| Susan
Dancing Star is originally from Westville, Illinois and has lived and worked
mostly in the Danville area. She graduated from Westville Township High
School, Danville Area Community College School of Practical Nursing, and
Eastern Illinois University.
A Licensed Practical
Nurse since 1976, Susan has had an ongoing interest in the mind-body connection
and how thoughts and emotions affect one's health. She received her basic
certification in hypnotherapy from the National Guild of Hypnotists in
Nashua, New Hampshire in 1996. Her advanced certifications include Emotional
Healing Hypnosis and Complementary Medical Hypnosis. Susan is also certified
in Therapeutic Touch Therapy.
In 1997 Susan
started Danville's first holistic wellness center, The Comfort Zone. She
has authored numerous articles for the Danville Commercial-News, as well
as "Lifelines", a column about health and wellness. She offers presentations
for civic and church groups in the community, and teaches an ongoing series
of meditation classes at her office. She also created and taught "Walk
A Path To Wellness", a natural wellness series at DACC.
Susan is a past
Chairman of the Vermilion County AIDS Task Force, and a graduate of Eastern
Illinois University. She has been inducted into the honor societies Phi
Theta Kappa and Alpha Sigma Lambda.
Community
Service
Susan's
community
involvement has included the Vermilion County Animal Shelter Foundation
board, the Danville Symphony Orchestra Guild board, Executive Club of
Danville
board, the HALO project, the YWCA homeless shelter, the Readers Route
adult
literacy program, the Uncle Joe Cannon Toastmasters Club, Provena
United
Samaritan Hospital's Meals on Wheels, Old Town Preservation
Association,
and Altrusa International. She is a member of the Danville Area
Vermilion
Advantage and an alumnus of the Leadership Danville program, class XVI.
She completed her internship at the YMCA after school leadership
program.
On a Personal
Note
Susan is a graduate
of the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program. This led
her to found Earth Friendly Growers Network, a group dedicated to communication,
education and implementation of sustainable gardening and farming techniques
that result in high yields and pest control without the use of synthetic
chemicals. She grows herbs, makes organic herbal health and beauty products
and, with her partner Jim Tanner, sells organic produce to restaurants,
stores and families in the area. She has authored her first cookbook, Cooking
With The Seasons, a companion cookbook and workbook for Midwest farmers'
markets.
In her spare
time, Susan enjoys photography, and has won awards in local amateur art
shows. She also enjoys traveling and has been to England twice to visit
sacred sites. |
