My sister was one tough customer, and she worked/fought all her life for whatever she had. My Dad told me that he marveled at her as a kid learning to ride a bike, how she kept falling off but just got right back up over and over until she was successful. From the get-go, she was determined, focused and brave. I couldn't have had a better role model.
At the top of her life at age 59, after years of struggle, incredibly hard work and achievement, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer and given 6 months to live. True to form, she lived 3 and 1/2 years, fighting for life to her last breath. She worked in her dream job as Director of Development for a major medical institution until the month before she died, inspiring everyone there not only with her courage but her amazing passion for her work.
In the early years, my sister worked with deaf children, then special needs children, while her partner moved up to run a services non-profit. They found the going very rough; there was little attention paid to these organizations, and even less money. My sister told me years later that she was shocked by the backward conditions and often found Arkansas truly depressing. It seemed to her that no one really cared about the children or those who desperately needed help.
Then Bill Clinton was elected Governor. And my sister and her partner met a whirlwind called Hillary.
My sister told me many stories about how Hillary changed everything, but these were the elements that most struck me:
1)
She was totally dedicated to making things better and she did, incredibly: She started in the educational arena, leading a task force that reformed the schools by introduced new processes and standards. She especially worked to improve conditions for challenged kids, including finding financial resources, public and private, to boost their learning. On the social services side, she went right to work, contacting my sister's partner to see how she could help. She traveled the length and width of Arkansas to see for herself the conditions, and then worked with her to set up/support numerous programs, as well as find funding. Among these: a Legal Services Corporation that set up Legal Aid facilities throughout the State for people who had never had access to representation, a Single Parent Scholarship program (lots of single Moms went to college under this program, many of them African-American), the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, more funding for basic services and often for the first time, corporate funding for special assistance programs. She also helped the Agency obtain grants to support their services, something they hadn't had much success with before.
2)
She was fearless...and used her connections for good: Hillary understood conditions by going to see them for herself, was innovative in finding solutions and was not confounded by obstacles. She made a lot of corporate connections, but found a way to use them to fund countless social and educational programs. Where she went and what she did shook up Arkansas; the State really had never seen a First lady like this before. But she was committed to making change happen. In her first year as First Lady, she absolutely floored my sister and her partner with what she accomplished, and it lifted them up in a way they never expected.
3)
She followed through on every promise: Over the years, lots of people working in the education and social service arenas found in Hillary a thoroughly reliable resource when they most needed help. Beyond the added programs, the new funding and the publicity she brought to the arena, she also expanded their horizons about what was possible. She empowered them, taught them how to find help and connected them with resources. Ultimately, my sister became a successful fundraiser/Director of Development for multiple non-profits and her partner headed & expanded the largest social service organization in Arkansas. Hillary showed them the way.
4)
She was a faithful friend: They both found Hillary not only very responsive but warm and personable as well. Even after Bill became President and they moved to Washington, on visits back to Arkansas she still kept in touch. One time, she was in a parade in Little Rock and my sister's partner was watching on the sidelines. Hillary spotted her and stepped out of the parade to come over and give her a warm hug. Needless to say, that made her day.
But this action was emblematic of the person countless friends in Arkansas found Hillary to be - genuine, positive, giving. And in an environment - and profession - that often lacked support, this meant the world.
My sister died in 2008, just after the election. She was crushed that Hillary was not the nominee. Now, all these years later, I wanted to speak for her by telling about her experience with Hillary. People rarely impressed my sister, because she had pretty high standards (She always looked out for me, but I don't think I often got her seal of approval). But she was truly wowed by Hillary, not only for her relentless efforts to bring change, but for her spirit, down-to-earth nature and true caring. She told me in the year before she died that Hillary had been an enormous influence on her in reaching her dreams. I will always be grateful for that.
For those who work everyday to give people a lift up, whirlwinds and heroes are desperately needed. And for women who struggle to go far, role models help them realize their own power. For my sister, her partner and so many more, that hero/role model was Hillary Clinton.
For me, the personal stories people have shared on Daily Kos of both Hillary and Bernie's goodness, drive and caring are inspirational and make me believe in a better day. I hope this has added to that picture.