Three Macomb women who for decades have worked to make the community a better place are being honored for their efforts. They are this year’s recipients of the “Writing Women into History” award.
The Macomb Feminist Network gives the award to McDonough County residents who “have been positive role models and, through their accomplishments, have made a difference in the lives of others in our community.”
Assisting where she can
Andrea Henderson certainly fits that description, and she said it’s in her DNA – it’s what her family has always done.
“My grandmother. My mother. My children. My uncles and aunts,” she said. “They all have been contributors in their communities in terms of helping others to do what needs to be done.”
Henderson said sometimes they just step in and help when they see help is needed. She said they try to be kind and fair with people.
Through the years, Henderson has been involved with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and Samaritan Well. She has served on the community’s police and fire commission, and she’s active in her church.
For 20 years, she served as administrator and a board member of the summer youth program PRIME.
She did all that while also serving as Director of Western Illinois University’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.
Henderson said she does not seek recognition for her efforts, but added it’s wonderful to be honored with the “Writing Women into History” award.
It’s not the first time she’s been honored with an award. For example, as a high school basketball player, Henderson earned the “Miss Hustle” award from the Bomber Booster Club.
She said the award is not given to the person who scores the most points. Instead, it honors a player who does the dirty work by deflecting opponents’ passes, grabbing rebounds, forcing jump balls, and more.
“The MVP can’t be the MVP if they don’t have the supporting cast. I think that award very much encompasses what I’ve done in my life. I’m not trying to go out there and have the MVP, but I’m trying to assist where I can,” she said.
Henderson said it’s a great feeling to help other people, and that it’s greatly needed. She said if everyone refused to get involved, a lot would be left undone, and that’s a community nobody wants to live in.
Helping with basic needs
Brenda Allison’s family has lived in the community and made a difference since moving here in the 1800s. Her ancestors were abolitionists and were conductors on the underground railroad through western Illinois.
Like them, she has tried to make a difference.
“I wanted to help people with their basic needs. I wanted to help people have better lives, to enrich their lives,” she said.
Allison established scholarships when she was president of the Macomb Women’s Club, and when the pandemic made life difficult for many, she stepped up to help.
Allison helped with a drive-by donation collection for social service agencies that were getting no money during the pandemic, and she used her computer skills to help local organizations.
“I kept organizations alive that probably wouldn’t have been able to keep going (during the pandemic) without the communication that I helped,” she said.
Allison continues to help groups by using her computer skills, which she honed when she was AFSCME’s director of information technology.
Allison said it’s important to make women’s contributions known.
“There’s a lot of history that has not been written, and it’s time to write into history what women are doing,” she said.
She urged people to look around – she said there are always others in need and things you can do to help your neighbor.
A validation of work
Sandra Mosley’s contributions have come through music. She has performed at countless community events and has taught the piano to numerous students.
Mosley said she was surprised to be named a recipient of the “Writing Women into History” award.
“What it means to me is a validation of all the work and time that I’ve put into my music and my life,” she said.
Mosley said she was just doing what came naturally to her. She said that’s the most authentic way to approach life: to do what comes naturally, and expand and enhance it as much as possible.
In teaching the piano, Mosley created what she calls the piano lab, based on the model that people learn by doing.
She can have numerous students in the lab at any given time. By using electronic pianos and wearing headsets, the students learn at their own pace by working on their music while being supervised.
“What they get from me is the positivity that they need to not be traumatized taking piano lessons, as well as learning the correct procedure for doing it,” she said with a laugh.
“I don’t traumatize students. I allow them to come in, have a good time, and at the same time do what they do best.”
Mosley said she allows the students to be themselves and learn in their own way, while at the same time teaching them the best way to do it.
The Macomb Feminist Network established the “Writing Women into History” award in 2010. Since then, the group has honored 46 women, including this year’s recipients.
The group said honorees through the years have excelled as role models and community leaders.
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