'Change is made of choices, and choices are made of character.' ~ Amanda Gorman from Call Us What We Carry.

'When this ends, we’ll smile sweetly, finally seeing. In testing times, we became the best of things.' ~ Amanda Gorman from her poem "The Miracle of Mourning."

For many of us, we are in the midst of a transition - returning to the office, changing jobs or bosses, considering a new career, nearing the end of the school year, adjusting to retirement.

With May as Mental Health Awareness Month, we need to recognize that times of transition are a great teacher and are often tough. With this in mind, we must remember to be patient and kind to ourselves.

Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed since 1949. There has always been a focus on physical heath.  Recently, there is surge in content and a focus on mental health. The pandemic has reasserted the need for social connection and the importance of family, friends and community. It has also highlighted the need for self-care. With mental and physical health often intertwined, we must focus on both for our own well-being.

Stress, life challenges, and even mental health conditions are very common. The Mental Health America website estimates that nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year and 46% of Americans experience a diagnosable mental health condition sometime during their lifetime. 

Here's how SWE Central Illinois may support you this month. SWE CI is hosting a session on 'Prevention & Creative Ways to Beat Burnout' with Dr. Robyn McKay.  And if you, like me, believe in the power of nature to replenish our spirits and restore balance to our lives, join us for a family friendly hike at Robinson Park.

For this month and always, I urge you all to take a little time to step away from stress and to just chill. Mental health means something different to each one of us  – take breaks, go on vacation, focus on good sleep habits, connect with others, meditate, enjoy your pets, nurture your hobbies and interests, and pause. This is my wish for you. Here are some of my chill moments from this week - slowing down to really watch a hummingbird at a feeder, experienced the progression of a lunar eclipse with my family, saw my first lightening bug of the year, and currently listening to crickets at dusk while I write this note.

Yours through SWE,

Renew FY23 Membership:

Renew your SWE membership for the FY23 year (7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023). All members must use their SWE member credentials to log in and register.
If you would like to ask your manager for membership support check-out this site - https://swe.org/membership/benefits/

On May 12th, 2022, SWE-CI Annual Award Ceremony and Speaker event were hosted at the Peoria Women’s Club in downtown Peoria. During this event, the Central Illinois chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) gave special recognitions to four Caterpillar engineers from its membership of over 250 people. 

Heather Ulrich: Distinguished Member Award for a nominee who has demonstrated outstanding support and participation in the furthering of technical understanding or interest in young women.

Kadé Diallo: Outstanding Advocate Award in recognition of a nominee who has demonstrated outstanding advocacy for women and girls in engineering and technology.

Christy Lee: Outstanding Engineer Award in recognition of a qualified engineer who has made significant contributions in the field of engineering and/or technical management.

Holly Teig: Pillar of Support Award in recognition of a nominee who has consistently and continuously supported SWE’s mission and organization.

         

After the award ceremony, Executive Director Tara Ingham from Midwest Food Bank, Bloomington-Normal shared her personal stories and insightful leadership journey on the topic of Lessons in Leadership at a Non-Profit Organization. She talked about leadership readiness and interactively navigated through her 4Fs: Foundation, Function, Facilitate, and Focus. For complete presentation material, please visit the following link:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1FbtlhE6IRh0MjpAPVFtNpnohM6DOX8sa/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111312990335443188430&rtpof=true&sd=true

The event was hosted by the SWE-CI Professional Development committee co-chair Bethany Thimote and member Morgan Nash. The event was well-received by over 30 participants from women engineers, award winners, winners’ family members, and their supporters. Commendable work from all supporting members from the SWE-CI Professional Development committee. 

If you participated in the ceremony and would like to provide feedback, please visit. https://forms.gle/gWFy4kPNc5wgkApj6

   

Work Life Integration Committee:
Painting Workshop with SWE-CI : 

Bradley University