2026 Women of Distinction

35th Annual

Women of Distinction

2026 Women of Distinction Honorees

2026 Women of Distinction. In back row: Dr. Tracy M. Webster-Cooley, Tomieka Carter, Debbie Sheary, Kathleen Wilson, Dr. Tandra N. Taylor, Beverly Woody. In front row: Carol Morris, Mary Jason, Tracy Zerwas, Barbara Erwin, Lynne Burnett

“ The Power of Her ”

YWCA Southwestern Illinois was honored to celebrate its 35th Annual Women of Distinction Gala on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Lewis and Clark Community College Commons in Godfrey, Illinois. This signature event is an evening of inspiration, elegance, and purpose—bringing together community leaders, advocates, and supporters to honor extraordinary women whose leadership is shaping our region.

As the largest and most visible tribute to women leaders in Southwestern Illinois, the Women of Distinction Gala celebrates the power of women to lead, uplift, and transform communities. Each year, we gather to reflect on the impact of women whose professional achievements, volunteer service, and personal leadership embody the YWCA mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

During the Gala, each honoree is formally inducted into the YWCA Women of Distinction Academy, joining more than 340 extraordinary women recognized since the program began in 1991. Their stories remind us what is possible when women lead—and when a community stands behind them.

Lynne Burnett

As someone wrote about Lynne Burnett, “she has a just heart.” That heart has led her to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, the Black Lives Matter movement, women’s rights, the rights of unhoused population in Alton, and rights for immigrants, among other causes. These volunteer efforts are in addition to the many years she spent as a social worker working with abused and neglected children.

Marriage equality has been one of Lynne’s top priorities. She and her long-time partner were finally able to marry in 2014 after the success of a lawsuit brought by Lambda Legal and the ACLU challenging Illinois laws against same sex marriage, in which they were among the named plaintiffs. Due to her efforts leading to the legalization of same sex marriage in Illinois, many more people are now able to access the benefits of a marriage relationship. These benefits include spousal access to health insurance, financial stability through a spouse’s pension and death benefits, medical decision-making authority, and inheritance rights. The right to marry offers increased stability and security – all of which strengthens families and the broader community.

Lynne has been committed to the unhoused community through her work at the Overnight Warming Location in Alton. The OWL, as it is known, serves as a shelter for the unhoused when the temperatures drop below 20 degrees overnight. Lynne got involved after a tour of the facility in its second year, during which she discovered that clothing donations weren’t being used because there wasn’t enough manpower to manage them. She sourced clothing racks and

shelves and turned an unused storeroom into “The Department Store - Where Everything Is Free.” Through coat, glove, and boot drives, she outfitted the Store with items necessary for those living on the street. She also managed the Amazon wish list from which donors could purchase much-needed items. Donations came pouring in, and now the Store offers everything from tents and sleeping bags to clothing and toiletries. Lynne found joy in connecting personally with the guests who accessed these services.

Although Lynne sees herself as a volunteer who works in the background, she is known as someone who isn’t afraid to advocate for the rights of others. Her many and varied efforts over the years have certainly earned her recognition as a Woman of Distinction.

Tomieka Carter

Tomieka Carter encourages everyone to “find a program or passion through which they can serve.” She practices what she preaches, through her volunteer activities which reach out to women and girls. One of her initiatives addresses women’s health and economic needs by providing hygiene products, clothing, shoes and access to personal care services at no cost to recipients. Tomieka also organizes an annual back-to-school initiative, a two-day event offering free hair-cuts, braiding services, and salon visits for girls provided by licensed professionals, as well as free school supplies, new clothing and shoes. This program reduces financial strain on families while boosting confidence and self-esteem for young girls and teens, giving girls the chance to participate fully in school and community life without stigma or shame.

During the summer months, Tomieka organizes free youth and family events in partnership with community organizations, creating safe spaces for connection, mentorship and positive engagement. These events often feature free food and activities. Tomieka’s desire to serve the community also leads her to helping unhoused individuals in the Alton community. During major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, she coordinates meal distribution and provides blankets, gloves, hats, shoes and hygiene items.

Tomieka also achieves long-term impacts by mentoring women and girls, both through intentional guidance and also by consistent example. Her presence reassures young girls and teenage mothers that they are not alone and that their community cares about their success and well-being. Many of those she has served have gone on to volunteer, lead and uplift others, extending the impact of her work beyond her own efforts.

Tomieka’s commitment to service, equity and compassion exemplifies the heart of the YWCA mission. Her work empowers women, uplifts girls and promotes dignity for all by meeting people where they are and responding with love, action and purpose. As one person put it, she does not seek recognition – she seeks change. Her lifelong dedication to strengthening her community makes her a force for justice and empowerment and is truly a YWCA Woman of Distinction.

Barbara Erwin

Several years ago, while teaching at North Elementary School, Barbara saw that during extended school breaks, many children lost access to reliable meals. Guided by compassion and a love for her students, Barb decided to do something about that. Starting small, she founded the Alton Project 3rd Day program, initially funding the effort from her own personal resources and doing the work out of her own home. The program provided bags of nonperishable food and essential items to students in need during seven to eight school breaks each year. These bags were sent home during the final lunch period on the day before each break.

What began as a small effort supporting a handful of students has since grown into a district-wide program, now serving more than 600 children annually across all the elementary schools in the Alton School District. The program received the full support of former Alton School District Superintendent Kristie Baumgartner who urged her to take the project district wide, and it is now backed by current school superintendent Elaine Kane. Since the project has grown beyond her ability to do it all out of her home, Barb says that she receives help from the community.

Barb’s retirement from the school district did not end her commitment to its students and families. She participates in annual city cleanups and supports efforts that strengthen community pride, beautification and civic engagement.Her continued involvement in these projects demonstrates her dedication to children, environmental sustainability and community engagement, which makes her a Woman of Distinction.

Mary Jason

Mary Jason has dedicated her life to serving others. In 2017, as the result of the tragic loss of her only son several years earlier, she founded M.O.T.H.E.R.S. Unique to honor his memory and support others navigating similar grief. Mary transformed her grief into purpose by founding M.O.T.H.E.R.S. Unique (Moms Obligated to Healing, Encouraging, Recovering, Support). Understanding firsthand the depth of a mother’s loss, she created a support group offering emotional, spiritual, and financial assistance to mothers in the community who have lost a child. Mary recognized that grieving mothers need unwavering, accessible support—support that does not end and comes without cost.

As president of M.O.T.H.E.R.S. Unique, she and the mothers within the organization stand alongside grieving families, providing ongoing care and compassion. They create a safe and nurturing space where mothers can honor and remember their children while navigating the journey of healing.

Mary’s commitment to service extends even further. For more than a decade, she has volunteered with A Precious Organization, a nonprofit organization raising awareness and providing support to families facing sickle cell disease. In her volunteer work with the organization, she prepares and serves meals for the annual benefit walk as well as assists with event preparation and follow-up.

She is also a dedicated member of Morning Star Baptist Church, faithfully serving as a longtime usher, where she warmly welcomes and cares for fellow church members and visitors.

Additionally, Mary has generously devoted her time as a volunteer with Catholic Children’s Home, a residential facility dedicated to providing care, support, and stability for vulnerable youth.

When she is not serving her community, Mary is a devoted mother to her three daughters—Evette, Wynette, and Michelle—and a loving grandmother, aunt, and cherished family member. Through her resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication, Mary continues to be a beacon of hope and healing in her community.

Carol Morris

Carol Morris has spent more than two decades as a steady and inspiring force for service, compassion, and community leadership throughout Madison County. Her life’s work reflects a deep commitment to empowering women and girls, supporting families in crisis, and creating connections that strengthen the entire community.

Carol’s volunteer journey began through Main Street United Methodist Church, where she serves as chair of the Leadership Committee. One of their most active and trusted leaders, she supports hospitality and children’s ministries, helps prepare meals, counts collections, and is the person everyone calls when help is needed. She is fully involved in the church’s programs, including Kids Plus—providing dinner and Bible study each Wednesday to 25–30 children.

Her service extends into many organizations across the county. As a longtime member of the Alton Community Service League, Carol spent eight years helping design and maintain the Third Street flower beds and has led the team responsible for deadheading roses at the Gordon Moore Rose Garden for the past 11 summers.

For 15 years, Carol has volunteered with the Mississippi Valley Garden Club, caring for the gardens at the Community Hope Center. Her involvement there also includes supporting families facing food insecurity, offering both hands-on work and heartfelt guidance to those experiencing crisis. Carol’s commitment to children is evident in her 12 years of service with Serving Area Kids (SAK), providing lunches to children across the Alton region. Her volunteer work with Crisis Food and Heavenly Peace allows families in crisis to select needed household items free of charge—an effort she supports with empathy and grace. Through groups such as Hearts and Hands, Riverbend Head Start, Alton’s Boys and Girls Clubs, and OASIS Women’s Ministries, Carol pours her time and talents into helping women, children, and families thrive. She also participates in Chi Rho, a fundraising group that supports organizations serving women and children in need.

Carol’s leadership builds confidence, encourages dignity, and creates an environment where everyone feels welcome. She works to remove barriers for those in need and continuously finds ways to lift others up—especially women and girls seeking support, stability, or guidance. Among her most cherished accomplishments is raising three sons who have grown into capable leaders and devoted fathers. Her pride extends to her grandchildren, who have graduated from college and built promising futures inspired by the values she embodies. Carol and her husband recently celebrated 60 years of marriage, a joyful milestone that reflects a lifetime grounded in family, faith, and service.

Through every act of kindness—large or small—Carol Morris enriches the community. Her influence is woven through countless lives, making her a truly deserving honoree for Woman of Distinction.

Debbie Sheary

Debbie Sheary has been a driving force and the beating heart of YWCA Southwestern Illinois, dedicating more than 15 years to advancing the lives of women, girls, and families throughout the region.

Her background as an educator kickstarted her advocacy. Her passion for student success led her to initiate and secure grant support for the Truants Alternative/Optional Education Program, providing critical pathways for students who were being pushed out of traditional systems due to truancy, pregnancy, or disengagement. This introduced Operation Outreach, a 140 student night school and truancy intervention program.

Debbie’s most profound accomplishment came as she was invited to become a leader of the Motivational Achievement Center (MAC). Debbie and her team received the Those Who Excel Award of Excellence in 1999 for successfully transitioning 33% of the students that suffered from emotional and behavior disorders back to their neighborhood schools.

Under her leadership, she strengthened operations of the Child Enrichment Program, including the renovation of the Child Enrichment Day Room. She helped establish a key partnership in 2016 with Career Closet, providing professional clothing to women entering or re-entering the workforce.

Her volunteerism with the YWCA has been consistent and irreplaceable. She took on the positions of Chair of Women of Distinction Committee, Chair for Programs & Data Evaluation, Chair of the Racial and Social Justice Committee, and President and Board Member of YWCA. Through sustained leadership, hands-on service, and an unwavering commitment to women, girls, and community, she exemplifies the spirit and impact celebrated by the Women of Distinction award.

Through every role she has held, Debbie Sheary continues to model what it means to lead with purpose, compassion, and an enduring commitment to community.

Dr. Tandra N. Taylor

Dr. Tandra Taylor invests deeply in mentoring children and families at the community level. Through hands-on programming that blends entrepreneurship, science, and creativity, she creates transformative learning experiences for young people in the Metro East.

As an active member of Jack and Jill of America, East St. Louis Chapter, Dr. Taylor mentors children alongside fellow mothers and partners with local organizations, churches, and schools. Drawing on her background as an entrepreneur and her passion for sustainable, non-toxic products, she and her daughter lead soapmaking workshops throughout the Metro East. Her programming encourages children to envision careers at the intersection of beauty and STEM. Through these experiences, she demonstrates how women and girls can build micro-enterprises from their homes, blending scientific knowledge with entrepreneurship.

In addition to her full-time responsibilities and community service with children and families, Dr. Taylor volunteers at local libraries, facilitating conversations about the historical and cultural contributions of Black American women. She recently shared her expertise on Black food and women’s history on PBS Nine.

Dr. Taylor serves on both the Illinois State Archives Advisory Board (ISAAB) and Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board (ISHRAB). Among her most significant achievements is establishing SIUE Freedom School, a historical literacy and social justice initiative in Southwestern Illinois—serving East St. Louis, Edwardsville, and Alton. Under her executive directorship, SIUE Freedom School has won State recognition as a program that promotes youth servant leadership. Hosted by SIUE, the program creates a clear pathway for K–8 students to envision themselves as future college students.

She is also the proud mother of two children, Grace and Yosiyah.

Dr. Taylor’s commitment to uplifting communities is rooted in her lived experience as an East St. Louisan and bolstered by her research on nineteenth- and twentieth-century Black women who embodied the principle of “lifting as we climb.”

Dr. Tracy M. Webster-Cooley

Dr. Tracy M. Webster-Cooley has devoted more than three decades of her life to efforts to advance the health, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls. Her professional and volunteer efforts are deeply rooted in improving access to mental health care, strengthening community-based education and mentoring women. Her service to the community is recognized as both broad and deeply personal. She serves on the board of MOTHERS Unique Grief Support Group, offering compassion, support and workshops to mothers who have experienced the loss of a child. She creates a space where grieving mothers can share, reflect, and heal.

She also serves on the board of the Christine L. Brice Foundation, providing meaningful activities and opportunities for youth in our community, educational and healthcare resources, and extending a helping hand in times of need. Additionally, she is a member of Friends of the Sixties board, helping to raise funds through events and activities that support grants for high school students in the Alton community. She has also partnered with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) youth section to provide workshops that empower young women with mental health awareness, leadership skills, resilience, and personal development.

Dr. Webster-Cooley has received a $2 million dollar grant to support behavioral health workforce training initiatives that expand opportunities for women to enter, remain and advance in advanced practice nursing roles in mental health careers, addressing both economic stability and leadership gaps. She also uses community engagement to sponsor workshops and conferences to focus on culturally responsive mental health promotion, particularly within underserved and faith-based communities, addressing systemic barriers that disproportionally affect women of color. Through her work, Dr. Webster-Cooley mentors women students, early-career professionals, and community members. By shaping nursing curricula, mentoring and engaging youth and women in community programs, she actively works to dismantle barriers for women to succeed in this field and helps to create pathways for future women leaders.

To challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness, Dr. Webster-Cooley has provided Mental Health First Aid training to faith-based communities providing education, training, and support to women and families, as well as events at the YWCA serving women and families in Madison County. Not only has she delivered mental health workshops throughout the community, but she has also provided workshops at the St. Louis Clayton County Justice Center for women preparing for release from incarceration, equipping them with coping skills, resources, and support for successful reintegration. She founded Transforming Minds with Words of Inspiration and has hosted a Woman in the Mirror event inspiring women to reflect, transform, and elevate. She has spent ten years affiliated with the local theater group, Three Purple Coats Productions. There, she mentors young people in the troupe, assists with every phase of a production, and assists with costumes and props. Her leadership inspires young performers.

Dr. Webster-Cooley has spent her life building a sustained legacy of empowerment at the intersection of mental health, education and community service. Through decades of leadership, she changes how women and girls access mental health education, view their own potential and navigate pathways to leadership and healing. To those around her, her influence is evident not only in programs and policies, but in the countless women whose lives, confidence and opportunities have been changed because she believed in them and invested in their success.

Kathleen Wilson

For years, Kathleen Wilson has worked with Riverbend Head Start, Children’s Home & Aid Society, Oasis Women’s Center, and similar organizations, where her impact is both personal and long-lasting.

Her commitment to veterans is equally profound. Through the American Legion Auxiliary, Kathleen organizes and participates in Poppy Days distributions, Memorial Day ceremonies, Veterans Day dinners, and care-package programs for hospitalized veterans. She has helped coordinate anniversary events for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and coordinated with the Department of Defense in honoring veterans, helping military families secure needed support and resources. Kathleen has also shared the HERstory military women’s memorial project, assisting women veterans in navigating benefits and services.

Her service to the community is broad and deeply rooted. She supports events such as farmers markets, The Victorian Christmas Walk, Smorgasbord fundraisers, and civic programs throughout the region. She has coordinated volunteers for school supply drives, breakfasts, community auctions, and citywide celebrations. Through the American Red Cross, she has helped with blood drives and disaster-related efforts. Kathleen has also been an active supporter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), helping raise awareness and support for women’s rights, education, and empowerment.

With a passion for history and patriotism, Kathleen guides, educates, and inspires through her membership in the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has volunteered for historic cemetery cleanups, tombstone cleaning, historical presentations, Village of Bethalto events, and numerous community education programs.

Despite her wide-ranging commitments, Kathleen remains most proud of her work mentoring young girls into confident young women. She believes her greatest lifetime achievement is watching those she guided grow into strong, capable leaders who now mentor others. Her encouragement has given many young women the courage to pursue new opportunities, rise above challenges, and believe in their own abilities.

Kathleen Wilson is a powerful example of what it means to serve with heart, humility, and purpose. Her decades of leadership, advocacy, and hands-on service have had a lasting impact on youth, women, veterans, and families throughout Madison County. Her dedication to empowering future generations makes her an exceptional and deeply deserving Woman of Distinction honoree.

Beverly Woody

Beverly Woody was born and raised in Alton, Illinois. She was nurtured in faith at True Church House of Prayer to All Nations. Her life reflects a powerful legacy of faith, resilience, education, and unwavering commitment to strengthening children, families, and communities through both professional service and ministry.

Throughout the Riverbend area, Beverly has spent her time at Deliverance Temple Church of God in Christ serving Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, being the chairperson of the Touched by Angels youth choir department and overseeing the distribution of essentials to the under-resourced.

Her nominator states, “What stands out most is her ability to make every person she encounters feel valued and supported regardless of their situation.”

Beverly also has the opportunity to work closely as a Parent Advisor with Social Workers and Counselors within the Department of Child and Family Services. Here Beverly is allowed to share her skills with other adults that want to make an impact to save our children.

By fostering youth, Beverly continues the mission of the YWCA by empowering young women and girls through education and encouragement and offering guidance to students navigating academic emotional and personal challenges. Through her work with the St. Louis Food Bank and other avenues of resources, Beverly realizes there can be no success without first having each child’s needs met.

Beverly is the proud mother of four children and a loving grandmother to more than seventeen grandchildren, including step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tracy Zerwas

Tracy unlocks the possibilities within our youth, encouraging them to see the world through an artist’s lens, apply their creative skills in various aspects of life and most importantly in their own hearts and the hearts of others.”

Tracy Zerwas, an elementary art educator, mother of three adult children and four grandchildren, absolutely understands the importance of eliminating racism and empowering young women and girls. She has taught and trained over 4,000 youth in the area of artistic expression, utilizing art as a platform to communicate feelings, tell a story, connect ideas and even as a means of therapy. She is an advocate of social justice, believing that understanding the significance of racial equality begins in the home and classroom, and will pour over into the community. She understands the hardship and damage racism causes and its impact on students.

A colleague and former educator describes Tracy as “An educator who thinks outside the box. She looks at art and education through a different set of eyes and constantly works to connect and engage her students. She set the standard high and each year raised it to find more diverse projects and programs. When funding was limited, she purchased her own art supplies. Her goal was to provide all students with the same toolbox regardless of means.

Tracy has been an active volunteer in multiple communities. She has donated her time, talents and skills to organizations like the National Art Education Association; the Illinois Art Education Association; the Council for Art Education; the Boys and Girls Club of Alton; Jacoby Arts Center, provided summer art classes; Southwestern Foundation Board, instructed after school art club; Village of Brighton, led the Student Artwork Project that displayed artwork in area municipality buildings; Marquette Catholic High School, Board Secretary; Marquette Catholic High School, Explorer’s Club/Booster Club.

Tracy has shared her love of art with so many people, opening their eyes to their own talents, as well as the talents of others. Her lifetime achievement would easily be seen as exercising effective leadership and enabling the growth of thousands of our youth through the Arts.

Ways to Support Women of Distinction

We invite you to partner with YWCA through one or more of the following opportunities.

YWCA staff are happy to assist with ad design if needed.

- Reserved table for eight
- Full-screen, full-color digital ad displayed throughout the evening
- Special recognition from the podium and on WBGZ
- Name/logo included on all Women of Distinction marketing and press releases for one year
- Listing in the event program
- Reserved table for eight
- Half-screen, full-color digital ad displayed throughout the evening
- Special recognition from the podium and on WBGZ
- Name/logo included on all Women of Distinction marketing and press releases for one year
- Listing in the event program
- Four dinner reservations
- Quarter-screen, full-color digital ad displayed throughout the evening
- Listing in the event program
- Two dinner reservations
- Full-color digital ad displayed throughout the evening
- Listing in the event program
Ads will be displayed throughout the evening and included in the printed event booklet.
Tables seat up to eight guests.
Direct donations to YWCA are always welcome and deeply appreciated. Your generosity ensures that our mission-driven work continues year-round.

Purchase ads and sponsorships here

For questions or assistance, please contact YWCA at info@ywcaswil.org or 618.465.7774.
Checks may be mailed to:
YWCA Southwestern Illinois
304 E. Third Street
Alton, IL 62002

Why Your Support Matters

The Women of Distinction Gala is more than a celebration—it is a critical fundraiser supporting mission-aligned programs and services at YWCA Southwestern Illinois. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, YWCA relies on the generosity of individuals and businesses committed to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.

All funds raised directly support programs that:

Strengthen working families and provide vital youth services that reduce violence, build resiliency, and develop leadership skills

Offer safe, inclusive recreational and enrichment spaces where all young people feel welcomed and supported

Advance racial and social justice by addressing inequities and strengthening community connections throughout our region

Over 30 Years of Honoring Women

WOD 1993

Since 1991, YWCA Southwestern Illinois has celebrated the achievements of over 300 incredible women with our annual Women of Distinction Event. We celebrate women who uplift our community through their outstanding contributions.

These are the leaders who strive for equity, and work to improve community day in and day out.

This annual event creates a moment to recognize women who embody the YWCA mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.

WOD Academy

After the Women of Distinction gala occurs, the new honorees join the Women of Distinction Academy, a group of prestigious women leaders in Madison County. Women like these are the heart, soul, and backbone of our communities. We create this opportunity each year to celebrate their accomplishments, and to honor the collective power of working together for the good of others.

meet the WOD ACADEMY

During the WOD season, honorees celebrate first at the Media Day, a luncheon where the new honorees are interviewed by local media and photos are taken. Then there is the WOD Mixer, usually a week after the Media Day, where new honorees can mingle with each other and WOD Academy members. The Gala is the culminating event where the honorees are awarded and celebrated.

We strongly encourage anyone who knows an exceptional female leader in Madison County to take the time this year and submit a Nomination Form on their behalf.

Make a donation

YWCA’s Women of Distinction signature event also raises critical financial support for life-changing programs including Child Enrichment and Girls Circle. Your donation supports our mission to eliminate racism and empower women.

Gifts of any and every size make a tremendous difference! The donation you make today will help change the lives of girls and women for many tomorrows to come.

DONATE

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Submit a Nomination

Do you know a woman whose achievements strengthen the well-being and future of Madison County? For this event, YWCA relies on the community to help identify women whose leadership, service, and commitment advance our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.

As the region’s largest and most visible tribute to women leaders, the Women of Distinction event recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions in their professions, volunteer work, and personal lives. At the celebration, honorees are formally inducted into the YWCA Women of Distinction Academy, joining more than 300 remarkable women recognized since 1991 when the program began.

The 2026 Nomination packets are available by clicking the button to the right. It is in a Word Document format and may not be available on your mobile device. We are not currently accepting nominations, and these packets are only available as an example of what we might ask for in the future.

Nomination form and faqs