Silver Cross’ Newbon Honored for Raising the Level of Achievement in Struggling Areas

Chances are, if you aren’t a colleague of Leslie Newbon at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, or one of the hundreds she’s helped in many of the most vulnerable communities that Silver Cross serves, you may not know her name. 

And that’s the way she likes it. 

“I enjoy serving without a lot of fanfare,” said Newbon, Silver Cross Hospital Manager of Marketing & Community Relations. Newbon also helps oversee the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission (HCC). 

But Newbon does so with humility as she stays very busy making sure the community is well taken care of. 

That’s why she’s a bit reticent to talk about earning the After the Peanut Organization’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) Innovation Corporate Award recently. The award was given to her for “leadership, empowerment, and most importantly, your commitment to closing STEAM disparities across diverse and vulnerable communities.” 

Inspired by George Washington Carver, After the Peanut was created in 2014 to use education as a way to transform communities by increasing equity in K-12 STEAM education. The award, according to the organization, recognizes “unsung leaders” and “community trailblazers” who “have committed their craft and work to close this gap.” 

For the past five years, Newbon’s efforts align closely with those of After the Peanut (ATP). Her work involves grant writing, increasing public awareness about health services, coordinating special events and implementing community outreach programs such as physician lectures, health fairs, Speaker’s Bureau and well-being screenings. 

The Silver Cross HCC was launched by the hospital board in 2008 as a not-for-profit organization committed to creating a stronger, healthier future by providing support for education, workforce development training and enrichment activities for youth, to improve the quality of life on Joliet’s east side. 

“Through my work at Silver Cross Hospital and the Healthy Community Commission, I have had the opportunity to touch many lives through the support given to numerous agencies and organizations in our community,” Newbon said. “Each year, we are fortunate to award about $225,000 in grants and scholarships.” 

Newbon, who also was honored several years ago by the National Hook-up of Black Women for her work in the community, is proud of her STEAM Innovation Award. 

“I felt very honored to be the recipient of the STEAM award. I first became familiar with After the Peanut in 2015 when we both partnered with a youth program in the Fairmont area. 

“We remain dedicated and focused on improving the quality of life for our community by providing continued support for STEAM education and enrichment activities for youth and their families through the ATP organization.” 

“I enjoy helping people, because they matter most, and my level of fulfillment is driven by helping others,” she said. “People are the greatest resource any organization can have and should be deemed most important for organizational success.” 

For more information about the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission, email SCHHCC@silvercross.org.