CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — The spirit of empowerment and leadership filled the Church of the Living God on Saturday, November 1, as community members gathered for the Women Making Waves: Unfinished Business – Fighting Policy Violence event.

Hosted by State Representative Carol Ammons, the annual program brought together women leaders, advocates, and community builders to celebrate achievement and recommit to the ongoing struggle for equity and justice. Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Urbana City Councilman Chris Evans, County Board member Brett Peugh, and Champaign Circuit Clerk Susan McGrath were also in attendance. The morning featured a keynote address by Congresswoman Cori Bush, who spoke passionately about women’s leadership in the face of systemic challenges, and was emceed by Dr. Malaika McKee-Culpepper, a respected scholar, speaker, and advocate for educational equity. Dr. McKee-Culpepper, who serves as a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is known for her dynamic presence in both academia and the community. Her work focuses on leadership development, communication, and social impact, and she has been a consistent voice for empowering women and underrepresented groups in higher education.

In her welcoming remarks, Representative Ammons reflected on the moment’s urgency and meaning: “It’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 2025 Women Making Waves. This is a momentous occasion, as we celebrate trailblazing women from the halls of Congress to right here in Champaign-Urbana.”

Ammons and Bush together emphasized the need to “fight policy violence,” a term that calls attention to the harm caused by inequitable laws, social policies, and governance practices that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

The 2025 Women Making Waves honorees were recognized for their exceptional leadership and community service:

• Tori Exum, born and raised in Champaign-Urbana, has dedicated her life to mentoring and empowering youth. She currently serves as Human Resources Director at Illinois Human Resources.

• Danielle Chynoweth, Cunningham Township Supervisor and co-founder of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, is also co-author of Remaking Democracy: How We Make the Worlds We Want.

• Imani Bazzell, Director of Root Causes, is a veteran community educator and organizer whose work centers on racial and gender justice, health access, and educational reform.

• Pam Richart, co-founder and Co-Director of Eco-Justice Collaborative, has been a tireless advocate for environmental justice and sustainable community development across Illinois, combining ecological awareness with social responsibility.

• Dr. Stephanie Stewart-Cockrell, educator, mentor, and advocate, has devoted her career to student success and diversity in education, uplifting future leaders through her work in higher education and community engagement.

Throughout the morning, guests reflected on the power of women to reshape policy and culture, drawing inspiration from both national leaders like Congresswoman Bush and local changemakers committed to justice at the community level.