JUDGE ERICKA SANDERS PROVIDES KEYNOTE SPEECH AT 2026 CHAMBER BANQUET

Marion County Associate Judge Ericka Sanders served as keynote speaker of Celebrate Progress - Chamber Annual Banquet, held Thursday evening at Kaskaskia College’s Lifelong Learning Center.

Judge Sanders spoke on the importance and impact of organizations like the Centralia Community Youth Center and All Hours of Love, and how Centralia’s business community breeds hope to those who need it.

Judge Sanders’s speech was as follows:

'“As a citizen of Centralia, like all citizens, I can see the apparent growth and hard work of business owners and those who work at businesses in our community. We are grateful to all of you for transforming the community in aesthetics but also in the expansion of choice and opportunity for service and goods.

In my line of work, another benefit of your accomplishments is repeatedly revealed. To quote my buddy Rob Schnicker, “People that work for major corporations should not need food and clothing pantries. They should not qualify for the public defender or utilize free after-school programs. Elderly and handicapped people should not have to rely on Mission Centralia to build a ramp just so they have the freedom leave their home. But they do, and because of many of you in our town, we have the best.

You not only employ people and provide a needed service, you give to the community because you understand that when the least of us suffers, we all suffer. Without the Youth Center, the single month that gets off work at 5:00 PM and who absolutely cannot afford childcare, because we all know how expensive that is, she cannot work. And the after-school programs, which is by the way one of the best evidence-based philanthropic bangs for your buck, is also a nurturing environment where they do their homework, they eat a meal, they learn to be professional and kind by associating with people like Josh Favors, Ms. O’ Neal, Linda Dabney. They are role models to these kids. And for some kids, it means escaping a little while longer from the chaos that they live in.

This is necessary to heal children, but it also builds our future workforce. And maybe it’s because so many of us are descendants of railroaders, coal miners, city workers, our grandparents made and delivered potato chips and Payday candy bars; working stock who were just on the other side of poverty. Close enough to empathize and be grateful. It’s the grit and the toughness of the people that were born in Centralia and those who moved here and have the same spirit that fits right in.

Many of those new businesses were started by women and black women, hurdling two forms of discrimination because of their strength and character and perseverance and Centralia grit. I am so grateful to be from this town and living here. Raised my children where they see women like that making a difference. Where all of this is possible and accomplished here.

A friend of mine, also from Centralia, had the opportunity to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu. That particular friend worked at a child welfare agency that was overwhelmed repeatedly in trying to help legions of abused and neglected children. This friend asked Archbishop Desmond Tutu how can you effectuate change for the greatest number of children. And the Archbishop said, “Change happens one person at a time.” Now this feels like a gut-punch to those of us who see the great need on a daily basis, but he’s right.

For example, people like Todd Gillespie know that to be true. I want to leave you with a story of hope that is in part due to the generosity of many of you and your successes. Last week an individual who had been in the criminal and juvenile justice system for his entire life, since he was born, and he’s my age, so not very long. Because of his frequency in the system and his lifelong experience with drug addiction, mental illness, abuse and neglect, the system had come to expect very little of him and he expected very little of himself. And we are a system that excels in punishment but not so much in correction.

Showing up to court was a feat in and of itself. He had no car, no home, no job, he’s homeless. But last week, he showed up hours early for court and with letters of recommendation. Those letters were from volunteers at All Hours of Love. A volunteer had helped him get his ID. If you have you ever tried to help anyone, get an ID who has no identification, it’s a near impossible task, but she did it. And a bed in rehab. And the lawyers, one of whom is here in the audience, met with me ahead of time and asked if I would continue his case so that he would have this chance at rehab. A chance that he has probably never had.

I have never seen this gentleman proud. I’ve never seen him smile. But he was proud that day. See, Todd’s goal has always been to do more than simply give an unhoused person a place to rest his or her head. He calls on the community to work together to determine the individual reasons for homelessness and to address them. All Hours of Love has likely done more for that gentleman than anyone ever has, making him one step closer to getting out of the system and maybe even becoming employable.

Your hard work, the risks that you take as businesspeople, the perseverance, your never giving up gives that gentleman and many other people opportunity that they would never have. On behalf of that gentleman, and the countless others that benefit from you, thank you.”

In addition to serving as Marion County Associate Judge, Judge Sanders oversees the Marion County Drug Court, has led, served, and contributed to various boards and commissions throughout her career, was the recipient of the Chamber’s Shining Star Award in 2020, was named CASA Judge of the Year in 2022, and remains and active volunteer, community leader, and advocate for those at risk or in need.