Almost fifty years ago, poet, novelist, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou published "Still I Rise," an anthem for those who felt unseen, unheard, or unwelcome. Inspired by her Black women ancestors and all who faced relentless discrimination and systemic barriers, the poem reflected both her personal journey—from childhood trauma and Jim Crow oppression to the pain of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination—and her lesson of resilience: determination in the face of adversity and triumph over tragedy.
"And Still I Rise" is our anthem today, as we collectively face assaults on our values, civil rights, livelihoods, and the care of our communities. It is an assault on our joy, but one we must resist. Still, We Rise: against antiimmigration attacks, voter suppression, misinformation, threats to childcare, economic uncertainty, and the impact on 300,000 newly unemployed Black women federal employees. Still, We Rise: against the defunding of the institutions that nurture our genius—from libraries and public health to higher education, museums, storytellers, and organizations dedicated to serving those most in need.
NADIA RAWLINSON
profiles by Sharonda Glover
A LETTER FROM YWCA METROPOLITAN CHICAGO CEO NICOLE ROBINSON
Together, we are destined to Rise, and Maya’s poem of resilience is our inspiration.
You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.
So, it’s in this context that YWCA Metropolitan Chicago has themed our 53rd Annual Leader Luncheon, "Still We Rise." While attacks abound, women and people of color continue to lead in transformative, impactful ways— growing our economy, telling the story of the unsung, and advancing social impact in ways that unlock opportunity while building new ceilings in industries where women have for too long operated in the shadows.
At YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, nearly 300 dedicated staff members serve communities across 1,300 square miles in six counties through 30 impactful programs. Together, we deliver a comprehensive range of services focused on three key areas:
Advancing Safety, Healing, and Belonging — providing therapeutic counseling and holistic support for individuals impacted by all forms of violence, including genderbased and community-based.
Unleashing Youth and Family Potential — connecting thousands of families to quality childcare resources, strengthening the capacity of childcare providers, and empowering the next generation through youth development programs.
Driving Economic Equity — creating pathways to financial independence through workforce training in highgrowth industries and by accelerating the success of small, women-owned businesses.
This work—anchored in resilience, opportunity, and collective care is why we continue to rise.
Our "Still, We Rise" honorees are fierce advocates for women, families, and people of color, each having climbed unreasonably steep ladders. They champion untold stories. They champion athletes. They champion community. They are leveraging their leadership to improve business, Hollywood, community, and our civic spaces. Unequivocally, they Still Rise—creating pathways for all communities to Rise.
Alana Mayo, Head of Orion Films, is transforming Hollywood by amplifying underrepresented voices both in front of and behind the camera. Her award-winning films—"Women Talking," "American Fiction," "TILL," and "Nickel Boys"—showcase powerful storytelling that reshapes the industry.
Evette Cardona has spent three decades strengthening Chicago’s communities and advancing equity in the social impact sector. A longtime activist and philanthropic leader, she uplifts Latino voices and drives systemic change across civic and nonprofit spaces.
Nadia Rawlinson, Co-owner and Operating Chairman of the WNBA-champion Chicago Sky, is redefining sports leadership. She’s growing the franchise’s brand, championing stars like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, and leading bold investments in equity across the industry.
Together, "Still, We Rise." We all have a stake in our community and an obligation to help one another rise. Join us on Thursday, November 6, as we come together with changemakers across sectors and generations—because together, We Still Rise.
With highest hopes,
FROM THE STREETS
Stories by Sharonda Glover
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Maya Angelou’s timeless words on resilience and renewal serve as the backdrop for this year’s YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Leaders Luncheon. With the theme “Still We Rise,” the event underscores the power of communities lifting one another—especially at a time when hard-won rights face new threats. It’s a message of urgency and hope, and it mirrors the vision and work of 2025 YWCA Leader Luncheon Honoree Alana Mayo.
Mayo, a film executive, producer and Head of Orion Pictures, has built a career around opening doors for others. She has championed underrepresented voices in filmmaking, with projects like “American Fiction” and “Nickel Boys” earning both critical acclaim and major awards. Her work embodies the spirit of Still We Rise: lifting not just oneself, but entire communities, through the power of storytelling.
Mayo’s perspective was shaped by a moment of selfdoubt early in her career. She voiced her concerns to acclaimed playwright and director George C. Wolfe— known for important works such as “Angels in America” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Wolfe reminded her that while discouragement is inevitable, giving up only surrenders ground to the very forces she was determined to resist.
“You have to stay in the fight,” she said. “You're going to do the same thing that thousands of women have done before you, and you're just going to keep going.”
Prior to Orion, Mayo held roles at Paramount Pictures and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, where she helped shepherd films like “Fences,” “Annihilation” and “Just Mercy.” She also spent time at Vimeo and 20th Century Fox, building a track record of pairing creative risk with cultural resonance.
ALANA MAYO PRESIDENT,
ORION PICTURES
In 2020, Mayo was tapped by MGM to relaunch Orion Pictures, the storied production company celebrated in its first iteration for risk-taking, award-winning films. Under her leadership, Orion has built on that legacy, delivering commercially successful, culturally resonant projects while championing creators who have too often been overlooked.
“The business imperative of staying relevant and reaching different types of audiences is [as important as] Orion’s mission to create opportunities for people who haven’t historically received them: people of color, women, and queer folks,” she explained.
The new version of Orion prioritizes projects that are “culture-driven,” with fresh perspectives and breakout potential, recently releasing critically acclaimed projects such as “American Fiction,” “Bottoms,” and “Nickel Boys.” Yet Mayo is careful not to let representation become the only metric for success.
“Representation alone isn’t enough, if the systems themselves still need work,” she said. “Our goal is to make films that succeed critically and commercially—and to prove that others can replicate that success.”
A Chicago native and Columbia University graduate, Mayo’s commitment to bridging art and social impact extends beyond the studio. In 2022, she was named a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, where she began exploring how storytelling can contribute to strengthening public education in America. This project reflects her larger belief that film and media aren’t just entertainment, but also a tool to strengthen civic and social life.
For Mayo, the intersection of art, business and social conscience is where meaningful change happens. Her career reflects a steadfast belief that film can rise to meet the full breadth of the human experience.
“Audiences aren’t monolithic,” she said. "They’re hungry for their experiences and cultures that have not yet been seen in filmmaking.”
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Evette Cardona jokes that intersectionality is her middle name. As a Puerto Rican lesbian born and raised in Chicago, she’s navigated barriers facing women, people of color and the LGBTQ community—and turned those struggles into fuel. She’s also dedicated her career to lifting others with her, and in doing so, embodies the very spirit of the YWCA’s Still We Rise luncheon theme.
“A badass woman, to me, is someone who celebrates who she is, doesn't apologize for how she walks through the world, and fights for what she believes in,” Cardona said. “It's about the resilience to rise stronger—with all the bite marks and the bruising—and to still shine through.”
Cardona’s path into social justice work was anything but linear. After graduating from UIC with a degree in art and design, she pieced together part-time work during the recession of the early ’90s. One of those jobs, a site coordinator at Christopher House, placed her alongside teen mothers navigating public aid, schools, and community and domestic violence.
What began as a role she “talked her way into” quickly became transformative. Cardona discovered the power of social work, the importance of community and a deeper sense of purpose that would guide the rest of her career.
This experience drove Cardona to pursue a master’s degree in social work, during which she began an internship with the Polk Bros. Foundation. This eventually led to a 27year career at the Foundation, culminating in her promotion to Vice President of Programs by 2012.
During her tenure, she helped steward more than $27 million annually to over 400 Chicago organizations with a focus on the city’s most vulnerable and marginalized:
EVETTE CARDONA
PHILANTHROPIC
LEADER
low-income families, immigrants, LGBTQ people and communities of color. She values her time at the Polk Bros. because of its commitment to affordable housing, education, safety and opportunity, as well as philanthropy’s role in policy and advocacy.
“A foundation has a lot of flexibility to choose what and how it funds an issue,” she said. “I’ve always been proud that Polk Bros. was able to center the people of Chicago.”
Cardona’s passion for community organization and advocacy trace back to her early work alongside artists resisting gentrification in her childhood neighborhood of Bucktown. In 1995, Cardona co-founded Amigas Latinas, Chicago’s first organization by and for Latina lesbians. What began as monthly discussions in their homes across Chicagoland became a movement to make this population feel visible and connected.
“My coming out publicly was a parallel process to organizing,” said Cardona. “I just didn’t know how to do one without the other.”
Cardona is deeply connected to her alma mater, the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice. Recognized with the Elizabeth Butler Award for outstanding professional success in 2008 and the Leadership in Diversity Alumni Award in 2010, she later returned to teach a course in philanthropy and its role in public policy and social impact. Looking back fondly on her time as an instructor, she recalled encouraging students to embrace their whole selves as they prepare for careers in that space.
“If you can bring your authentic self to your work, that’s worth thousands of dollars,” she said.
If you grew up with Nadia Rawlinson, her emergence as a leader in women’s sports might come as a surprise. Raised in the Chicago suburbs, Rawlinson was not involved in her school’s sports teams, choosing instead to pursue her passion for theater rather than basketball. Although she did not have a background in athletics, she recognized the significance of the opportunity when it arose. The chance to join the WNBA’s Chicago Sky as a Co-owner was more than just a new role—it was the ideal next step in her career, aligning with her commitment to supporting women and creating lasting impact.
“I didn't choose the sport,” she said. “I chose the women.”
Rawlinson spent nearly two decades in human resources and development, holding high-profile roles such as Chief Human Resources Officer at Live Nation Entertainment and Chief People Officer at Slack. After being part of the management team that sold Slack for $27B, she found herself with a level of freedom and security to architect the next chapter on her terms.
“I approached it like an anthropologist of my own life and career,” she recalled. “Where did I spend my time when nobody was looking? What gave me energy?”
Rawlinson realized she was most fulfilled when helping other women succeed. As someone who was often the only Black woman in leadership circles, she knew the importance of mentoring and cultivating talent. She viewed it as her responsibility to create work environments where employees—especially women and people of color—could thrive.
“I realized I [loved] mentoring other women and young girls, seeing something within them that they probably didn't see within themselves,” she said. “That led to my career path as a Human Resources executive, leading [many types of] companies and setting the stage for developing people and culture that allowed people to realize their fullest potential.”
NADIA RAWLINSON
CO-OWNER & CHAIRMAN, CHICAGO SKY
At first, Rawlinson considered venture capital, where she could fund female founders. Then she realized she could take a bet on herself by becoming a CEO or founder. That’s when the WNBA opportunity emerged.
“We often have goals and aspirations that come to us in a different package, but you need to be open enough to receive it,” she said.
When she joined the Chicago Sky as Co-owner and Operating Chairman in 2023, the league was also in transition. Though the WNBA had been around for nearly three decades, the rise of college stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese was finally translating to higher media revenue and increased attendance at games.
Rawlinson saw these changes as her chance to set up the Sky for long-term success, not just short-term gains. She is keenly aware of the team’s young, diverse fan base — and how Sky games serve as community celebrations— and wants to ensure that core endures.
Right now, she’s preparing for the opening of the Sky’s new 60,000-square-foot state-of-the-art performance training center in Bedford Park, IL. When players don’t need it, the facility will also host youth programming and basketball camps.
“The Chicago Sky belongs to the people,” she said. “I think the WNBA in particular has always been a place where the unconventional could find community. It's a place where people — whether they are LGBTQ, people of color, or anyone who didn’t fit a traditional mold — can find home, safety and celebration. So I am stewarding this asset for the time that I am a part of it, and for the next generation, and for Chicago.”
The Sky’s momentum embodies the theme of the YWCA Leader Luncheon, Still We Rise. For decades, women’s basketball players poured everything into the game — undervalued, underinvested, and overlooked... Now that persistence is breaking through, and the sport is finally commanding the spotlight it long deserved.
“To those new to the WNBA, the recent fan engagement and excitement began just a couple of years ago,” Rawlinson said. “But the Chicago Sky just celebrated its 20th anniversary. As LL Cool J put it, ‘Don’t call it a comeback…. we’ve been here for years.”
YWCA Metro Chicago Breedlove Entrepreneurship Center:
SURVEY PULSE
Our Breedlove Entrepreneurship Center was inspired by Madame CJ Walker, a Black woman who became the first woman millionaire growing wealth in her community alongside advocating for equality. In the spirit of Madame CJ Walker, our entrepreneurs often operate and offer solutions to under-resourced communities --- so when they thrive as business owners, so do the customers they serve – through jobs, quality and culturally relevant purchasing options – the actions that bring economic vitality. Like Madame CJ Walker, they not only want communities to grow economically, but they want them to be safe spaces with thriving schools, parks, libraries and everything a neighborhood deserves.
We unleash the potential of our entrepreneur partners through one-on-one business counseling, monthly workshops and immersive experiences in collaborative environments that drive growth, fiscal discipline, operational success and brand building. As a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) we reach:
This 12-week cohort is facilitated by world renowned business experts in the areas of branding, networking, access to capital, and exit strategy planning.
To better understand and place into context the concerns and experiences of our entrepreneurs, we conducted a brief pulse survey. Our entrepreneurs shared with us that input costs are rising across the board while those who rely on imported goods are seeing supply chain disruptions forcing them to switch suppliers. And although many have a loyal customer base, there is fear that acquiring new customers – a lifeline for community entrepreneurs that has grown exponentially over the last few years – is at risk of declining. At the YWCA we stand with the neighborhood entrepreneur and we’re relentless in our efforts to help them navigate these challenges and remain on the side of growth and resilience.
Other Key Takeaways:
Our recent survey finds that the entrepreneurs that YWCA supports are grappling with rising import costs, tariffs and supply chain disruptions, while also facing limited confidence in securing federal funding and fears that new policies could restrict access for women- and minority-owned businesses.
Our flagship program, the Breedlove Accelerator, supports laterstage women of color entrepreneurs with annual revenues of:
$100K+ 68%
feel “very confident” in securing Small Business Administration (SBA) funding, aspiring and accomplished entrpreneurs and small businesses. that are undercapitalized.
More than two-thirds say better access to capital is their top need for growth.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Program
Awareness: Most respondents had not heard of recent SBA/federal program changes.
1/3
Funding:
More respondents were “somewhat confident” or “not confident” in their ability to secure SBA funding and loans.
16% 13% 52% are “very confident” are not seeking funding, a significant portion. are either “somewhat confident”, or “not confident”.
•Many anticipated future federal funding changes impacting either their business or their client’s ability to secure funding/grants.
Current Challenges:
50%+
of the respondents who commented on support services reported increased difficulty accessing them.
Common themes were scams, competitive grant application process, and biases in lending.
• Staffing shortages
• Rising costs of supplies and inflation
• Finding and maintaining clients
Requested Support Services:
Based on the total number of respondents (31):
•Eligibility Restrictions: Several expressed fear that new policies could make it harder for women and minorities (groups most respondents belonged to) to qualify for programs and benefits.
Tariffs / Economy:
• Several respondents noted how tariffs had raised costs for their business, especially the cost of materials and other supplies.
• Some reported little to no impact so far, but expressed concern for the future of respondents were aware of any potential or upcoming changes.
THE YWCA METROPOLITAN CHICAGO HEALTH PROMOTION AND NAVIGATION SERVICES
Adriana Caballero-Lopez is a breast cancer survivor and single mother, who was originally diagnosed in 2016 after a mammogram and referred to the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago’s Health Promotion and Navigation team after a visit to a local clinic. Upon further inspection, they discovered 12 tumors in her right breast, and she underwent three major surgeries, including a mastectomy and later reconstruction. The process was difficult and left her in deep sadness, especially as she thought of her children, especially her son, Gaby, who has Down syndrome and is a constant source of strength and happiness.
When Adriana was referred to the YWCA, she discovered more than just medical navigation, but also a support system that helped her through each stage of her cancer from diagnosis to remission. The YWCA’s Health Promotion and Navigation team helped to arrange screenings and treatment navigation, as well as
emotional and mental health resources to help her deal with the depression and isolation she felt after her diagnosis. They provided more than transportation and medical help but gave her a support system to reach out to and ensured she understood what her diagnosis truly meant. She attended monthly workshops focused on nutrition, emotional wellness, and community-building, which gave her a safe space to share her experiences, find joy, and connect with others.
Eventually, the YWCA became a second family. She describes the program as a light during her darkest moments, offering hope and companionship when she felt isolated and depressed. Today, she continues to participate in YWCA events and to share her story openly, believing it is her calling to help other women facing similar struggles. She hopes to inspire and connect with other women going through similar events and to let them know they aren’t alone.
Mars Congratulates the 2025 YWCA Leader Luncheon Honorees!
At Mars, “The world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today.”
As a global company we have the responsibility and the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the world. As a familyowned business, we think in generations, rather than just business quarters and have our Purpose to guide us on our way. What we do is only as good as how we do it. We challenge our Associates, partners and suppliers to join us in transforming the way we do business every day.
IN TURBULENT TIMES, WE RISE FOR ONE ANOTHER : A CALL TO ACTION
We are living through extraordinary headwinds: a federal government shutdown, cuts to healthcare and food supports, ICE raids that terrorize immigrant families, and violence that shakes our communities to the core.
These attacks on our values, livelihoods, and collective joy are real. Yet, we continue to rise—because our communities demand it, our children deserve it, and women and people of color have always led, innovated, and built futures in the face of adversity.
Amid shutdowns, raids, funding cutbacks, and unrest, we will not shrink back. We will stand taller. Our work builds a stronger, more equitable Chicago.
Let us be clear: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is open. All of our programs, including Head Start, are operating without interruption.
Through our General Counseling Services, we walk alongside individuals and families as they navigate life’s hardest moments—whether facing parenting challenges, relationship struggles, trauma, depression, or anxiety. Our client-centered approach ensures every person is seen, heard, and supported on their healing journey.
When the world feels heavy, know that care and healing are close by. The YWCA provides confidential support for survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones through our 24/7 Rape Crisis Hotline, where trained advocates are always ready to listen and connect you to the care you need. Hope and healing start with a call: 888-293-2080. Text and chat services are also available for those 13 and older, Monday–Friday from 3–11 p.m.
Through our Workforce Development programs, we help women and people of color build stability and opportunity—offering job training, financial coaching, and resources that close the racial wealth gap and create long-term economic security. If you’re ready to take the next step toward career growth or financial empowerment, reach out to our team at workforceeei@ ywcachicago.org to learn more.
In moments like these, no one should feel alone. If you or someone you know needs support, YWCA is here. From counseling to workforce development to family services, our programs are open and continuing— please reach out and share these resources with others who may need them.
When we rise together, nothing can hold us down.
Attendees at the Leader Luncheon 2024 (YWCA Metropolitan Chicago photo).
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For nearly 150 years, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago has empowered women and their families by helping them heal from trauma, unlocking youth potential, and expanding economic opportunity.
This year’s Leader Luncheon, Still We Rise, honors the strength, resilience, and unity of communities confronting systemic barriers. We uplift their stories, celebrate their courage, and recognize the power of rising together—because when we rise as one, anything is possible.
Evette Cardona, Philanthropic Leader Alana Mayo, President, Orion Picture
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Nadia Rawlinson, Co-Owner and Chairman, Chicago Sky
