Get to Know: Incoming PSLS Board Members
As PSLS ushers in a new slate of board members in September, we caught up with four members and talked of their excitement to both serve and lead PSLS.
1) How did you come to live in Illinois and what county do you call home?
Dean Davis: I’m a Townie, born and raised in Bloomington. After high school in Bloomington I went to college at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. I bounced around in Dallas and Milwaukee for three to four years before deciding to attend law school in Carbondale. After law school, I practiced in Chicago for a handful of years before moving back to Bloomington.
Deanna Hoyt: All my family is from here. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and my parents are from the southside of Chicago. I attended Loyola for undergrad and met my husband, Eric, there. He was my chemistry lab partner. I went to Loyola for Law School while he attended the University of Michigan for Medical School. I joined Schlesinger & Strauss in Libertyville and Eric is an Attending Physician at Endeavor Health. We got tired of the reverse commute and moved to Glenview in 2022. We have a one and half year old and are beginning a renovation to transform our home into our forever home. We love our neighbors in Cook County, our professional partners in Lake County and our families.
Ciera Muñoz: I was born and raised in Illinois and I call McLean County my home.
Julie O’Rourke: I was born in Chicago and moved to Rockford with my family just before middle school. Currently, I reside in Winnebago, IL in Winnebago County where my husband, Jim, and I built a new home in 1997. We have raised our three children there and now are the proud grandparents of three grandchildren.
2) What is your professional calling and how did you choose that career path?
Julie O’Rourke: I recently retired from my profession as a financial planner/investment advisor and manager of various financial professionals. Coming from a family of 10 children, I always had things that I needed, but had to buy things that I wanted on my own. So, I took a job delivering newspapers in Chicago that included door to door raffle ticket sales while in third grade. I sold many tickets and the money that I earned was mine to keep. Interestingly, although I did buy some things, I had more of a desire to save my money to see how much I could earn. So, in college, when I took my first investment course, I was hooked and knew this was the career path for me.
Ciera Muñoz: My passion for midwifery came from my experience of giving birth. A holistic and hands on approach to birth while listening to the mothers’ wants and needs drives me to advocate for mothers’ health. This is her experience and honoring that drives healthy pregnancy and delivery for both mom and baby. Years ago I also considered being a dula to be in the room and advocate during the birthing process. So often minority women are mishandled and mistreated in the traditional medical field during birth. If I can help them myself, I will.
Deanna Hoyt: A lot of my family are teachers, social workers, and union representatives. My grandfather was head of the MidWest Steel Workers in the 80s and 90s. My family values how we give back to the community with our talents. The goal is not to get ahead, it is to bring others with you. A Loyola professor connected me to an externship in the Cook County State’s Attorney's Office, Juvenile Justice Division. I helped as a law clerk in the abuse and neglect division. Even though the cases were rougher to hear emotionally, I knew this is what I wanted to do. My light bulb moment. Later my professor confided that he sent students there who he thought liked the law. Child neglect and abuse is such a difficult practice, if you find joy in this work you will enjoy the practice of law. I enjoy this work even though it’s adversarial. The state attorneys and public defenders are at odds and they work together to build relationships. I like the dynamic of working directly with people to positively impact them.
Dean Davis: I have family members in the legal profession. My dad, grandfather, and his father were attorneys. My great grandfather was a founding member of Costigan and Wollrab and that firm is still on Washington Street in Bloomington. The family connection to the profession inspired an early interest in a legal career. When I was in the non legal field I had a chance to reflect where and how I could bring value to the work space. I knew I enjoyed reading comprehension, writing, and employing logic and reason to advocate for a position or a person. All those traits lend themselves to the legal profession.
3) We value our supporters and find it inspiring when they connect their passion with their purpose. What is your purpose and what motivates you?
Ciera Muñoz: My personal passion is helping people and reaching community. My passion for helping ties greatly into my profession of being a midwife. I am motivated to help and be an advocate who ensures mothers have the best childbearing experiences. My plan and vision to be a midwife comes with a commitment to deliver babies into my 50s and 60s and that brings a smile to my face. Delivering babies into the world safely. I have a lot of women in my family and I hope to build a lineage of amazing birth stories.
Deanna Hoyt: I really want to directly help communities who either don’t have a voice or don’t have the opportunity to use their voice in the justice system. I remain community thought driven. Taking cases pro bono from PSLS, I’m able to help families out who don’t expect to find help. I am more socially justice focused in the areas of family law. I want to change the world for the better and strive not to lose track of that. What I like about our office is we balance keeping the lights on and dedicating time to pro bono cases. Witnessing the relief that people experience coming out of a crisis and guiding them through a legal answer is rewarding. The tougher cases that some firms do not take, violence survivors for instance, helping them rebuild their path is rewarding enough even though no one wins. Families are often separated and focusing on moving forward safely in a way that allows healing keeps me motivated. A lot of family law attorneys are very good friends because we all deal with this together.
Julie O’Rourke: What really motivates me is helping others. I’m a big believer that if you’ve been blessed with gifts, it’s your duty to share those gifts. And it is so rewarding to do so. Whether it’s helping clients navigate the complex financial world to meet goals, mentoring financial professionals so they thrive, guiding non-profit organizations as a board member, or reading to my grandchildren to instill a love of reading and education, it is all very fulfilling.
Dean Davis: I’m passionate about practicing law and take pride in defending a client. I enjoy working hard to advance and defend a client’s interests. I am a people pleaser and motivated by the rewarding feeling that comes from gratitude and helping. Outside of that work, my passion is family and friends. Building, maintaining, and strengthening those relationships is what I value most.
4) There are over 130,000 non-profit organizations in Illinois and they all look for board leadership and stewardship to guide them. Why PSLS?
Deanna Hoyt: Our partner Gary Schlesinger before he retired a few years ago, did not shy away from my commitment to pro bono work. They had said we expect everyone to have a pro bono case annually and I was excited by that. Gary had worked at PSLS’ predecessor before he built his own practice. What has kept me wanting to be involved are board members. Deb Goldberg raves about PSLS’ impact in Lake County and the other communities PSLS serves. Friendships with Meg Brady, Jenn Luczkowiak, and Sam DiGrino helped me latch on to their passion and talents to make our communities more equitable.
Ciera Muñoz: I appreciate all the hard work PSLS does for our residents. I was nominated to the board after working with PSLS to expunge and seal my criminal and traffic record. I was caught off guard first by the nomination and then I felt honored and grateful to grow my leadership skills with PSLS and as I continue to act as a pillar of my community. I have also served with the Salvation Army in their Mom’s group and Brightpoint’s Parent Advisory Committee. I am all for community and driving both information and access to community. I am for community, resources, and helping.
Julie O’Rourke: When I see a non-profit organization that truly is living my value system, striving to maximize helping others despite the constraints of funding, resources, etc, I want to be part of that team as a board member. I’ve come to know Denise Conklin and Jean Ruthe over the past couple of years, as well as investment committee members, and I see the level of engagement and concern for those they serve. If I can lend my expertise to help advance the mission in some way, then it’s a win-win.
Dean Davis: In 2019 I moved back to Bloomington and wanted to get involved in my community. A few different people gave me Adrian Barr’s name and recommended I talk to him about pro bono work. Adrian introduced me to PSLS and discussed some of the different pro bono opportunities. It was an informative and inspiring conversation that helped drive my interest in pro bono work.