 2009 Award Winners
In one southwest Chicago suburb in 2005, Pat Twymon found herself fighting for her job. Beginning in 2000, Calumet City’s “Home Rule” sought to take licenses away from daycare providers working out of their homes, but Pat was too in love with her children as well as the special care her home setting allowed to watch this happen. She did not stop fighting until, in 2007, every family daycare home was allowed to keep its doors open. “The experience taught me how to question policies that are unfair, and not be afraid to advocate for myself and others,” Pat says of her feat. “I was able to give a gift that will keep on giving.” And Pat’s greatest gift is Wee are the World Day Care, where every one of her at-risk children is valued like a member of a true home. Mary Wonderlick, former Kohl McCormick Award winner, describes walking inside and feeling that “all is right with the world, that this is a safe and caring and interesting place to be.” Sounding like a true matriarch, Pat admits of her hard work, “I’m tired at the end of the day, but it’s a good kind of tired!” |
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Patricia Twymon