Lesleigh Hodam | YWCA Women of Excellence
TK: What inspires you?
LESLEIGH: So many things inspire me but I would say my biggest source of inspiration comes from knowing that I was created as a one of a kind piece of art by the God of the universe; That I am here on purpose, with purpose just as each of the rest of these amazing women. Another big source of inspiration comes from seeing other dreamers and overcomers working hard with boots on the ground blazing a path to and building a stronger and brighter community for the next generation of leaders.
TK: What have you learned about yourself through the challenges of the past year and a half?
LESLEIGH: This last year has been full of constant adapting and change and any mom with a SPED child knows the depths of the trenches. But I learned that I can adapt, grow and stretch beyond what I believed was possible not for me but for the good of those around me and my community. That was not possible without the strength of my heavenly father.
TK: How do you take care of yourself?
LESLEIGH: My favorite self care activity is going somewhere in nature like the lake, with a spirit of thankfulness, and focusing on the sounds of the water, the wind dancing through the leaves, the birds singing, and of course this year the cicadas. Being out in nature is grounding and uplifting for me even on some of the most challenging days it revives my spirit and steadies my heart. I also love to sit on my covered porch during a rain storm to read or write. There is something about writing that can bring healing and inspiration.
TK: What is the best advice you've ever been given? Or what advice do you have for others?
LESLEIGH: If I could only share one piece of advice it would be to daily choose who you want to become. Our lives are full of opportunities to choose to grow or become stagnant. Each moment, each challenge, each success and each failure we have the opportunity to choose to build the legacy we want to leave behind. Will you let a mistake make you give up or will you use it as a stepping stone to something greater.
TK: What is your vision for our community? Has it changed through the pandemic and racial justice reckoning of 2020?
LESLEIGH: My vision for our community has always been to rise up, united and stronger. That we wouldn’t settle for the narrative of “You’re only a success if you make it out of Topeka” but that we would flip the narrative and make Topeka the place you come to be successful. 2020 gave each of us a glimpse of what our community is capable of and we know that we are capable of greatness. We have more and more women leaders rising up, blazing a trail and helping build a strong foundation for growth, education and equality for our children and their children.
TK: The mission of YWCA is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. What does YWCA's mission mean to you?
LESLEIGH: The mission of the YWCA gives me hope for a brighter future for the women and young girls in our community; Girls who have been told that they will never be anything more than what they come from, girls who are taught to be “realistic” when setting their goals. The YWCA mission gives me hope for justice for the young girls who accept that it is normal to have some type of sexual abuse to happen before they are 16. It is encouraging to see efforts being taken to provide racial justice for all and dignity for the under-served and under-resourced women and children in our city. I truly believe that we can reach a place of equity and equality in our community and that the YWCA will continue to play a large role in the growth and healing of our community.
The YWCA is on a mission to empower women at all stages in their careers. Diversity in leadership is particularly vital to our vibrant business community in the Greater Topeka Area.
