Lesleigh Hodam | YWCA Women of Excellence Honoree
What inspires you to get up and do the work?
So many things inspire me. 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. My drive to leave a legacy of unity, love and hope is a huge driving force that pushes through the struggles to get the work done. 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.
What have you learned about yourself through the challenges you have overcome?
I learned that I can adapt, grow and stretch beyond what I believed was possible not just for me but for the good of those around me and my community. This last year has been full of heartbreak, loss and constant adapting. With the loss of my father, the beautiful legacy he left behind has pushed me to go the extra mile each time. I am stronger that I thought and with the help of God I keep going.
I have faced many storms in life that didn't seem possible to survive but they have made me stronger, more determined and when I look at what I can gain instead of the loss it is empowering.
How do you take care of yourself?
Admittedly, self care is something I have to make an effort at, as most moms with special needs will understand. I get caught up in caring for others and sometimes forget that I can't pour from an empty cup.
I love getting out in nature. There is something about the wind dancing through the trees, the birds singing and the warmth of the sun on my skin. It feels as if time pauses for a few minutes and all the worries wash away. 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. There's also nothing like sitting on my covered porch or in the car during a good rainstorm and reading a book or writing out dreams and goals that I have for myself.
What is the best advice you've ever been given? Or what advice do you have for others?
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.
What is your vision for our community? Has it changed through the pandemic and racial justice reckoning of recent years?
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. The last few years gave each of us a glimpse of what our community is capable of. We can adapt and grow in the struggles making us stronger and 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.
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?
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.
