'That's What She Said:' empowered women, empowering others

Jul. 1—Susan Franklin stepped up to the mic, placed her binder on the yellow music stand in front of her, then opened to the first page of her story.

"The significant events that have moved me through my life have always been connected to food," Franklin said.

She was the first of eight women to vulnerably share their stories as part of "That's What She Said: Danville," an annual production featuring women who aim "to empower women, build community and give a voice to stories that need to be told."

Franklin went on to share how she dealt with hunger, abuse, and poverty from a young age. She told those present that she was forced to leave home and drop out of school at the age of 15 to escape her step-father's abuse.

She got her GED and put herself through college, despite dealing with ongoing poverty and the ramifications of coming out as a lesbian in the early 1980s.

Franklin said she later dedicated herself to reducing hunger in the community by starting a Market Garden and organizing what is now the Danville Farmer's Market.

"Today I am not hungry. Today I have abundance and share it with others," she said. "I am most grateful to those who shared their abundance with me when I was hungry, who reached out a hand and helped me when I was scared, and who fought for me when I was weak."

When she was finished, Franklin closed her binder to the sound of applause, wiping a tear from beneath her glasses as she took her seat on the couch behind her.

Deborah Brunner came next, telling the heartbreaking story of how she had left an abusive relationship, survived addiction and overdose, and raised her son mostly on her own, only to later lose him to suicide at just 35 years old.

Brunner spoke about how she dealt with the grief of losing her son and later became a public speaker and life coach, as well as authoring a self-help book titled "You Deserve This, Not That."

"I am my own superhero," she said. "I am a heroic woman warrior."

One by one, women stepped up to the microphone, sharing their stories of facing and overcoming heartbreaks, injuries, losses, and personal setbacks, and sharing the lessons they'd learned along the way.

"When I say our stories connect us, I truly mean it ... Stories are what bring us together. They connect us and build a sense of community," said show producer and director Jenette Jurczyk.

Several women shared their stories, highlighting how gratitude, humility, self-love, and the courage to seek help enabled them to overcome their hardships.

The last speaker of the night was Ashton Greer, local entrepreneur and commercial real estate developer.

For Greer, audacity was the driving force in her life, she said. She spoke about the choices she had been forced to make — including leaving jobs, relationships, and even a religion that boxed her in and didn't allow her to grow.

"What I have come to realize is that life is much more meaningful and interesting if we take risks," she said. "I could squeeze in the box they built for me, but then I wouldn't be free and I wouldn't be authentically me. With time, and with courage, I have had the audacity to leave what confines me and show up as I define me."

Greer brought a dose of comedy to an otherwise intense night, telling stories about embarrassing herself in college, talking her way into a VIP spot at a Taylor Swift concert, and later teaching the audience to do the Wobble, a popular dance.

The night ended with laughter, hugs, and congratulations for all who had told their stories, as well as food provided by The Local, a restaurant out of Covington, Indiana.

Friday marked the second such event in Danville, but "That's What She Said" has been around since 2013, when three friends launched the project in hopes of improving the world for their daughters.

After the first show was a roaring success, the project grew with more shows in Champaign-Urbana, Peoria, Danville, and several other cities in Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana.

Jurczyk, who was took over as producer after the previous year's producer stepped down, said it was an honor to take part.

"I had so much fun getting to know the women of Danville and getting to learn about the businesses and the organizations that make Danville so vibrant," Jurczyk said. "And working at the Fisher Theater is such an amazing experience. It's such a beautiful asset for the community."

For Jurczyk, though, the best part of this year's show was the women who shared their stories.

"It's always a privilege and an honor to spend time with some incredible women and listen to and work on their stories for the stage," she said. "This cast was really special in my heart and I'm so grateful that the community of Danville showed up and supported the show the way they did."

Some of the proceeds from tickets to Friday night's show went to Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center (VCCAC).

VCCAC advocates for children who may have suffered abuse by "bridging the gaps between law enforcement, the Department of Children and Family Services, prosecutors, and service providers during an investigation ... reducing the number of times a child has to retell their story," according to the organization's website.

To learn more about "That's What She Said," check out their website at shesaidproject.com or their Facebook page.