a business that she runs with her business partner and Mom, Karen. Kelly not only pours her heart into making beautiful jewelry for others to enjoy, but she is a speaker and advocate for Down Syndrome, as well as works part-time at a local pediatric dental office.

G: I am so interested in what you do.  You are making beautiful jewelry and then helping people to feel good about themselves by wearing pretty things. How long have you been into jewelry?

Kelly: I have loved jewelry since I was 20. It is just something that I love and inspires me. I have a love and a passion for fashion.

G: So you knew when you were 20 that you liked jewelry and that you wanted to make it for other people. How did you decide to start a business?

Kelly: My neighbor gave me a ring when I was in high school and I loved it. I just liked wearing it and talking to people about it.

Karen: She really loved that ring. It was a big sparkly ring, and she used to wear it a lot and it got noticed a lot. Kelly would joke a lot at the time that she wanted to start a jewelry company and call it “In Your Face Jewelry” because she loved big sparkly things.

Kelly: So when I was 20, I was looking for a job when I finished school. I needed a job because I wanted to do something I had a love for.

G: And what do you love about jewelry?

Kelly: I get jewelry for gifts each year. I love the way it feels on me. I would say that jewelry makes me feel “glitzy”. I like the big, statement pieces.

G: Go big or go home right?

Kelly: I like to say go big and dream harder.

G: You knew you wanted to get a job at 20. Did you jump right in to starting your own company? What inspired you to do that?

Karen: Kelly did get a job as a dental assistant, and she does a great job there two days a week and loves it. We knew we wanted to work around that job, and find something else that she likes to do, and together we decided that she had more hours of work to give during the week. Kelly is a “girly girl”, and we talked about how she would need a paycheck in order to do the things she wanted to do and to spend money on things that she liked.

G: What kinds of things do you like to do with the money you earn, Kelly?

Kelly: I like movies, music, and getting my nails done. 

Karen: So at first we just came up with the idea that since she loves jewelry, maybe we could try that. It was a huge learning thing. We didn’t know what we were doing, but we just decided to figure it out. When we first went to start the business, it wasn’t about making money. It was about how she feels about herself when she wakes up in the morning. It’s about being able to make a product and turn it over. It was meant to be something that she could wake up and look forward to on days that she wasn’t working at the dental office.

G: You are a very busy young woman. You started your own company, and work in a dental office. I understand you are also an advocate for Down Syndrome.

Kelly: I am a speaker for NADS, the National Association for Down Syndrome. We talk to nurses. I talk at the police station and the fire station. I also talk at schools and at genetics counseling offices. I also went to Washington DC to talk about people with Down Syndrome. 

Karen: We took that trip to talk to Senators and Congressmen to advocate for more hiring of people with Down Syndrome around the country. 

G: What kinds of jobs do you do in your work at the dental office?

Kelly: I take out the garbage and clean and bag the instruments. I restock the drawers. I meet new people. I like that part a lot. 

G: Tell me more about Special Sparkle.

Kelly: We call it Special Sparkle because it’s a team effort. My Mom and I are soulmates. I am the Sparkle. I call it Special because my Mom is special to me. 

Karen: She would put that together and say I was “Special” and she was “Sparkle”. It has a catchy name, but the name is significant. Because truly, everybody is different in the world. Kelly is definitely a special sparkle that on the outside sometimes people don’t see. We have a new bracelet that is coming out called “The Lucky Bracelet”, because having a person with Down Syndrome in your family, you realize the blessing and how lucky you are. At the onset, you don’t think about that, though. The first time I heard the diagnosis, I was frightened because I didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t know anyone with Down Syndrome. Now I can see that we have friends with all kinds of challenges, and it doesn’t really matter. We just consider it lucky and special. As she has gotten involved as a public speaker with NADS, I see pride in her now in how she advocates for herself and in what she does here. 

G: Kelly, you are amazing. You have been interviewed on the local news, as well as for a program called Special Books by Special Kids. What was that like when news of what you are doing hit the airwaves?

Kelly: I was at camp and orders were coming in from all over the country! 

Karen: Our website just blew up. It was like the shot that rang out throughout the world. She makes all of the jewelry herself, and all of a sudden we had like 350 orders. I had to shut the website down just so we could catch up. We had no idea of the impact it would have. We had to figure out how to take international orders. They were coming in from Belgium and Australia. We have had to learn a lot of things about running the business, from taking the pictures for the website to fulfilling these orders now from all over the country and the world. It was a game changer to have that experience. We are actually in the process of trying to hire someone to help us have more of an online presence. We are looking for the right person who can further the mission in showing the world what people can do. It has all just so naturally evolved. I never saw myself as being a business person. And we just have such a special bond.

G: Wow. This business has really grown. Kelly, what’s it like working with your Mom as a team?

Kelly: She is more than just a Mom to me. She was everything I hoped for since I was a baby. She Is my best friend, my soul mate. My everything. She has given me a lot of hope, with a good, open heart. She really has made me the happiest person in the whole world.

Karen: We just love what we do. We have gotten really involved with getting out there and speaking and helping people with our story. There’s just so much happening out there right now. There needs to be hope. We just love getting involved with NADs and educating people. It’s interesting how much we all have in common. We are all so much more alike than we are different. Even though sometimes there is a difference there. 

G: Karen, what do you want people to know about Kelly and what you see her do in the world with Special Sparkle and beyond?

Karen: Well, with Special Sparkle, she is having fun. She has learned about design and patterns. We go to gem shows together and she is learning a lot. As long as she is doing what she loves and it is giving her a purpose I will support it. When we go to craft fairs and shows now, I make sure to bring projects that she is working on so that others will see that she is truly doing this all herself. One of my goals is that people stop putting a lid on what these kids can do, and keep an open mind. There has never been a better time than now to have a baby with Down Syndrome. There are more opportunities now in colleges, jobs and programs. These kids are out in the workforce now and things are hopefully going to change. I am just committed to picking up the torch and carrying it on for things to keep changing. We haven’t found anything yet that we haven’t been able to overcome. There have been obstacles, but she just keeps blossoming.

G: And Kelly, what inspires you to keep moving forward, so that you can be a role model, not just for kids with Down Syndrome, but for all of us?

Kelly: I want to make a difference in the world for everyone out there just like me. I have a bright life with a bright personality. I have high expectations for myself. 

For more information about Kelly and her jewelry, visit specialsparkle.com

For more information about Down Syndrome, visit nads.org

Meet Scott

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Scott Harris. Scott is a dog expert, trainer, and founder of Peace of Mind Canine. Peace of Mind espouses a lifestyle of training both dogs and families to create a union that minimizes the stress of pet ownership and focuses on the benefits and love that dogs can bring to our families. 

G: Tell me a little bit about how this all got started for you.

S: At a young age, I knew I wanted to do something with animals. I thought maybe I would work at a zoo, a vet or a farm. My Mom’s side of the family were dairy farmers, so there were animals everywhere. My Dad’s side of the family lived around a lot of animals too. In the neighborhood, I was the kid who was obsessed with dogs, but never really thought about it as a career. Slowly over time, people noticed I was good with dogs and asked me to help them. I had worked a lot of different jobs, but at the same time I was shadowing trainers and doing some private lessons and dog training. Then I got a job at a kennel in St. Louis and I was all the way in with dogs.

G: Your business really started out with just training, which your company still does. How did it evolve into raising puppies and selling well-trained dogs?

S: For a while puppies remained a mystery to me. I was always wondering how these puppies were getting so messed up in their training so easily and I was baffled by bad dog behavior. Then I started to get lots of training and education and I started figuring it all out. I realized I wanted dogs out there that I had raised and molded. You can’t save the world, but this dog or that dog can be really good. At the time I was involved in my board and training program I had started and it just evolved. People started asking me to raise puppies for them and it just went from there. I was surprised how it kind of went crazy. No one was doing it, and no one really thought to do it. 

G: Talk to me about your work. What is a typical process for you in raising a puppy?

S: It varies. Sometimes I’ll just go out and buy a dog that I want to raise and start training it. Then people will call me and have an idea of what they think they want. Then they realize though, that the known is better than the unknown. I send pictures and videos of the dog that I am raising and they see how well behaved it is. I’ve had people completely switch breeds of what they think they want. A lot of people though come to me with a breed or an idea of what they want and they are willing to wait. Then we find a breeder and make it logistically possible to get them what they want. A lot of breeders now put me on their lists to call when they have puppies to sell because they know it will reflect good on their breeding when I raise their puppies. I have an entire network of trainers and breeders around the country, and some trainers who work within my company now throughout the country training and raising dogs, so I have all of that information. I have created a community.

G:  People who get dogs from you are not just getting a well-trained dog. They are getting an entire experience and lifestyle with you and your training philosophy. 

S: I insist on it being an experience. I know a lot of people who are training dogs a list of commands and are then just having dogs delivered. For me, that’s not an option. When I am delivering a dog, I need to go to the location. I need to see it, feel it, breathe it. Anyone can just give a list of commands to communicate with a dog. I want to make sure clients understand the why and the how. I want the clients to understand how to learn and respond. I could train a dog for two or three years straight, and it can be undone. I need to teach the lifestyle. Owners then tweak it to fit their own lifestyles but the core principles stay the same. 

G: What are those core principles?

S: Simple things. Structured walks. The dog can’t just bark and run at the door when someone comes to the door. I need a dog with manners. A dog who is confidant. A dog the owners won’t enable. All dog handlers make mistakes, but the idea as a dog owner is to minimize mistakes. Part of the core principle is that it’s a dog. Yes, they are part of the family, but we have invited a predator to live in the home. We have to have some rules. It can be wonderful. Or it can be horrible. Sometimes when people call me for help I wonder how they live like that. It should not be a big interruption in your lifestyle. It shouldn’t be stressful other than just the responsibility of owning a dog. 

G: So often we all hear stories of how families get dogs, and it just ends up being such a hassle. The dog eats the kids’ Legos or pees all over the house. It just ends up being the opposite of what they wanted in the experience, which was for it to enhance our lives in some way. 

S: Absolutely. And all dogs are different, and people’s lives change. They have kids. They remember their dog they had growing up at an older age, rather than how hard it was when they were a puppy. We come home from work and we just want to love on our dogs and unwind from our day. But that is just part of the deal. My job is to prepare dogs for being in the world, not just to train them to be like stuffed animals. We have gotten away from being instinctual with these animals. 

G: How do you go about training the dogs in that way?

S: Well for example, recently at the Fourth of July. I had two puppies, so my focus was to get prepared so that the dogs could handle fireworks. I work with them on thunderstorms, and watch them learn to climb the stairs. This morning I had dogs on cookie sheets on my kitchen counters to get them ready to go to the vet or the groomers. These dogs won’t be drooling in the corner in these situations. I work on exposures and teach them a lifestyle. I work on not feeding in to certain things and feeding into the right things. I focus on building confidence and being around all types of other dogs. They are all pieces of the puzzle. It’s a combination of art, science, nuance and years of experience.

G: What are the benefits you hear in doing this for these families? How are these families responding to you and what you do?

S: The biggest word I hear is that people love the “experience”. The minute we get on the phone, I want to get to know you. We are in at least a decade-long relationship. I instantly start sending photos and videos of the dogs that I am working with. The more we have a relationship, the more we are all rowing in the same direction for the dog. I am insistent that we stay in touch and I get the “thumbs up” that everything is going well. What I do is hard work. I am up with puppies at 2 in the morning. When I am training a dog I am playing with them in all weather and thunderstorms. I am sure that there are people who will raise or train a dog and then never hear from them again, but I just can’t do that. It’s my passion.

G: It truly is such hard work and you are all in. What keeps you going and motivated at 2 am with a puppy or out in a thunderstorm?

S: I get the coolest pictures, emails and texts from happy dog owners and it’s just so awesome. With the puppies, it’s those small moments. First swims. First trips up and down the stairs. I’m just entranced by it. I get to be there in those first moments. My job is to bring out the best in them so that they can go on and not just make the families happy, but to be a happy dog. They are living creatures, and it can’t be easy to bark all day long or be nervous all the time. I just know I enjoy it. It’s hard work. The payoff is phenomenal. I find myself in tears after dropping off a dog to be delivered. I’ll find myself crying my way through Pennsylvania or some place. It’s a good cry. And then it’s on to the next adventure. Which puppy is coming next? Which family is coming next? 

G: People that love their dogs reallylove their dogs. What do you think that dogs bring into our lives?

S: I can only speak for myself. We need those times where we are out in nature and away from our daily lives. It’s in those times that I always want a dog with me. It’s different for everyone. Maybe someone is lonely. Maybe someone is stressed. Maybe it’s filling a void of some kind. I can’t say what it brings to everyone else. All I know is that what I get back from the families I work with is positive. Now I am talking to adults who had my dogs as kids and they want one of my dogs for their families. Now I am passing it through the generations and it’s amazing.

For more information about Scott, visit peaceofmindpuppy.com

Meet Maggie

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Maggie. Maggie is employed by a federal law enforcement agency.  Their mission is dedicated to protecting children from online predators. Maggie is a special agent who devotes her time to investigating, apprehending, and prosecuting criminals who target and victimize kids of all ages.

G: The world is not a safe place for kids. Your job is to protect them. How did it come about that you ended up in this field?

M: Every day children of all ages are being sexually abused and exploited all over the world. I have been in law enforcement for 15 years. I started in financial investigations. Bank fraud and wire fraud, that sort of thing. When my kids were ready to go to school I asked to go to the child exploitation unit. Our priority is to conduct child exploitation investigations, safeguard children, rescue victims, and ultimately prosecute the predators. Most of the activity, especially sexual exploitation of children, happens primarily via the internet.

G: We parents all know this is happening on some level, but it’s still so hard to hear and think about. 

M: Yes, the internet is borderless, so the crime happens everywhere at all times. We work closely our local federal law enforcement agencies and with others to stop it.

G: What was it like for you to make the shift away from financial investigations to child exploitation investigation?

M: Shocking. It was shocking. I had no idea how many children are being exploited every day. The predators are all types of walks of life. It’s your professional. Your engineer.  Your police man. It’s the teachers and the priests. I have investigated just about any profession that you can think of. Especially with the advancing technology, the chat rooms, and the online gaming these predators have overwhelming access to kids. We have a cyber tip line and we receive multiple tips daily about victims, child-molestation, and child trafficking. 

G: Wow. With all of this fast-moving technology how do you stay ahead of the curve or do you even feel like you can?

M: It is constantly evolving. We try to stay on top of it. We work very closely with service providers that are law enforcement-friendly, but some of these services are located overseas and so the investigation takes a lot longer. It can be frustrating. These apps are being created every single day. 

Online gaming, for example Minecraft and Fortnight, they are able to listen and talk to each other, and so these people groom these children. They invest time into the relationship. They friend these kids. They give them attention and encourage them to share about themselves. It happens slowly over time. In one case I investigated the relationship started when the child was nine, but the sexual activity didn’t start until they were 13 or 14 because then they felt comfortable with the predator. In most cases, it just doesn’t happen overnight.

G: It is so hard as parents to really see the full picture of what is happening with all of this online gaming. Would you say that most parents are unaware of how this happens?

M: Parents are not aware at all of what is happening. The perpetrators can sometimes be famous gamers, people that the kids look up to. Maybe they have a huge following or YouTube channels for gaming. They friend kids and start exchanging messages. Then they start exchanging other information. A lot of times it involves the victims taking and sharing sexual pictures. We work very closely with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to stop the distribution of these images of the victims. A database is created there for each victim to flag if the content is shared elsewhere. 

G: You go through the entire process with your victims from investigation to prosecution. What is a typical length of time for a perpetrator to be prosecuted?

M: Having children has made me feel a sense of urgency about each victim. The investigations can sometimes feel like they take a long time. It varies from case to case. I have to work with attorneys and turn things over to prosecutors. There are status hearings to go through. Sometimes it is a lengthy process and sometimes it happens pretty quickly. Sometimes we are rescuing a child within 24 hours of an image being posted.

G: Is there a typical age range of the victims?

M: The victims are infants all the way through the teenage years. All children of all ages should be made aware. Parents need to find a way to talk to their kids at every stage about what is appropriate to show, to share and to talk about online and elsewhere. I don’t think that parents are aware of how accessible their children are with these online games and apps. They just think their kids are playing a game in the basement with their friends and that they are safe. We aren’t really safeguarding our children.

G: How has doing this job shaped the way you parent?

M: I am overprotective for sure. I trust few people and I always know the parents when I let them go on playdates. I monitor closely what they are allowed to play at home. My kids don’t have phones yet, but if they did, I would definitely install something where I can monitor their activity. It’s difficult. 

G: How do you mentally stay in the game to do this job?

M: It’s heartbreaking. But it’s motivating. It gets me up every morning. I love the group of people that I work with. We have a great team and we support each other. When I come home at the end of a stressful day, I just enjoy taking my kids to soccer practice, or just being around them. Seeing my children happy and healthy gets me through the hard parts. I am very good at balancing and separating my work and my home life. What I do is emotionally draining and urgent, but I love it. So when I am not working, I just try to enjoy going for walks, being at home, and just being with my family. 

It’s a priority to save these children. To arrest and see successful prosecutions and to put away these predators, hopefully for a long time. When I come home I feel fulfilled. I feel like I am helping my children and hopefully many other children with a better and brighter future. It’s comforting knowing that you’ve helped someone and rescued them from this nightmare they are in. 

G: How do you envision your kids seeing you and what you do when they are old enough to understand your job fully?

M: I hope to pass on the idea that hard work is motivation. And I hope that one day when I tell them what I do that they are proud of their mother and what I have done.

For more information on how to protect your kids from online predators, visit netsmartz.org

Meet Jen

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

We all know stay-at-home Moms are the unsung heroes of the summer, but so many Moms give tirelessly to their schools and communities during the day while their kids are at school throughout the academic year too. Meet Jen Kane. Jen is a volunteer parent at St. Joseph School in Downers Grove, IL where her two daughters attend. Jen is one of the many parents who are a constant source of help and support behind the scenes to keep the school day and special events on track and running smoothly. All schools depend on parent volunteers, and Jen has devoted time, energy and talents for the betterment of the school community. 

G: You volunteer for a lot of things at the school.  You are there for the day to day stuff, like hot-lunch, as well as the big events, like this year’s Mardi Gras Fundraiser. How do you juggle it all?

J: The day to day stuff is fun. It’s not that big of a deal to be here to help out with hot lunch and that kind of thing. I get to see the kids, it’s not that stressful. But it’s the bigger events, that sometimes require more. 

G: As a parent at the school, it’s often hard to recognize the volunteer parents. I buy hot lunch for my kids, but I don’t stop and think about the parents that give up their time to be there to make sure the kids all get their meals delivered each week. You could be doing anything during that time while the kids are at school, getting caught up on your own life, doing your own thing, and there you are, showing up each week making sure that the job gets done.

J: As volunteers, we know that some parents appreciate it. But because you don’t get a paycheck, sometimes it does feel like it’s time away from things that should be getting done at home or elsewhere. But as a Mom, it’s worth it to be able to see what’s going on during the day. I know all of the kids because I spend so much time here helping out.

G: That’s a good point that being there helps to bridge a gap between school and home while your kids are little. Your kids probably won’t know to appreciate the fact that you are doing that until they are Moms. 

J: I hope they appreciate it one day!

G: You have worn so many different hats over the years in helping out. Some weeks it seems like you are here so much that it could add up to the time that you could be at a part-time job. Does that sound about right in terms of the time commitment you put in throughout the year? 

J: Some weeks for sure. Especially when you add it all up. Girl scouts, hot lunch. Special events. But it provides me with a flexibility to get involved, while still knowing if I had a sick kid, or I couldn’t make it in one day, it would be okay. It gives me a sense of purpose and helps me to feel appreciated somewhere, and for now, I am happy being involved in this way.

G: You are stepping in because someone has to do it. And you are choosing to answer that call. It has been neat to see over the years how it has allowed you to express the many talents that you have while at the same time, filling in a need at our kids’ school.  For example, your creativity really shines when you do things like build the props for this year’s gala in your basement.

J: It’s fun. It’s a team effort. We get to be together as a group of Moms and each of us has a different way we contribute. Some of us have the creative ideas, and some of us figure out how to execute them, whether it’s for the Father Daughter dance, class parties or the fundraising events. It’s just fun and creative. That’s the stuff I love. It’s when I get emails about other stuff that are harder to deal with. When I get an angry email about something every once in awhile and I realize that the person writing it must think that I get a paycheck. That they don’t realize I am a volunteer and to be a little more respectful with how they handle whatever they are emailing me about.

G: Yeah, you take some hits. But really the volunteer parents are the unsung heroes of this school. You give up so much time, and sometimes it’s on things that we would forget to stop and acknowledge, like building props for an event.

J: I agree. The weeks for events like the fundraiser we put in a lot of time. Getting together sometimes until midnight for a week or two to pull it together, and yeah, people don’t even realize the time we are putting in.

G: So what are all of the ways you have been involved thus far?

J: Whenever there is a job to do, and I can do it, I go. Over the years I have been a Girl Scout leader, a hot lunch coordinator. I have helped out at class parties. Stuff that comes up in the classroom and they need volunteers. Helping to reorganize and redo the library. Coaching. At least 40-50- hours so far on the Gala, and I am working the whole day of the event. So all in for that one event, it will be 50-70 hours of time I have put in. And then a Friday night helping out decorating at the Father Daughter Event this year. Most parents help where they can. It’s a great community that way.

G: You obviously have such a can-do, helping out when there is a need, type of spirit. What inspires you or motivates you?

J: I honestly don’t know. I just do it. I just know someone has to do it. Sometimes it’s things I don’t necessarily want to do, but it’s for my kids, so I do it. I want to see them have fun, and be with their friends and be a part of things. It just works for me to be involved right now in this way. At some point I will probably back out in some ways and do new things. As they get older, I may move on to something else and I will feel I have done my part. Everything has it’s time and when they are little, you get involved. When they get older, Moms do things more behind the scenes. It’s a season. And I am glad to have been involved and helped out in this way.

Meet Linda

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Linda LaLonde. Linda is an herbalist and the owner of The Natural Path in Downtown Downers Grove, IL.  Linda's own story and path to personal wellness has transformed the way many locals are viewing their health and wellbeing. Linda's natural approach to wellness and her one-on-one approach and storefront offers a unique opportunity for wholeness and health to our local community.

G: I found you when I was at the end of my rope with some medical issues and I couldn’t get to the bottom of it. You helped me so much, and introduced me to some great products. What you are doing is so unique. 

L: It’s a huge niche. I think the reason that I love it so much is that I usually get the people who have tried everything. They are wanting something different, and they are wanting to get back to the core. To the foundation. They are tired of the noise and the confusion. You go into any of these big box stores looking for a supplement, and it’s so confusing. No one is there to help you or to guide you. I love the client that comes in and is just looking for some direction. I don’t need lots of people. I need the right people.

G: Yes. I feel that. I was so overwhelmed when we first met with wanting to try an alternative to prescription medications, but didn’t know what to do. I had been to a GI specialist, and nothing was really working. I was wondering what were the underlying causes to the symptoms. And I think Western Medicine can sometimes be limited in that we need to understand if there’s a nutritional deficiency, an underlying cause, or an alternative to a prescription with side effects.

L: Yes, that’s huge. People come in and they are confused. They have only heard one way, from their doctor, but they are intrigued about an alternative approach. They don’t have a plan. They don’t have a program. I only work one one on with someone, and a program with me is three months. Because that’s how you really get to know somebody, and that’s how you establish a relationship and help them take their health to the next level. They then have a partner, a health coach who is willing to do the research for them and with them. Then together we make decisions. I love it. 

G: So most of your clients are with you for three months?

L: Yes. We establish a protocol, get things under control, and they lay the foundation for their health or their plan. But then they keep coming back. They come back because a family member gets diagnosed with something, and they need something. Or they get a cold. I want it to be an rotating door. I want clients to come in and for me to say, “What can I do for you”? I just love doing it.

G: I remember when you opened up, you were offering wellness classes. Are you still doing that?

L: I have coaches here who teach those now. And I love coaching the coaches. I did teach classes myself for two years, and I loved doing it. Right now though I am really loving and seeing great results working one-on-one with people. Sometimes when you have a big class, someone gets lost, and one person is one too many to have get lost. So I have classes and coaches out there, but the individual level is where my business thrives now.

G: Speaking of business, you first opened up down the street. It was just you on your own offering classes, consultation, and the shop. Now you have opened up into a larger space and have trained coaches to work alongside you. What has that been like?

L: Yes. I now have 54 certified health coaches working under me in our community. They work in physical therapy, chiropractic offices, and other various wellness areas. In addition to that, I have trained nationally over 3,000 people for the company I partner with teaching the gut health protocol that I use. And it’s great. I get the opportunity to travel, and meet new people. The more people we can get out there and teach, the better it’s going to be. I would love to see this model in every single community. Because then you can help more people. And that’s what it’s about.

G: For someone who doesn’t know anything about a naturopath and what they do, how would you describe that?

L: What I do is that I am the planner. I take a wholistic approach to their body. We rip the house down and we rebuild it. What that means is that we look at the whole picture. Food, water, protein, exercise, lifestyle. What’s your stress like? It’s looking at all of the areas of life. Stress can be a blocker for weight loss as much as food. We have to look at all of these areas in their life and then come up with a game plan for what works with their life that they can carry out. It’s not a diet. It’s a lifestyle change. You can’t throw a diet at someone and say, “Good luck. Get all of your ducks in a row”, without any support. Because that is not going to work. So I work for three months with someone. We start with improving the health of the gut. We start from the very beginning with the food choices. We take it week by week in a way that makes sense. We clean up the mess. And then we start building the body back up. So what I do is that I help people get a handle on their health, in every area, not just one. 

G: Do you have people who come in who aren’t ready to do a three month program? How do you help people who just come in to your shop curious about something or looking for one thing?

L: Sure. I have people who come in and maybe just ask for a cleanse or a supplement. I’ll help them all day long. Not everyone is ready for a big commitment. Maybe they are just looking for more energy. I am more than happy to help them find some supplements that will work for them. As well as the fact that I give them some tips. There is no magic pill for anything. So I help them figure out what lifestyle changes can help with whatever they are looking for. In this situations, I just give people ideas of things to try and tell them to come back in and tell me how it’s working for them.

G: How did you get involved with this branch of wellness?

L: I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 40. Five doctors told me I had MS and I could hardly walk. I had $22,000 in medical bills and I had a two year old at home and a family. I could hardly walk and I had lost functioning in the whole left side of my body. This was fifteen years ago, and doctors told me there was not much I could do for it, and that I would need a wheelchair. My sister-in-law recommended that I see a naturopath and at the time I had no idea what that was. I drove an hour and a half to see this woman who worked out of her basement. She asked me what I was eating, and I couldn’t figure out how that mattered. She told me that my gut was a mess and that I was on a bad path. I worked with her for one year. All she did in that time was reorganize my food, detox my system, and then supported my system all with herbs and supplements. She got my body to the point where it was back to working the way it was supposed to work, and I have not had a symptom in 14 years. It didn’t even take me that whole year to feel better. I felt better within a couple of weeks. And I now have no diagnosis of MS. 

G: WOW. All of that with working with herbs?

L: When I had my own health crisis and started working with a naturopath, we would boil the herbs from the garden. Now as an herbalist, I work with herbs that are encapsulated, so people can just take them in capsule form and not have to go through all of that. It’s amazing the results that we can get working with herbs. What that woman did for me was save my life. At that point, I became passionate about health and wellness, and I was doing these things for myself and my family because it was keeping me well.  I was doing all of this stuff that I was learning about with nutrition and herbs, but I wasn’t managing my stress. At 48, we were having some significant financial stress and I had a heart attack. I got to a hospital, and that time Western Medicine saved my life, so I don’t discount it. That’s when it really clicked for me that stress can kill you. It was destroying my system that I was working so hard to try to build up. It was a big hit over the head. It was a “God-moment”. It’s honestly the best thing that ever happened to me, because that’s when I realized I needed to do something that meant something. I went back to school to learn more about herbs and to become a naturopath within two weeks of having that heart attack while I was on bed rest. Within six months, I was off of all of my meds, and I was no longer a cardiac patient. 

G: I love that story. That’s so incredible.

L: That’s my story. The best thing that came out of it is that I can help so many people that don’t know what to do. I can give them hope. I can give them things to try. I can help them figure out what to do with their stress, which is very real for everyone. Not only do we talk about “taking it down a notch”, but finding strategies together. Maybe it’s getting better sleep at night. Maybe it’s meditation. Maybe some herbs. So I am someone who gets to be on their team. And I love it. It could have gone very different for me, but I felt like I was led here. Now in my life when I get worried about things here in the shop or how things are going, the minute I start going down that road, I remind myself that my purpose is to help people. I can always bring it down to that, and it all just comes back why I do what I do. I truly feel like I “get” to go to work. It’s awesome. It just keeps growing and evolving, so I do feel like it’s a “God-thing”. For me, this space is It’s all about finding things that make people happy. I have even offered yoga and a film class in here as well as wellness classes. It’s just a place for people to come in, leave their phone at the door, and find what is going to work for them. I want it to be about people coming together.

G: You obviously love what you do, and it sounds like this is your Zen happy place. Outside of what you do here, what keeps you motivated? What inspires you?

L: My five kids inspire me. My time with them. My husband. My walking. I love to travel. Meditation is not huge for me, but I do try to do it. It’s just really about enjoying my family. It’s all good. 

For more information about Linda, visit www.thenaturalpathdg.com

Meet Jen

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Jen Jagger. Jen is a hair stylist, running her own business in a salon space in downtown Downers Grove, IL. Jen’s clients are men, women, and kids, and she often takes care of whole families. Jen is adorable on every level,  and people of all ages leave her chair feeling confident in the way that they look, walking taller, and feeling better. 

G: How did you know you wanted to be a hairstylist?

J: I knew when I was in junior high. I would go into my cousin’s salon and just want to hang out. I would shampoo hair, I would sweep up. Anything just to be there.

G: So what was it about it that hooked you? 

J: I was hooked immediately by the whole vibe; the people, the loud music, the glamour. I love getting to know people and there was so much chatter and so many conversations going on. I could tell early on that it was so much more than cutting hair. It was about relationships with people, and from an early age I wanted to be a part of the conversation. After I graduated high-school, I knew I wanted to go straight to beauty school.

G: So that was the path you took?

J: Yes. I went to the College of Dupage to take some business classes and went to beauty school. It was a ten month process and then I took my state boards. From there I interviewed with two salons and chose based on how much it felt like home and how much I liked the company. From there I did more training and was at my first salon for seven years before I made the jump to go into business for myself.

G: What has that been like?

J: I love it. It was the best decision I ever made. I don’t mind being on vacation and stopping what I am doing to book a client. In fact, it has made me love coming to work even more. At first I was terribly nervous, but my husband helped me so much with that. The first few weeks were scary. But then people started rolling in and it was great. It was terrifying, but exciting too. It was a game-changer on so many levels, but it challenges me to be on top of it all. I have hired someone to help me with my bookkeeping. I keep up with my education and license. 

G: What gets you out of bed in the morning to come to work?

J: Well my dog wakes me up every morning to take him outside! No, I am always excited to come to work to see not only my clients, but the friends that I work with. The energy here and the people that I am around is so amazing. It makes such a huge difference. I truly, truly love what I do. The flexibility of my routine is perfect. The freedom, the flexibility and the hours. And I love my people. That makes it.

G: You have cut my hair for over six years, and when I leave your salon, I feel so much better about myself. So much more confident about the way that I look. The reality of the world is that we live in a world where our appearance matters. Do you sense the change in how you make people feel when they come to see you?

J: Oh, totally. It makes your day. I know how I feel when I get my hair cut, and I hope that’s what I give someone.  If I am able to help someone feel better about themselves, to be more confident, and they carry that out into their day and be the best that they can be?  That’s what I hope for.

G: In this day of social media and pressure, it’s such a gift to have people in your life who can help you feel your best. Your business is so clearly built on long term relationships. You work with people of all ages and with families. Kids, families and teenage girls. How has that impacted the work that you do?

J: Lots of my adult clients bring their kids to me, and it’s fun to see them go from being squirmy in the chair and annoyed by me as little kids to letting me help them figure out how to style their hair when they get older. It’s cool to watch that transition. Kids go from not caring and not wanting to be in the chair to having an opinion and asking me how to help them. It’s a perfect opportunity to get to watch kids go from childhood to adulthood and I love the idea that a client can be with me for a very long time. I have clients that are adults now and I remember getting to be a part of their Homecoming day, or their wedding. I get to be a part of their special events in their lives so that’s great too. I love that people trust me with that.

G: Your stepdaughter is in high school right? How do you help her to deal with the pressures of that age and appearance?

J: She and I are so different in a lot of ways. We have an awesome dynamic. I love that she comes to me for advice. I love that she trusts me. Her look is so natural, and she doesn’t worry too much about hair or makeup in her day to day life and I love that about her.

G: What you do is so creative. You look at each person and see their uniqueness and figure out how to pull their whole look together. What inspires you in your life? What keeps you moving and motivated? 

J: I have always liked to work out, but yoga is becoming a new obsession for me. I love the mind-body connection. It is so rejuvenating. Also, I try to stay current with what is happening trend-wise in the entertainment industry. It’s become so political these days, but I still like to watch to see the newest looks in hair and makeup. But mostly it’s the people around me. My friends and family inspire me in every way. And my husband. He is one of my biggest fans, and I love that. He is so supportive. So I guess, family, yoga, my husband and Hollywood!

To connect with Jen Jagger, contact her at (630) 427-7368.

Meet Patrick

No matter what we do, what we do matters.

Meet Patrick Lally. Patrick is a real estate broker at @Properties in Downers Grove, IL. With over 25 years of building, finance, and real estate experience, Patrick offers a unique approach to building relationships and helping clients find a place to call home.

G: Our homes are our nests. They are the genesis of our day to day lives for our families. Everything that happens with our homes, whether it is renovating, buying or selling a home is very stressful. How do you navigate this with your clients?

P: I think I do well working with clients because I have a building background. I helped build my own house. It was a three-bedroom ranch, and we took the roof off and did a whole second story addition. My Dad was from Ireland and he was a builder, so I grew up with it and knew every aspect of building. I worked with him all throughout high school and college. Because we did a lot of remodels, I could see every problem of what could go wrong with a house, which as an agent is valuable. Most clients don’t have a lot of experience with houses and how they are built, and they are very appreciative when I can tell them what to watch out for and what to walk away from. 

G: I can see how that would be so helpful. You’re right. There is so much that the average homeowner does not know. A big part of what you do then is educating your clients.

P: Absolutely. When we start the process off and I first meet with a client, the first thing I do is describe the process of agency, and the fact that our discussions are confidential. Once I tell clients that their work with me is protected under that law, then the guard comes down and we can start the relationship. Then there becomes a level of comfort. Now we can find the perfect house. 

G: Right off the bat, you start with a relationship based on needing to know more about their  lives and what they need, and they need to open up in order to do that?

P: Sure. I see all sorts of situations. I have worked with clients having marital problems who are looking for a house for themselves. I see estate situations. I see clients who are buying a home because they are having a baby. I had one situation where I was the second person that my client told that they were having a baby. They told their spouse. And then they told me. They told me before they told their parents. They trust me. And they know what they tell me is going to stay “in the vault”.

G: Wow. You really do have the inside track on your clients’ lives. It’s such a place of honor, right? You really come to it from a place of trust and relationship and convey that you need to be in their inner circle in order for them to open up to you. How do you go about that?

P: I have a process. If I am selling a house, I have them walk me through what they initially loved about their house and why they bought it. I make sure with every client that I really understand what their needs are. Every street is different. Every neighborhood is different.

G: Your job is very much a community-based job. You have clients in every neighborhood, and your ear is to the ground on what is happening in the neighborhoods and the schools and what is happening on the streets.

P: It is. It’s all based on relationships with people in the community. Almost 100 percent of my clients are referrals. Sometimes they are close friends, and sometimes I don’t know them quite as much, but by the end of it they become friends because we have spent so much time together. It’s a highly intense process. Buying or selling a home is one of the most stressful things you can do. There are a lot of tentative points in the transaction and we don’t know if it’s going to go smoothly. It can be tenuous. I also want to have good relationships with the other brokers. We have to collaborate in order for things to go smoothly.

G: What else do you do to help your clients navigate this process?

P: I think having a lot of experience helps. At this point, when I see a client going through a part of the transaction that they are struggling with, it’s not the first time I have seen someone deal with that situation. I can go back to my experiences and tell them the different ways that situation has transpired and what the different avenues are. I think by doing that, it helps relieve the stress. They realize it is not the unknown, but that it’s the known and we have to figure out what the next steps are and what the possible results are. I think that helps calm them, and knowing I am an experienced agent and that it’s in my hands helps them. I help guide them through it. I tell them if I am concerned, then they should be concerned. But if I am not concerned, then they can stay calm.  

G: We can all bemoan the fact that we are getting older, right? But from what you are saying, having experience and longevity in your job helps you and your clients tremendously. Do you feel at this point that you have seen it all?

P: Well things can always come out of left field. People are people. Unexpected things happen. It can be exciting. It can be funny. One time I walked through a house with clients, and we realized that there was water that was left running in the basement, and it was under four feet of water. Another time, I had taken off my shoes to walk through a house, and I stepped in a huge pile of dog poop that was right on the carpet, which I didn’t see, because the carpet was brown. I had to rip my socks off! You never know what is going to happen. Some houses are totally amazing. Some have secret rooms. It’s a lot of fun.

G: So it keeps you on your toes, maybe literally! Every day is different. What would you say the stresses are of this job for you, and how do you manage them? 

P: The most challenging aspect is that it is a confined market. It is seasonal, and the hot time is the hot time. In the spring market, I am busy all the time. Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, late at night. It is a huge work crunch over a period of time. But the flip side of that is that outside of that busy time, I get to be around my family and my kids. I can help coach my kids’ sports. I was the president of the school board for two years, and that is hugely important to me. I am able to drive my kids to and from school every day. We have family dinner every night. I like to cook. Cooking for me is one of my creative outlets. It’s therapeutic and I get the kids involved. Now they like to cook, and it’s fun. It also allows me time to do woodworking, and take breaks to do things that are important to me. 

G: It sounds like this job is just such a good fit for you and your lifestyle.

P: I did finance for a lot of years, and I used to travel 30 or 40 weeks a year. I find this to be so much more satisfying. Every day, I am on the road, looking at houses and seeing clients. I am not stuck in the same spot every day. Which is great.

G: In all of the years in working with families, what are the biggest lessons you have learned when it comes to people and the importance of their environment?

P: One of the most important things I have learned is the way that people value their home. No matter what size it is or what the value of the house is. Everyone feels about their home the same way. It’s a special place for them. When I see that, I have great respect for them in that way. Regardless of the condition. I go into some houses that may need a lot of work to get it ready to go on the market. Some houses may not need as much. Regardless of that, the feeling for the owners is always the same. It’s not a house. It’s their home.

G: Are there common threads that you find that people are looking for in a home? 

P: People want a house they can call a home. They want it to be their own. They think about holidays and Thanksgiving and having their family and friends in their home. They think about finishing the basement for their kids. They envision how their life is going to play out and how their kids are going to grow up in a particular house. It’s a privilege to be a part of that process and to help them find a house that will be their home where they put down roots for their families and their kids. 

G: So much of what you do and have done centers around the word “home”. You built your own home. You help people find the perfect home. What does that word mean to you?
P: “Home” is where you grow up. I think of my own home where I grew up. It means memories and Thanksgiving and family. To me it means dinner time. The most important time for me is to sit down every night for dinner. When we are in our home, we are together, and we talk about our day. To me that’s what it means. It’s not about the bedrooms, it’s not about the finished basement. It’s about the dinner table. With clients, I gravitate towards the kitchen and the main living areas of the space. I always help people think about how to create a more open space to create that feeling of home.

G: You have such a vision for your clients. You can see past the issues of the house, or the possibilities. You can see how families can create that space that you sense they are looking for. How their house fits into a larger community.

P: I spending a lot of time with clients, in the car driving around looking at houses, or over emails and the phone. But most importantly, being with them as they go through a house and what they gravitate towards, I get to the heart of what they are looking for. That really tells me what is important for them, and that helps me find the house that is the best for them. A lot of my clients are so focused on finding the right house not for themselves but for their kids, in the right school district, in a safe neighborhood. It can be difficult sometimes, but it’s fun. Most of the time, I think I get more of a kick out of it than they do!

For more information about Patrick, visit atproperties.com or contact him at patrick@atproperties.com