In celebration of Women’s History Month, Growing Community Media interviewed four powerful women leaders in our communities: Vicki Scaman, Oak Park village president; Cathy Adduci, River Forest’s first female village president; Shatonya Johnson, Oak Park’s first female police chief; and Kenya Thomas, Oak Park postmaster. During their group interview, the women discovered that they have many commonalities, including their philosophy of leadership—and their commitment to “girlfriend time.”
How did your background prepare you for being a leader?
Adduci: “I was the only girl with four brothers and it was complete survival mode. Growing up with brothers makes you tough. It made me feel like I could do as much or more than they could,” Adduci said. A first-generation American citizen—her father was born in Italy and her mother in Ireland—she was the first in her blue-collar family to go to college.
Scaman: “I’m also first-generation—both parents were born in Germany. Growing up in a German household taught me not to be a softie—we don’t complain, we just persevere. My mother [Irene Clute] taught me the value of standing up for what is right. She stood up for Oak Park’s gay community and received an award from OPALGA for her efforts.”
An athlete in her youth, Scaman was the first girl on Glen Ellyn’s otherwise all-boys baseball team.
Johnson: Like Adduci, Johnson grew up with four brothers. “I was used to being surrounded by boys—and telling them what to do,” she said, laughing. She credits her mother as a role model for working hard, helping people, and standing up for what you believe. But she also asserts that her six strong aunts played key roles in shaping and molding the woman she is today.
Thomas: A third-generation postal worker with a military background, Thomas grew up with a lot of love. “My grandmother made me feel special and gave me everything. My mother was the disciplinarian. My father was always encouraging me—but he’s a big cry baby compared to them,” she said, laughing.
What inspired you to step up and take on your leadership role?
Scaman: “I evaluated the political landscape and I honestly believed what I could bring to the table could make a difference. We have plenty of talented people in our community, but I felt that my skill set, experience and emotional intelligence were needed at the time. If I believed that our community needed something different, I would have been fine not running.”
Johnson: “When the former police chief announced he was retiring, I knew we needed someone to be transformational and forward-thinking because policing was changing. I wanted to be part of that change,” she said. A collaborative leader with more than two decades as a police officer, Johnson embraces a servant leadership style. “I may be the boss but I’m here to make sure that my staff have the things they need to be successful.”
Adduci: “I figured, why not me? I thought I was well-qualified after running a significant corporate division. But the [outgoing] village president told me he wasn’t sure he could support me because his friend was running for the position. I used “friendship is not a leadership skill” as a tagline during my campaign. Sometimes you just have to keep pushing and insisting that this is something we can do.”
Thomas: “I never set out to be a postmaster. I was a Chicago postal carrier when my bosses asked me to consider the position in Oak Park. I don’t turn down opportunities. I wanted to change the current management style. I had heard Oak Park could be challenging but I figured it couldn’t be any worse than Chicago. We’re working to make it better.”
Oak Park and River Forest residents are not reticent about expressing their opinions. How do you cultivate the self-confidence and resilience to respond to criticism?
Johnson: “Policing is the low hanging fruit for criticism. I encourage my staff to operate based on facts, not emotion. But if the criticism is based on something we did wrong, then I want to determine the why. I’m the first to admit if something isn’t done correctly—I will own that. But it’s not about blame, it’s about working together to make things better. I am not one who has to prove myself to anyone. I’m in competition with myself and I try to be the best person I can be every day.”
Thomas: “Criticism of the postal office is similar to policing. When I first took over in Oak Park, the physical property was suffering. We got complaints about the grass so I had it mowed—then we got complaints that the grass was cut too low. You can’t take it personally—you have to just keep moving forward.”
Scaman: “I look for opportunities to learn from healthy criticism. The challenges don’t scare me — they energize me. I’m not seeking to be everyone’s best friend. I’m focused on putting in the work to make the sound decisions that are in our community’s best interests. And I want to lead in a way that multiplies what our board members are capable of doing together.”
Adduci: “Women do the work. We show up consistently and that’s half the battle. We made a commitment to our roles and we give it our all. The pushback doesn’t deflate us—it motivates us.”
How do you balance your personal and professional lives?
Thomas: “I never turn off my phone. My family is postal so they understand. I love to travel—but I bring my laptop. I love my spending time with my grandkids and my girlfriends.”
Johnson: “I can’t turn off my phone. I sleep, eat and live Oak Park. As soon as I open my eyes every morning, I pray and ask God to lead my path and to make sure I’m doing the right things for the right reasons. Then I head to the gym at 5 a.m. I try to work around my boys’ schedules. We try to take at least one vacation with extended family, and my husband and I take mini-vacations. And I need my girls’ trips!”
Scaman: “I’m a new grandma. When I get the call to babysit, I do everything I can to say yes. It’s a joy. And the outdoors are important to me. If the sun is out, I’ll be pacing in my front yard on my phone. The neighbors must think I’m crazy.”
Adduci: “I have a daughter getting married in the fall—I’m looking forward to that. I love to travel. Getting together with my girlfriends for cocktails and giggles is magical. I also love biking, walking and running.” Adduci and her team recently won the national HYROX running/ functional fitness competition in their age category and will be competing in the world championship in Nice, France this summer.
If you were not in your current positions, what career might you have pursued?
Johnson: “At one time, I thought I’d be the next Oprah [Johnson majored in communications before switching to criminal justice in her junior year]. And I might have pursued show business if I could only carry a tune.”
Scaman: “I might have had a career in show business. I once ran a restaurant and we used any excuse to turn it into a cabaret with costumes and a live band. I made $3,000 in tips bartending in a white feather headdress for a Mardi Gras party.”
Thomas: “I would have been a comedian—and I still might. I have a whole platform of material from the post office.”
Adduci: “I’d be a beach bum in Hawaii and travel the world. My goal is to see every continent.”
