Last month, we had the honor of welcoming USOA Ms. Illinois, Shanale Mason, to our main campus. During her visit, she captivated our youth in the Transitional Living and Residential Treatment Program with an inspiring talk that was centered around her platform, Hope Restored, which addresses adolescent grief and loss.

Shanale openly shared her personal journey of overcoming grief after losing her parents, recounting the hurdles she faced in her early adulthood. Drawing strength from her experiences, she transformed challenges into triumphs, ultimately earning the title of Ms. Illinois and serving as the Communications Outreach Director for the Illinois State Senate, representing the 30th District. Her message struck a chord with our youth. One participant remarked, “I gave up on my goal, and today I didn’t want to come, but you helped me change my mind, and I plan on working towards my goal again.” Shanale expressed her admiration for Spero Family Services, stating, “It was wonderful to see that Spero is providing youth with a safe and encouraging environment that promotes healing, restores hope, and empowers them to aim for a bright future. As someone who spent my childhood in southern Illinois, I was thrilled to make this visit.” In addition to her inspiring chat with our youth, Shanale sat down with Tunezia Badger, Spero’s Development Officer, for an upcoming episode of the Anchor of Hope Podcast so that others can hear her story. Be sure to tune in on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to hear more about Shanale and the wisdom she has to share.