Congratulations to Alexis Kalish
The ExtraOrdinary Women Project BN is proud to name Alexis Kalish as its third-quarter ExtraOrdinary Woman of 2022 in honor of all that she has done for our community and for her steadfastness, strength and integrity.
Helping raise up others has always been a passion for Bloomington resident Alexis Kalish. Volunteering through local literacy programs and community art programs had been a mainstay in her life until she abruptly had to stop to attend to her own pressing medical challenges with a diagnosis of an incurable blood cancer two years ago.
Alexis thought she had pulled a muscle in her back but ultimately was diagnosed with a compression fracture of the 10th thoracic vertebrae a week later. “With evaluation by Dr. Klauss and Dr. Gomez I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma,” Alexis shares. “This was a life-changing event that altered the way I thought about my future. I went through an arduous treatment program including radiation, chemotherapy and a debilitating stem cell transplant.”
Through it all, her husband Mike stood by her side and supported her. “Mike worried about me too much,” Alexis reveals. “Unfortunately, I also encountered a variety of setbacks like COVID-19 and an infection in my lungs.”
But despite all of the horrible pain and suffering, Alexis continued to grasp tightly her faith. And during these challenging times, the love of her family and friends has persevered, much like she has helped others persevere.
Prior to her diagnosis, Alexis volunteered at The STAR Literacy Program (Share the Ability to Read) for 35 years. Through this joint program sponsored by Dewitt, Livingston, Logan and McLean counties she volunteered to help adult learners improve their reading, writing and math skills. Volunteers are also paired with non-English speakers to improve their ability to speak, read, write and understand English. She even taught her own class at the program for a few years.
“Many of the literacy students had developed particularly good verbal coping skills. Those skills helped them communicate. Regardless of their varying abilities to read, they possessed skills and knowledge. Since it was easier to talk than read, the materials used had to be of great interest to them, such as the Bible or war hero books,” comments Alexis about her experience with the STAR Literacy Program.
Alexis also volunteered for a similar literacy project with Chestnut Health Systems and the Regional Alternative Schools. There she worked with older teen students who were in tough environments or situations like homelessness or battling substance abuse and who were challenged by low literacy levels but who continued to work towards their education. “I was so proud of each of the students, and it was so inspiring and rewarding to see how much each student grew,” Alexis shares.
She also worked with various organizations including The American Business Women’s Association that supports women with continuing their education at a higher level through scholarships. This is one of her favorite endeavors because the program provided opportunity for self-development.
A patron of the arts, Alexis also dedicates her time to the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington where she served two six-year terms on the Board of Directors. She was honored to share the Douglas C. Johnson Distinguished Patron Award in 2020 with fellow board member Gay Dolan for dedication to fundraising for the McLean County Arts Center and raising awareness of the arts. She continues to support the McLean County Arts Center today by serving as a community volunteer on the Events Committee.
Alexis has also volunteered at The Immigration Project (TIP) and the Heartland Community College Area Planning Council. At The Immigration Project, Alexis worked with naturalization applications including preparation of clients for citizenship interviews with immigration officials. She later learned to work on more complex cases. “I feel a duty to contribute to make this world a better place. I am continually amazed at how others work hard to better themselves despite difficult life circumstances,” she adds.
“I enjoyed working at TIP because it was a challenging job. I learned about the application process, the government’s role administratively and politically, and I got to meet interesting people – staff and clients,” notes Alexis.
With the support and love of her husband and friends, Alexis has been able to conquer her health challenges. She insists that she learned so much throughout the entirety of her illness. Alexis adds, “I have a better understanding of people’s health issues, and now have greater empathy for others because you never know what another person is going through. I gained an increased gratitude for my friends who brought my spirits up, and for my husband who spoils me.”
As Alexis continues to regain her strength by going on long walks with her husband, she continues to volunteer at the McLean County Arts Center and the Women to Women Giving Circle. When Alexis isn’t volunteering, she enjoys traveling with her husband, watching TV shows like “Bones,” and educating herself about the disease that she continues to battle.
Through all of her challenges, Alexis remains selfless and giving. She obviously
measures her success by how helpful she has been to others. Her nominator Kimberly Babin, former project director of the McLean County Arts Center, notes, “Alexis is the definition of an ‘ExtraOrdinary Woman.’ She has faced a number of challenges in her life, but still prevailed and persevered through it all while staying true to herself. She is a light and inspiration for so many women, and she always lifts others up.”
Alexis, age 73, grew up on a small farm outside of Springfield, Illinois, close to Rochester. She was raised in a loving household by her parents with her two sisters, Celeste and Betty Ann. “I had a vanilla upbringing,” Alexis chuckles. “It was a quiet life on the farm, but we were all expected to contribute around the household and complete chores like feeding the animals.” She attributes the demanding work on the farm to her strong work ethic later in life. Her family also attended church in Pawnee, Illinois, where Alexis explored her faith, a gift which would help ground her through challenging times later in life.
Alexis remains grateful to her parents who bequeathed a number of strong values and morals that she continues to cherish today. Growing up on the farm with her family helped her learn the virtue of patience and the life lesson that, “Family is a part of you, and they support you throughout your life. They celebrate with you, give you advice, and help when needed.”
Her family also taught her to use her gifts and to help others in the community. That is exactly what Alexis Kalish continues to do in her community day in and day out.
After high school, Alexis attended Illinois State University where she majored in special education. She reminisced on how moving to Normal was like moving to a big city after living on a farm during her childhood. She originally planned on using her degree and talents to go on to teach, which was one of the few acceptable careers for women of that time.
Alexis graduated from ISU in May 1971 and needed a job immediately. She stayed in Bloomington for a number of years working several different jobs to pay the bills. She landed a job at State Farm where she first worked in an entry level position in the laboratory. She recalls how early on two women at the company mentored her. After a few years they encouraged her to combine her passions with her education. After working at State Farm for a number of years in the lab, she began working in the health insurance underwriting area of the company. Alexis worked for 34 years, retiring as the director in the Health Risk Management Department. She was intrigued by science and math, and loved incorporating those passions into her work, she notes.
While working at State Farm, she met her husband, Mike Kalish. Her coworkers were constantly commenting on how great a person Mike was and Alexis wanted to find out for herself. Although Mike also worked for State Farm, he lived in California. Alexis met him on a work trip to California. The rest is history, she jokes.
The couple fell in love during a long-distance relationship that lasted six months. They have now been married happily for 31 years, and Alexis is so grateful for their relationship and the support and love that Mike has given to her.
Congratulations, Alexis Kalish, on being selected as this quarter’s ExtraOrdinary Woman! We admire you for your community service, dedication and determination, and are thankful for all that you do for our community.
Story Written By Sierra Godsey, EOW Intern. Posted 10/2/2022
