Thursday, March 15, 2012
Special to suffredin.org

2012 Unsung Heroine Breakfast
(from left to right:  Hon. Toni Preckwinkle (County Board President), Corrie Wallace (Unsung Heroine), Peggy Montes (Women’s Commission Chair), Trina Janes (Women’s Commission member) and Hon. Larry Suffredin (County Commissioner)Skokie resident Corrie Wallace received the 2012 Unsung Heroine Award from the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues.  The award was presented by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Corrie Wallace, representing Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin’s 13th District, was honored along with seventeen other women - one from each of the 17 county districts and one from Cook County at large– during Women’s History Month.  The 15th Annual Unsung Heroine Awards Breakfast was held on March 15, 2012 in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall.  The event was emceed by Ms. Merri Dee, a Chicago broadcasting legend.

Unsung Heroine honorees were selected based on their contributions to their communities, families and professional endeavors that are vital, but seldom recognized.  They are drawn from the community they serve.

Corrie Wallace is currently the Director of the Niles Township Schools’ ELL (English Language Learner) Parent Center which serves the largest growing population of immigrants and refugees outside of the City of Chicago.  She successfully runs the ELL Center on a shoestring budget – and turned it into the only immigrant parent support center in the nation.  She has created a safe environment, and an environment which fosters learning and acceptance.  Corrie is beloved by parents of all races and ethnicities.  She also serves as secretary on the Board of Directors of Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs.

Corrie has said that she appreciates the opportunities that she has been afforded, and always welcomes new challenges.  According to Corrie, “Tomorrow isn’t promised, so I must take advantage of the inherent gift of the present by continuing to stand up for what I believe in by making positive changes, one step at a time.”