Suzanne Evans of Elgin already had plenty of jobs to do. She was a business owner, consultant, board member and mother.
But last year, Evans decided to add one more job to the list. That title was coordinator of the Women’s Wellness Coalition, a group of 13 agencies and organizations in Kane County that will offer women-empowering activities at various sites throughout the Fox Valley this month.
“She’s so motivated, and she has really great ideas,” said Amy Lively, director of marketing and public relations at Elgin’s St. Joseph Hospital, a member of the coalition. “She’s a smart woman and lots of fun. I’ve loved working with her.”
“She reminds me of the woman in the Enjoli perfume commercial who sings: `I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan,’ ” said husband Carl Beyer, a teacher at Schaumburg High School. “We all wish we could slow her down, but she doesn’t miss a beat around home. She’s pretty incredible.”
Evans is owner of Suzanne F. Evans Unlimited, a consulting firm specializing in personal and professional development. She works as a consultant for various school districts and in the employee assistance program for TriCity Family Services, a not-for-profit social service agency in Geneva. She’s a community liaison for State Rep. Doug Hoeft (R-Elgin). She serves on the occupational board for TriCity, the board development committee for Elgin’s YWCA, the advisory board for Kane-Du Page Childcare Resource and Referral and is a board member for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), an organization that works with abused children in the court system.
To these jobs, she brings her bachelor’s degree in special education and elementary education from Northern Illinois University, a master’s degree in recreation administration from San Francisco State University, and post-graduate work in adult continuing education.
Nine years ago while working as vice president of health promotion at Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva, Evans organized a Women’s Wellness Weekend, offering a variety of health-related programs to women.
Although she has since left the hospital, her brainchild has continued to grow. The weekend, now sponsored by Waubonsee Community College and the Aurora YMCA, is held annually at George Williams College on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wis. Topics include spirituality, mother/daughter relationships and celebrating women’s strength.
Because of her concern about the financial and logistical restrictions that would make the $175 weekend in Wisconsin impossible for many women, Evans decided last year to offer women a month-long series of programs closer to home. She contacted agencies throughout the Fox Valley that conducted programs for women and invited them to participate in the coalition.
Evans’ volunteer efforts on behalf of the coalition have brought previously competing forces together.
“In the past these agencies worked hard to offer their strengths to benefit women, and in doing so we worked independently or often competed against each other. It’s very nice that we are now presenting a united coalition for women,” said Joan Arnal, community education coordiantor for Elgin Community College.
“I see it as a real plus for women. I see more types of programs coming out of this. I see it happening again.”
“We thought we would offer a big smorgasbord and let people choose what they want,” said Leslie Brown, senior program director at the YWCA in Aurora. “It’s a good feeling to work together toward one goal. It’s nice for the community to see we are all in this together.”
The 13 agencies and organizations that will be offering programs throughout this month are Aurora’s YMCA and YWCA; the Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW); Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora; Delnor-Community Hospital; Elgin Community College; Elgin’s YWCA; Family Counseling Services of Aurora; Family Service Association of Greater Elgin; Mercy Center for Healthcare Services in Aurora; St. Joseph Hospital; TriCity Family Services; and Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove.
Many of the classes, seminars and workshops are free, but those with fees cost $2 to $15. Programs range from an evening lecture chronicling a woman’s journey in her own single-engine aircraft from San Francisco to South America and back, to a full morning of exercise, which will include rubberband workouts, step classes, fitness testing, aerobics, massage and fitness for seniors.
“We are going to give the women who participate a breakfast snack, along with a map and a schedule and then let them go,” said Fern Braam, fitness director at Elgin Community College’s Fountain Square Campus, where the exercise sampler will be conducted.
“We did something like this about seven years ago, and it was very successful, so we’re really excited about reviving it. One way it differs from the first one we offered is that we got rid of all the frou-frou stuff: the fashion and makeup tips and all that. This time we zeroed in on what’s really important to women.”
Amy Lively at St. Joseph Hospital had the same no-nonsense approach in mind when determining what her institution would offer.
“I was looking at the spectrum of programs we offered in the past for women, and I decided I wanted to go broader and offer classes that women could really use,” Lively said.
“When (Evans) sent out the notices, she said she had an idea for coordinating efforts for women’s education, and this is something that St. Joe’s is really interested in. We thought it was a great idea. We definitely wanted to get involved.”
The hospital’s involvement will include four free programs: depression screening, emotions and PMS, emotional aspects of menopause, and nutrition and disease prevention.
St. Joseph is but one of four health-care institutions involved in the coalition, and each will offer different programs. Variety was important to all coalition members because while working independently in the past, duplication caused poorer turnouts for everyone.
“If all the agencies that are offering the same type of program get three people signed up, it doesn’t do anybody any good,” said Cathy Keene, community education, personal development program coordinator at Waubonsee.
“So it’s nice to see what other agencies are offering because maybe in the future we can work together and avoid the duplication of programs, not only during the month of October but all year.”
In addition to coordinating the coalition, Evans has been asked to instruct classes for three organizations. She will be conducting Stress Management for TriCity; Self-Empowerment for the Elgin YWCA; and Girls, Schools and Issues of Self-Esteem for the American Association of University Women.
Sharon Collins of Batavia is looking forward to attending the self-empowerment class. “I saw the information about the program on a flyer from Waubonsee,” Collins said. “I had taken a class with Suzanne several years ago, and I got to know her through that. She’s so upbeat, positive and inspirational. I really can’t wait to take a class that’s presented by her.”
The self-esteem class is geared toward the people who can make a difference in young girls’ lives: their parents, teachers, counselors and coaches.
“What I see as our contribution is a focus not on women but on the next generation,” said Karen Johnson, chairwoman of the initiative for educational equity for the Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles branch of the AAUW. “We need to nurture our young girls, to foster self-esteem, to close the gender gaps in education, and this is one way to reach our goals.”
“We are working toward improving communication and teacher training regarding gender equity in the classroom,” said David Nohling, who will conduct the program with Evans. “We want to help parents and teachers look at what’s going on in the classroom and to realize that they are the real influences in these girls’ lives.”
Despite her focus on empowering women, Evans also figures prominently in some men’s lives.
In addition to all her other commitments, Evans accepted yet another responsibility in 1989 when she married Carl Beyer, a widower with three sons, Adam, now 11, Eric, 13, and Justin, 14. The men in her life are accustomed to her busy schedule and don’t expect to see much more of her even after this month is over.
Come November, coalition representatives will meet to evaluate their success and determine if they’ll do it again next year. One positive sign is that organizations that did not participate this year are inquiring about how to get involved next year.
“We’ve been on pins and needles wondering what would happen. You never know when you try something the first time, but it can’t hurt anyone; it can only benefit people,” Evans said.
“If the interest is there in the community, we’ll keep it going. What’s important is that women know about it and realize what’s out there for them.”
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For information about the programs this month, contact the agencies or call Ask-A-Nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, 708-931-1800.
