Her Story
About Chevonne
I actually fell into this position in the most unexpected way. I originally wanted to be a lawyer and the first African American Female Mayor of Chicago, so I started out in undergrad studying political science at Jackson State University. But I have ADHD, and all the reading required in political science was becoming too much for me, so I switched to criminal justice with a concentration in correctional counseling. I really enjoyed the psychology classes and discovered I've always had a gift with people opening up to me easily, so it just felt natural. I came back to Chicago and got my Master's from Roosevelt University. During my second year, I became pregnant with my son, and when I told my advisor, he was so disappointed and asked if I was going to drop out. I said no, I was just letting him know in case I came late or had to leave class. I had my son in January 1998 and brought him to my graduation in June 1998. I've worked in various settings over the years, starting with Dr. Tomlin in a private practice where I learned the practical skills they don't teach in grad school. I worked for subcontracted DCFS agencies, the Whole House Neighbor to Neighbor Program (which was the best experience), community mental health facilities, and now Erie Family Health Center in West Garfield, which feels like coming home since I'm originally from the Austin area of Chicago. I've had training in EMDR, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, CBT, trauma-informed therapy, and ADHD certification courses. I'm also a trained mediator. What I'm most proud of is when clients I worked with as children reach out to me 10 or 15 years later, having Googled my name to find me again because I made such a positive impact on their lives.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Chevonne
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to leaning into my natural gifts and talents. Someone once told me that if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life, and I truly believe that doing work that aligns with your natural abilities makes the work feel effortless. I've always had a gift with people opening up to me easily, and I've learned to use that gift to make a positive impact. I also received some powerful career advice that really shaped my approach: someone told me to write out my own obituary and then work backwards from there. I wrote down the way I want to be remembered and the things I want to accomplish, and then I started working on those things. That's helped me stay focused on what really matters. As long as I can look myself in the mirror at the end of the day and know that what I did was for the benefit of others, I'm good. I don't necessarily need the recognition. I like to fly under the radar and just do the work.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received, and this is gonna sound a little morbid, but when I heard this it definitely resonated with me: someone told me to write out my own obituary and then work backwards from there. Think about the way that I want to be remembered, the things that I want to accomplish, write those out in my obituary, and start working on those things. Outside of that, the saying 'if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life' has been really important to me. Do work that leans into your natural gifts and talents, and the work won't be hard.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is making a positive impact on people's lives. I wanted to be that voice, that positive voice that speaks life into somebody, because I may be the only person in their life that does. As a child, I had some traumatic events and knew friends who had traumatic events, and I didn't feel like I had anyone to talk to. Even though I had both of my parents and four siblings, I was very much an introvert and a little different. That experience shaped my desire to be there for others in a way I wished someone had been there for me. I love encouraging people and helping them see their potential, helping them shut down the voices in their head that tell them they can't do something. I'm definitely a glass half-full type woman. As long as I can look myself in the mirror at the end of the day and know that what I did was for the benefit of others, I'm good. I don't necessarily need the recognition. I like to fly under the radar and just do the work. Right now, my budget goes towards actually doing things in the community and volunteer stuff, because that's what matters most to me.
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