- Moving Forward Together, Honoring Women’s History Month
- Friday, March 21st, 6PM
- Wildey Theater (3rd Floor), Edwardsville, IL
- Free Event
Arlene Covington
Arlene is a 25 year educator and counselor who has served within various school systems throughout the US. She is a member of a military family. Arlene enjoys writing, speaking and providing opportunities for youth to develop, grow and reach their greatest potential in life. She is a long-time resident of Edwardsville where she served two terms on the Edwardsville YMCA Board of Directors and has participated in many community events that enhance and support the quality of life for families and area residents.
Sinchana Thippeswamy
Sinchana is a Duke graduate with an emphasis in engineering management. Her hobbies include music and cooking. She is a trained classical singer. Tonight Sinchana will be singing a Hindu song in praise of God in her mother tongue, Kannada.
Violet Evans
Violet was born and raised in Edwardsville where she raised her two children. She has been a life-long member at Wesley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church where she has served in multiple capacities. Violet has been a faithful servant to her community as well. She is or has been a member of Edwardsville Unity, the Edwardsville Human Relations Committee, the Lincoln School Alumni Foundation Board, Glen- Ed Pantry Board, Faith Coalition/Restore Decor, Edwardsville Branch NAACP, Madison County Historical Society, Metro-East Area Professionals Organization, National Council of Negro Women – Alton Chapter and a Madison County Elections Judge for over 40 years.
Aretha Clemons
Aretha is a native of Edwardsville with a deep love for God, her family, and humankind. She has probably been singing spirituals & gospel ever since she learned to talk. She is a member, soloist, and Church School Superintendent at Parks Chapel AME Church in Cahokia Heights, IL. She still has heartfelt, perpetual roots with her birth church, Wesley Chapel AME in Edwardsville. So, without further ado, I present to some and introduce to others… Ms. Aretha Clemons.
Deepa Dummi
Deepa has been a resident of Edwardsville for the last seven years and lives with her spouse, son and daughter. She came to the United States on April 1st of 1995. She currently serves a rural hospital in Southern Illinois and has expertise in healthcare informatics, compliance and protecting patient privacy. Her hobbies include music, playing the guitar, harmonica and veena which is an ancient southern Indian instrument. She also loves to cook, mostly southern Indian food.
Dr. Kimberly Moody
Dr Moody has dedicated over 20 years to the field of education, serving in progressively impactful leadership roles, including special education teacher, teacher leader, principal, professional development specialist, turnaround specialist, and director of curriculum and instruction. Currently, Dr. Moody operates her education consulting firm, Education Inspiration, where she specializes in professional learning, instructional design, and supporting families in navigating the education system to advocate for their children’s best interests.
Edwardsville Symphony
The Symphony would like to promote their 2025 Sunday Summer Concert Series. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy a free symphony in the beautiful Edwardsville City Park! The 2025 Season theme is “The Five Senses”. Creatively linking music to sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Pre-concerts by local youth musicians happen at 6:30 and the performance starts at 7:00 PM. The first concert is scheduled for Sunday, May 25 and it is a “Side-by-Side” mentor concert with select Edwardsville High School String students.
Cara Lane
Cara moved to the area after graduating from Purdue University to teach English at Edwardsville High School—where she spent 21 years doing all the things: Debate
Club, Ethics Bowl, Poetry Out Loud, Drama Club, Film Society, and taking kids on trips abroad (to France and China) and around the U.S. (to Washington D.C. and New York). Cara is passionate about history and literature. She holds a master’s in Education and a master’s in American Culture Studies from Washington University in St. Louis, and she is honored to be part of this event tonight.
Katie Hubbard
Katie is a singer-songwriter based in St. Louis, Missouri who loves being a part of the local music scene. Slow Down, Child, her debut album was released in September 2022 and she continues to write, record and release music as she creates from the sounds that flow from her soul. Katie is also a talented trial lawyer and embraces the paradoxes this lifestyle presents, and the fulness it offers. Her music is eclectic. It nods to her roots, with melodies reminiscent of the sixties and seventies, gospel soul, and a love for today’s modern American singer-songwriters. With an authentic voice, Hubbard’s storytelling transports you to a place filled with connection and love.
Christine Ilewski
Christine is a survivor, artist and educator who founded Faces Not Forgotten after Fr. Lorenzo Rosebaugh, a friend, was gunned down May 18, 2009. He was a civil rights activist and marched in Selma. His life had been devoted to the resistance of violence and injustice. She founded Faces Not Forgotten in his honor as an example of nonviolent resistance to gun violence against children. Her mission is to give comfort to families who have lost a child to gun violence and to raise awareness of this devastating loss to our society with the hope of igniting change through their Quilt exhibits!
Lisa Allen
Lisa is a lifelong resident of Edwardsville with a passionfor the community. She is a devoted educator who seeks to inspire young learners and especially beginning readers with support, love and dedication to the art of teaching. She is a proud mother, wife and daughter who has abundant gratitude for all the women in her life who have helped her continue to learn and grow.
Samantha Clemons
Samantha is a singer, songwriter and musician based in St. Louis. Her music has been featured in Rolling Stone, NPR and her most recent release, “Fair Warning” was named one of the best EP’s of 2024 by New Noise Magazine. Her upcoming single, “ Not a Drop” will be out on April 18th .
