About Mary

My Journey and Experiences

The Hidden Struggles of Eating Disorders and Addiction

My eldest daughter, Veronica, developed an eating disorder during her senior year of high school, although it went unnoticed until she started college as a freshman. That same year, we also became aware of her alcohol misuse. The subsequent 12 years were a tumultuous roller coaster ride, filled with numerous highs and lows as we embarked on a journey to find therapists, programs, and dealt with the complexities of insurance. We witnessed destructive behaviors that led to hospitalizations, stays in halfway houses, periods of homelessness, living in her own apartment, and returning home, often repeating this cycle with only brief periods of recovery.

Eating disorders are intricate mental illnesses that profoundly affect a person’s thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and more. They can impact individuals of any weight, gender, or cultural background. Contrary to popular belief, it’s impossible to discern whether someone has an eating disorder solely by their appearance. In fact, the prevailing societal notion that thinness is the sole measure of an eating disorder’s severity perpetuates weight stigma, making it harder for individuals to seek help.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to guiding a loved one through recovery or making them “understand” the need for help. However, there are resources available that can offer support and guidance while waiting for them to take the step towards seeking assistance, discovering themselves, and establishing goals for a healthier life.

Veronica, died from her eating disorder on August 9, 2017. Knowing that she had relapsed, I called her landlord and requested a wellness check after not being able to reach her for two days as she lived in another state. Shortly later, I received a call back from a police office to tell me that my daughter was found lying in her bed and was dead. This is “the phone call” that no parent ever wants to get. My life profoundly changed that moment – forever.

Like recovery, there is no blueprint for navigating the depth of grief of a loved one, but there are resources that can provide guidance to help learn how to live with sadness and joy, side by side, eventually.

From Classroom to Community: Pioneering Recycling Education

A Journey in Sustainable Practices and Environmental Stewardship

During the early 1990s, I served as an elementary school teacher and found myself faced with the task of creating a curriculum for the Recycling Unit. At that time, curbside pick-up had just begun, and textbooks offered no guidance on the subject. Through a combination of workshops, conferences, extensive reading, and personal exploration, I delved into the world of waste reduction and the best practices for managing materials that couldn’t be reduced, reused, recycled, or composted.

In my classroom, I introduced a vermi-composting bin, which provided an excellent opportunity to teach children about reusing and recycling food scraps. This practice continued until 2010 when legislation finally allowed for the mixing of food scraps with landscape organics in commercial composting. The more I learned, the more I was compelled to share my knowledge. I often joke that educators have no secrets – we willingly share everything.

In 1995, I embarked on a new chapter in my career when I was hired by the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC). SWANCC is an intergovernmental agency comprised of 23 municipalities in north and northwest Cook County, Illinois. As the Recycling and Education Director for nearly 28 years, I assumed responsibility for developing and overseeing member communities’ special material programs, organizing one-day events, managing permanent collections, implementing school programs, conducting public outreach, creating educational resources, overseeing communications, and managing social media initiatives. I recently retired from this role in June 2023.

Noteworthy Achievements During My Tenure at SWANCC

During my dedicated tenure at SWANCC, several accomplishments stand out:

Illinois Councils and Professional Boards: I had the privilege of serving on various Illinois councils and professional boards, actively contributing to the state's environmental initiatives.
Founding Member of the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition: In 2012, I played a pivotal role in establishing the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition, assuming leadership responsibilities by chairing the Coalition's monthly meetings until December 2022.
Contribution to the Food Waste Reduction Toolkit: As part of the Wasted Food Action Alliance in 2020, I made valuable contributions to the development of the Food Waste Reduction Toolkit tailored for K-12 Illinois Schools.
IL Task Force for Recycling Contamination Solutions: I actively participated in the IL Task Force for Recycling Contamination Solutions, where I co-produced two informative videos: "Contamination – Was This YOU?" (2022) and "Recycling Can Be Easy" (2019).
Electronics Recycling Advocacy: In 2013, I wrote and produced the "Electronics Recycling Reuse and Recycling – Know the Law" video for Cook County, a vital resource in promoting responsible electronics recycling.
Recycling Works Tool Kit and Training Workshops: My contributions extended to co-writing the "Recycling Works Tool Kit" and conducting 12 training workshops across the state for the Illinois Recycling Association during 2010-2011.

Throughout my time at SWANCC, these endeavors garnered national and state recognition, furthering the cause of environmental sustainability and responsible waste management.

2023: Steve Apotheker Award, Illinois Recycling Foundation/Association – this award recognizes an outstanding individual that has dedicated a significant number of years and quality of talent to promote and advance recycling in the State of Illinois.
2022: Lifetime Achievement Award, Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association
2022: Sustainability Award from the Glenview Sustainability and Natural Resources Commission in the category of Education and Outreach.
2019: Sustainability Partnership Game Changer Award along with the Village of Mount Prospect, National Waste and Recycling Association
2018: Public Health Partners in Excellence Award, Village of Skokie
2015: Distinguished Service Award, Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association

2008: Outstanding Government Recycling Programs Award, Illinois Recycling Association
2008: Outstanding Government Recycling Programs Award, Illinois Recycling Association
2002: Excellence in School Curriculum Award, Solid Waste Association of North America
2002: Excellence in School Curriculum Award, Solid Waste Association of North America
1999: Outstanding Recycling Education Program Award, Illinois Recycling Association
1996: Education Excellence Award, Solid Waste Association of North America

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in teaching from Florida State University and held an active LEED Green Associate credential from the U.S. Green Building Council, from 2011 to 2021.