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Ladies Leadership Luncheon with Let It Be Us
October 17 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Bringing local female leaders together to discuss Girls in Foster Care: Their Outcomes and Their Future
Speaker Bios:
Kaycee Coles
Kaycee Coles is the organizer of the Ladies Leadership Luncheon, is a Board Member of Let It Be Us and is on the Fundraising Committee. Kaycee is a former educator teaching US History and Psychology and she is a licensed reading specialist. She is a mother to three sons. She has worked in the non-profit sector in education, advocacy, and legislative areas. Kaycee was instrumental in co-leading an effort to design, build and fundraise for an inclusive playground project at Countryside Elementary School. She is also a member of the Barrington Civic Leaders Program.
Senator Mary Edly-Allen
Senator Edly-Allen is a mother to four sons, teacher and a leader fighting for change. As a long time Lake County resident, Senator Edly-Allen has a history of serving the community as an educator and public servant. She was first elected to the 101st General Assembly as a State Representative. As a Representative, Mary supported advocates of child welfare as a member of the Illinois Adoption & Child Welfare Committee, Mental Health Committee, and Human Services Committee. Elected to the Illinois State Senate in 2022 to represent Illinois’ 31st District, Mary has continued to be a champion for our Illinois’ youth as Vice Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and has worked alongside the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to modernize child neglect and abuse reporting procedures.
Vanessa Baie, MSW, LCSW, PhD(c)
Vanessa Baie is the Director of Child Welfare Services for Let It Be Us, leading all social work programs including, The Foster Parent Recruitment Program, the Placement Support Program and the Springboard to Adulthood Program. As a champion of women and girls, Vanessa works every day to secure placements for boys and girls in foster care, including those awaiting adoption, and including girls who have been sexually trafficked. Vanessa is completing her PhD in Clinical Social Work at Chicago’s Institute for Clinical Social Work.
Dr. Susan A. McConnell
Susan McConnell is the Founder and Executive Director of Let It Be Us. She has held the position of Chair of the Permanency Committee for the Illinois Statewide Foster Care Advisory Council for 4 years. She recently graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Doctoral Degree in Social Work. Susan is the mother to four free range young adults, three of whom joined her family through adoption. She has over 30 years of experience with special needs and open adoption.
