The Rev. Brenda Mitchell has turned pain into purpose by helping others who’ve lost loved ones to gun violence heal. Karimiah McKee has worked to expose more women and girls to career opportunities in technology.
The two south suburban women were honored this month as recipients of the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues 2023 Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Award. The award was presented to 18 women, one from each district in the county, in recognition of Women’s History Month. It was established to tell the story of and honor women whose contributions to their communities, families and professional endeavors have been vital, but often not recognized.
Mitchell, who received the 6th District award, lost her son Kenneth Mitchell Jr., a single parent, to gun violence in 2005. Kenneth Mitchell, 31, was shot and killed after he intervened to try to defuse an argument between two individuals. Years earlier, she lost a brother to gun violence.
Mitchell created a grief support group, Healing Circles, to help others deal with grief and trauma. The University Park resident is an advocate for trauma care and resources and works to raise awareness about post-traumatic stress disorder.
She has testified before Congress as an advocate for common sense gun laws. She is a senior fellow with Everytown Survivor Network, which connects survivors, offers trauma informed programs and information on direct services and participates in local, state and national gun violence prevention campaigns. She also is co-lead for the Illinois chapter of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization with chapters in every state that fights for public safety measures to protect people from gun violence, including stronger laws and closing gun law loopholes.
She also is a member of Purpose Over Pain, which advocates for safer communities and provides crisis support to parents or guardians whose children have been gun violence victims, and provides development activities for children and youth.
Before her son was killed, Mitchell said she didn’t truly understand the severity of trauma and grief that is unleashed by gun violence. But she experienced firsthand the damage it caused her and her family. Her mother died of a broken heart after the loss of her son and grandson, she said.
Mitchell nearly died three times due to severe high blood pressure brought on by grief and stress as she juggled work, raising her grandchildren and trying to create a happy environment for them as they too were dealing with their own grief, she shared.
“It was difficult,” said Mitchell, who works in human resources management and is an ordained ministered with Full Gospel Christian Assemblies International in Hazel Crest. “I was dealing with PTSD. I think I was in denial. This is not like a death you can prepare for. It’s complicated grief.”
She stepped away from work and took the time to care for herself. She realized if this was her experience, others were going through similar ordeals, and that compelled her to push for legislation to combat gun violence and for resources to help families and communities traumatized by gun violence.
“This is my passion. I don’t want another mother to experience any level of what I have experienced, and if they do, I want to be there for them,” she said. “Healing is possible.”
Mitchell has been involved in COVID-19 Survivors for Change, helping facilitate a support group for individuals who lost loved ones to COVID-19.
“It’s the same trauma,” she said. “You didn’t get to say goodbye, and for them even more devastating is they never did have closure, they never got to go through the ritual of a funeral. They never got to say goodbye. Their loved ones died alone. Their devastation is just as deep.”
Cook County 6th District Commissioner Donna Miller said Mitchell “truly embodies the spirit of these awards. After the unthinkable happened to her own family, she has worked to ensure that no one else has to feel the immense pain of losing a loved one to gun violence.”
Fifth District award winner and Flossmoor resident Karimiah McKee, a network engineer, says she feels a responsibility to help encourage more women and girls to pursue technology careers.
McKee, who has an master’s in business administration in technology management and a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, has been a Girl Scouts Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics troop leader for the past eight years, helping girls participate in STEAM-related activities and learn about the fields. She also led a Girls Scout Council activity in which Scouts visited Cisco Systems, met with engineers and did hands-on activities.
She also was a STEAM Mentor with the Homewood Science Center for the past four years and has volunteered as a facilitator at conferences, attending sessions, helping with projects and talking about careers in STEAM. At a previous employer, she cofounded a women in tech group to help support and encourage other women to enter the field, she said.
“I do what I do to make an impact,” she said “It’s important that I reach back and help others. My hope is that more girls and women in low-income communities will have a career option in technology, which will change their financial situation,” she said.
McKee also is a board member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and serves on the public policy committee. She recently moderated a seminar focused on how women can advocate for their legal rights when interacting with police, she said. She also serves on a committee working on activities to raise awareness and advocate for women and girls who are missing. She will soon travel to Springfield to advocate for increased funding for child care.
McKee is a past executive board member of Jack and Jill of America Inc. South Suburban Chicago chapter, where she remains active planning and hosting activities for children. The membership organization is comprised of mothers of children ages 2 through 19. Its mission is to nurture future African American leaders by focusing on leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty. McKee also serves as Elementary District 161 PTO Board secretary and as her neighborhood block captain.
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“She serves unselfishly,” said Cook County 5th District Commissioner Monica Gordon. “She is incredibly involved. She has commitment and passion for the community. She has demonstrated that over the years I’ve known her.”
Francine Knowles is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.