The 2024 Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter Community Award is presented to Mrs. Sims-Malone.
For more than 30 years, Mrs. Sims-Malone has made significant impact to youth in the Bloomington-Normal community in the Five Point Programmatic Thrust, Educational Development, by recognizing and encouraging student achievement. In addition, She also leads a program with community-wide impact in the areas of social action and Arts & Letters.
Mrs. Sims-Malone is the founder and Executive Director of Neighbor-to-Neighbor. Since 1991, Neighbor-to-Neighbor has held an annual Multicultural Academic Achievement Recognition Ceremony at Illinois Wesleyan University. The ceremonies honor minority students from 5th grade through high school, in both local school districts.
Some of Mrs. Sims-Malone’s numerous roles and accomplishments include:
- Executive Director and President of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gospel Festival
- 4-H Leader for 10 years
- Serving as a McLean County Election Judge.
- NAACP Community Service award in 2008,
- Recipient of News WEEK’s 25 Women In Leadership award in 2013,
- Honored by Illinois Wesleyan University for 20 years of community service,
- Received the Women of Distinction Award in Social Services in 2015
- Recognized for valuable contributions to the African-American community in McLean County through the African American Forum (A.A.F) at State Farm, an Employee Resource Group.
Barbara Sims-Malone Has worked with Community leaders like Sec of State Jesse White, State Farm Executive Vice President Willie Brown, Bloomington/Normal Indian community leader Shri Chandak, Former Mayors Tari Renner, & Jesse Smart, Public Defender Carla Barnes, local business and education dignitaries, including superintendents, school board members, business executives, local youth speakers/leaders and law enforcement leaders.
But one of Mrs. Sims-Malone’s greatest accomplishments is the impact that she has made on the lives of thousands of students through encouraging them with certificates, medals, and/or trophies for their achievements. Her mission is to narrow the education gap and consistently remind students, “Education is the key to success!”
~ Nominated by Soror Meta Mickens-Baker
The 2024 Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter Community Award is presented to Mrs. Sims-Malone.
For more than 30 years, Mrs. Sims-Malone has made significant impact to youth in the Bloomington-Normal community in the Five Point Programmatic Thrust, Educational Development, by recognizing and encouraging student achievement. In addition, She also leads a program with community-wide impact in the areas of social action and Arts & Letters.
Mrs. Sims-Malone is the founder and Executive Director of Neighbor-to-Neighbor. Since 1991, Neighbor-to-Neighbor has held an annual Multicultural Academic Achievement Recognition Ceremony at Illinois Wesleyan University. The ceremonies honor minority students from 5th grade through high school, in both local school districts.
Some of Mrs. Sims-Malone’s numerous roles and accomplishments include:
- Executive Director and President of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gospel Festival
- 4-H Leader for 10 years
- Serving as a McLean County Election Judge.
- NAACP Community Service award in 2008,
- Recipient of News WEEK’s 25 Women In Leadership award in 2013,
- Honored by Illinois Wesleyan University for 20 years of community service,
- Received the Women of Distinction Award in Social Services in 2015
- Recognized for valuable contributions to the African-American community in McLean County through the African American Forum (A.A.F) at State Farm, an Employee Resource Group.
Barbara Sims-Malone Has worked with Community leaders like Sec of State Jesse White, State Farm Executive Vice President Willie Brown, Bloomington/Normal Indian community leader Shri Chandak, Former Mayors Tari Renner, & Jesse Smart, Public Defender Carla Barnes, local business and education dignitaries, including superintendents, school board members, business executives, local youth speakers/leaders and law enforcement leaders.
But one of Mrs. Sims-Malone’s greatest accomplishments is the impact that she has made on the lives of thousands of students through encouraging them with certificates, medals, and/or trophies for their achievements. Her mission is to narrow the education gap and consistently remind students, “Education is the key to success!”
~ Nominated by Soror Meta Mickens-Baker
On March 20, 1982, area Sorors met in Hovey Hall at Illinois State University to discuss the establishment of an alumnae chapter. With a clear vision in the hearts and minds of 12 women, the Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered on March 27, 1983, by Soror Alison Harmon, Midwest Regional Director.
