3 Bloomington leaders to be honored for service

Saturday marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, and Bloomington will kick off the celebration by highlighting the work of three members of the community.\nLiz Kirkland has been named Bloomington’s Woman of the Year, Sue Berg has been chosen to receive the Lifetime Contribution Award and Jillian Kinzie has been picked for the Emerging Leader Award.\nKirkland and Berg will be honored at the 23rd annual Women’s History Month Luncheon on Wednesday, which will feature Mayor Mark Kruzan as well as a speech from Allida Black, a George Washington University professor who wrote the book “Courage in a Dangerous World: The Political Writings of Eleanor Roosevelt.”\nThe Annual Women’s History Month Lunch committee chose the women from a pool of about 20 nominees.\nCommittee member Glenda Murray said it is important for the community to recognize exceptional leaders.\n“I believe very much in community and in the importance of recognizing people who care about other people,” Murray said. “And this is the annual way that the community honors women who have been involved over the years.”\nKirkland won the award for her continued work with women and families at Middle Way House, where she serves as children’s services coordinator. \nKirkland’s co-worker at Middle Way House, Charlotte Zeitlow, said society needs positive role models.\n“It is important for girls to know that there are many options for them,” she said. “I’m 73, so I grew up in another era. There is such a difference from when I grew up of what a woman could be.”\nMurray said Kirkland makes sure kids and parents have the resources to deal with tough situations.\nEach Christmas she organizes programs with various community groups to get gifts for families that would otherwise go without.\n“She did all this way beyond what someone would expect from her job,” Murray said of Kirkland. “She works in a pretty tough setting. Anyone who works in that setting probably deserves our thanks to help women get back on their feet.”\nBerg was chosen because of her lifetime work as a community educator, teaching people about safety, agriculture and education.\n“She is somebody who has worked constantly year in and year out,” Zietlow said. “She’s touched so many lives, she deserves to be recognized.”\nKinzie will be honored at a leadership workshop March 24 at City Hall.\nKinzie said awards like these are important to give young female role models.\n“Its very important to give recognition,” she said. “Too often women don’t get the recognition for the work they’ve done. This is designed to make up for awards they don’t get in other settings.”