Meet The Team

Janel Moreland was elected Village Clerk of Bellwood in 2017-Current. She is also on the Bellwood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and a Mentor in The Girl Succeed Mentoring Academy. Janel has created and organized several events for the Village of Bellwood one being the Pink Divas & Gents Annual Breast Cancer 5K Walk/Run. Due to the lack of breast cancer education, resources, income and insurance, Janel was inspired to create the Pink Divas & Gents NFP Breast Cancer Organization to assist women and men in the Proviso Township and surrounding Chicagoland Area. Losing a loved one and witnessing individuals battle breast cancer, Janel has made it her mission to support, educate, and raise awareness about breast cancer.

Gay Chase currently servers a Senior Editor for Thompson Reuters, Practical Law in the Employment Law Group specializing in Federal Employment and Labor Law.  Prior to accepting this position in March, 2018, she served as an Administrative Judge with the United States Merit Systems Protection Board (Board) for approximately 12 years. On March 2, 2018, Gay retired after 37 years of federal service.

Gay currently serves on the Board for The Pink Divas & Gents as President. She also serves on the Board for Answer, Inc. (Autism), The Bellwood Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Operation Uplift. She has served on several boards to include serving as President of Illinois School District 92’s Board of Education for 10 years.  Gay is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  During the course of her Federal Career, Gay received numerous awards and special recognition to include being named Professional Employee of the Year, Instructor Emeritus, and a Meritorious Service Award. Gay has a huge heart and is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Jennifer Modiest is a financial professional with over 30 years of experience in this industry.  She is currently employed with DuPage Credit Union for the past 27 years.  She has managed several areas such as IRA Department, Retail Offices, Online Banking and currently Contact Center.  Jennifer enjoys participating in advocacy programs with her employer and in the community.  She has lost loved ones to breast cancer and seen friends go through the fight and survive.

Arnetta Watkins is a resident of Bellwood, Il., Owner of TWN/Travel With Netta Travel Business. Arnetta is married with two children and have two grandchildren. She is the current President of Bellwood Chamber of Commerce. Besides being a Community Activist, Arnetta is also one of Bellwood School District 88. Roosevelt Middle School Community Service Leader Coordinator’s. Her motto: “if I can help someone along the way, then my living will not be in vain.”

Darryl Pruitt is a gentleman that is always looking for ways to help others as well as better himself. Darryl keeps busy by working two jobs. He is currently employed full-time with the Village of Bellwood as a Water Laborer and has been for 16 years. Darryl also works as a Security Guard for School District 209. He is very active and involved with the children and his community in which he resides. Being raised with seven sisters he learned the importance of female health and self-breast examinations. Knowing that men can be affected directly by breast cancer, Darryl is currently the only male that serves on the Board of Pink Divas & Gents Breast Cancer Organization. He remains hopeful that his presence on the board will inspire and encourage men to do self-examinations and routine checks. Darryl is always willing to help others and goes above and beyond to ensure a task is successfully accomplished.

Lena M. Moreland retired from the Village of Bellwood as a 16-year Public Servant. Lena was proud of her accomplishments during her 35-year tenure as a Village of Bellwood employee. Working her way up through the ranks she gained a wealth of knowledge about the municipality, community and the residents they served. In 2001, Lena was elected the Village Clerk (Historian) of Bellwood. In that position she organized the Summer Youth Work Program, the PACE Bus Transportation Service for Senior Citizens and the disabled. Even after retirement, Lena continues to be very active in the community in which she resides. She has volunteered for the Pink Divas & Gents Breast Cancer Organization prior to becoming a Board Member in 2018. Having lost her mother to other health issues unrelated to breast cancer, she is passionate about helping others with this disease as she has endured the lost her mother-in-law to breast cancer. Lena is a very compassionate and caring individual who is always willing to reach out and help someone.

Patricia Crawford is a 21 year resident of the Village of Bellwood.  She is an active member of Living Word Christian Center and Monroe Baptist Church.  Patricia has been in the Engineering and Educational field for over 25 years.  She previously held the titles of Pre-K Early Education Program Coordinator and After School Program Coordinator.  She is currently employed with Bellwood Public School District 88 as the Parent Liaison.  Patricia is very active  in her community and has a huge heart for helping others.  She is always willing and ready to raise awareness about cancer, support and encourage others.

Patricia's Motto is "Children work together, when they see parents working together."

Nova Mines is the wife of Lawrence Mines, mother of one and grandmother of three. Nova is a resident of Bellwood. She continued her studies at Triton College. Nova is a leader by nature and a servant by choice. She created a platform in 2014 called “Ladies in Hats”. The platform centered around the things that affected us as women most, which included Family, Friends, and Life’s realities. Nova has received awards for being a woman in her community that hears and understands the everyday woman.

Unknowingly that GOD was preparing her for the servant that he would have her to be today. “Greater is He That is in me, than he That is in the World.” Nova’s journey of service grew stronger more passionate and more in tuned.  She is an active member of Pink Divas and Gents, G.E.M.S., an organization that services women and young ladies. “I am a mentor to those in need, a friend to those that receive me but most importantly I am a Godfearing woman that has arrived to make change.” Nova has found grace in being a woman that has overcome many battles. After taking care of her father and watching him lose his battle to pancreatic cancer, she realized the best think in life to do is LIVE! 

Embrace Love, Live Life, Forgive Genuinely and move on because there is so much beauty in finding JOY in Life.

Carmia is a graduate of Triton College, (former adjunct faculty at Triton) and Roosevelt University. She resides in Riverside, Illinois with her husband (Samuel), children (Constantine and Adriana).  Carmia has had an extensive hospitality career with a specialty in Catering.  Carmia works on the leadership and development of Firehouse Subs brand as Franchisee.  Responsibilities include restaurant quality assurance inspections, training, customer service, and catering.   Carmia's restaurant serves as the training restaurant for the market. Before assuming her current position, Carmia was Director Sales for the Naperville Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Carmia’s past experiences include an over 12-year veteran of Marriott International from operations through Catering Sales.  

Carmia has been affected directly and indirectly with cancer. She has supported and watched her very own family members fight the disease of cancer. Carmia also has an Auntie who is a two-time breast cancer survivor and a sister-in-love who is also a breast cancer survivor. Not only is Carmia an advocate of cancer (breast), she is also a cancer survivor.

Board Member

Prophetess Annette D. Barker is the Ambassador of the King Daughters ministry, a beloved leader, a Christ Advocate and Ambassador, a Pastor, Prophet, and Philanthropist. Prophetess Annette D. Barker is also an Author of two soul winning books. As a Visionary, Victorious & Virtuous woman of God Prophetess Annette D. Barker founded "The King’s Daughters Ministry" in the year 2000.  "The King’s Daughters Ministry" is about serving and assisting the youth in reaching their educational goals through prayer and scholarships, this ministry reaches out to all who are in need. She is also the Founder and CEO of Girls & Boys Succeed Mentoring Program for youth ages 10-14. Prophetess Annette D. Barker is serves as a Community Service Leader with the Youth in School District 88.

Prophetess Annette D. Barker also holds the position as Director of Community Communications with Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance Network (PTMAN). Which is an organization that strives to become a collective body of community partners. Prophetess Annette D. Barker love for helping people is what led her to become a board member of The Pink Divas & Gents Breast Cancer Organization. Prophetess Annette D. Barker believes in serving under the influence of the Holy Spirit with care, compassion, and concern for all of God’s people.