THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
DANVILLE — Tami Brazill has a mission to help the community, but she prefers to stay behind the scenes and not draw too much attention to herself.
“I’m a private person,” she said. “I reach out from my heart and not to be seen or recognized.”
The community, however, wants to say thank you and will put Brazill and her Women Helping Women Outreach Ministries in the spotlight at this weekend’s Lincoln-Douglass-King Banquet hosted by Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Also honored will be barbershop owner Terry Gouard, who also serves as director of Danville Area Community College’s recently opened barbering program.
The event, which includes featured speaker Joan Walls, a Danville native who recently became Champaign’s city manager, begins at 5 p.m. Saturday at the New Life Banquet Center. A $30 donation is requested for each ticket.
“I will be speaking about my professional journey … and the importance of keeping the faith,” Walls said.
Advice she’d give to others would be, “always be prepared, always give your best, work hard for everything that you set out to do, and never give up.”
”I am so proud of being a product of Danville, Illinois. I was blessed to be able to come home after college to begin my career and have the opportunity to serve others,” Walls added.
The banquet was started in 1965 by Richard D. Smith, then pastor at Allen Chapel AME and presiding elder of the Illinois Conference’s North District, who wanted to commemorate the civil-rights contributions of President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In 1988, the Rev. David Jarrett, then pastor of Allen Chapel, changed the name to Lincoln-Douglass-King Banquet to commemorate the civil-rights legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Brazill will receive the Community Service Award, Gouard the Business Award.
Gouard’s mom bought him his first pair of hair clippers, and the 32-year-old started cutting the hair of friends and family members when he was 13. After graduating barber school, he’s living his dreams of having his own shop and teaching the craft to others.
He said his clients are like family, and customer service and being professional are key to being a good barber.
“It’s an honor,” he said of the recognition from Allen Chapel.
Brazill said she’s “very grateful” and finds it hard to believe she was called to be honored.
The Dolton native’s ministry, which developed out of a Bible study and volunteering at Dayspring Women’s and Children’s Shelter, started around 2018.
Its mission is “to encourage and be encouraged by women,” Brazill said.
Her ministry operates out of First Presbyterian Church of Danville, which also houses The Dwelling Place, where she volunteers. Women Helping Women receives donations of food, clothing, household supplies and other items to assist others in need.
Brazill said people are referred to her and come to her, and she also goes out to the streets to take clothes and pass out food.
Women Helping Women is an official nonprofit charitable organization. Brazill’s vision remains to help people in their situations to get their back on their feet.
Brazill hasn’t kept track of how many people she’s helped with physical items or prayer. Some are no longer homeless and have their own homes. This past Christmas, the ministry also served families in need with gifts.
Her vision for the future is to open a women’s shelter to provide a safe environment.
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