The Macomb Feminist Network has selected Gayle Tronvig Carper, Nancy Crossman, Verneata Jones and Jill Joline Myers as recipients of its 2022 Writing Women into History Awards. The women will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the local community on Saturday, March 5, during a reception at the Wesley Village Community Center.

Gayle TronvigCarper has woven her background and training as an attorney, public defender,
and WIU professor into the activities she has pursued as a civic-minded Macomb resident. Her
approach to the roles and tasks she assumes is consistently meticulous. Whether she was
serving on the City Council (first appointed, then elected), writing a commentary for Tri-States
Public Radio’s Women’s Voices, or helping establish an organization to help ensure food
security for residents in need, her approach has reflected scrupulous research and an
exceptionally coherent presentation of information and insight. She has co-chaired the annual
Gazebo Art Festival and the Macomb Art Center’s Art and Gift Market multiple times, taking
responsibility for much of the events’ organization and publicity. Gayle’s contributions to
Macomb’s civic and cultural life attest to her strength and integrity as well as her extraordinary
energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to a healthy, viable community.

Nancy “Nan” Crossman has been helping ensure a diverse and lively arts scene in Macomb for
many years. Whether serving on the Performing Art Society Board, facilitating Macomb
Community Theater productions, or coordinating the multiple activities sponsored by the
Macomb Arts Center, Nan has been generously giving her time to make sure these ventures
attract audiences and help both spectators and contributors enjoy the talent of the many artists
in the community. The wide spectrum of activities she organizes and manages through the
Macomb Arts Center as its volunteer Executive Director bear out her commitment. She
facilitates events and projects that clearly appeal to children, from tikes to teens, others that
appeal to adults, and still others that bring in entire families. She has taken on the nitty-gritty
behind-the-scenes roles that event planning requires as well as the role of host forprograms,
receptions, and exhibits. She has consistently done so with grace.

Verneata D. Jones is well known and respected in the Macomb community. She has helped
organize and implement many programs and events sponsored by her church and various
community organizations, including P.R.I.D.E. a summer youth program that emphasized
education, recreation, and service, a summer food distribution initiative, and Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. and Juneteenth celebrations. Widely and comfortably known as Aunt V in the
community, what is perhaps most remarkable about her service is what she has been doing on
her own year after year. She has provided foster care, often on an emergency basis, for over 27
children, always making sure those she cared for had what they needed materially, emotionally,
and educationally. She reaches out to people with ease, discerns their needs, and quietly finds
ways to help. Skilledand caring, she has enriched the lives of numerous people in the
community through her love and generosity.

Jill Joline Myers, using her doctoral studies in law, first in Baltimore and then in Macomb–has
spent much of her career working on behalf of victims and society. She began by representing
abused and neglected children; later she represented victims of violence and terrorism. She
continues to focus on the well-being and safety of children, no longer as a prosecutor or
investigator, but as the President of the Macomb CUSD #185, helping to develop policies that
determine how Macomb schools prepare students for a successful future. Given students’
widespread access to the internet, Jill’s background in electronic surveillance and cyber
investigations has been particularly valuable in addressing online bullying and in promoting
cyber safety and digital citizenship training. She serves on the board of the local chapter of the
League of Women Voters, is a member of the Macomb Fire and Police Commission, and is
President-elect of the morning Rotary Club. Her commitment to the community runs deep.