Extraordinary doesn’t always mean famous. Sometimes, it looks like quiet strength, a steady hand that builds stability in the midst of constant change. For Martha A. Hillmer, that word fits perfectly. As a military wife who packed up her family 18 times in 30 years, she learned to turn upheaval into opportunity and challenge into compassion. Every move meant starting over — new homes, new schools, new communities — yet Martha never stopped giving back. From leading Girl Scouts overseas to volunteering in her children’s classrooms and later serving the Bloomington community she now calls home, she has spent a lifetime lifting others wherever she landed.

Congratulations to Vera Traver who was named ExtraOrdinary Woman, 2nd quarter 2025 by the ExtraOrdinary Women Project BN!

Congratulations to Kiasha Henry named EOW Honoree for first quarter 2025.

Dr. Kimberly Ku, EOW Honoree

Leslie Adams, EOW honoree

Thrust into leadership

Not everyone chooses to be a leader, sometimes leadership is born of circumstances. For Dameca “Meca” Kirkwood, the first quarter 2024 honoree named by the ExtraOrdinary Woman Project BN, she chose to take a stand against gun violence after her son Trevonte Kirkwood’s tragic murder in 2018.

After her son’s death, Dameca knew she had to help others combat violence. Karen Irvin from the McLean County chapter of Moms Demand Action reached out to Dameca and together the organization is establishing a Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Center among other interventions and community education projects.

Dameca says, “Violence changes lives in an instant; talking about violence saves lives.”

Verneice Prince holds a steadfast belief in the inherent potential for extraordinary achievement within every individual, emphasizing the crucial combination of determination and external influence. Guided by this philosophy, Verneice serves as a living testament to the power of perseverance, inspiring others to navigate life’s challenges and realize their aspirations through her own leadership.

“I don’t know where I would be if not for my mentors. I’ve been in so many different environments witnessing the good, the bad and the ugly. If certain people were not in my life as role models, there’s no way I could have navigated this far,” she shares.

No matter one’s circumstances, Verneice shows us how it is possible to overcome and persevere. That is why she has been named an ExtraOrdinary Woman by the ExtraOrdinary Women Project BN this quarter.

Linda Randle has been named this quarter’s ExtraOrdinary Woman honoree for her bravery and willingness to help others through sharing, listening and empowering other women.

Meet our ExtraOrdinary Woman: Alexis Kalish.

Rosemary Parker with her nominator Barb Whiteman appearing via FaceTime, June 30, 2022.

Meet our ExtraOrdinary Woman: Candice Byrd

“How did I get here?”

This was a question Candice Byrd often asked herself when she fell into homelessness in 2018.