Profiling: Lisa Creason

Lisa Creason, a mother of four, including a son she has custody over, shares her story about turning tragedy into triumph by fighting for Senate Bill 42.
Lisa Creason, a mother of four, including a son she has custody over, shares her story about turning tragedy into triumph by fighting for Senate Bill 42.

One-on-one with Lisa Creason A year ago, almost to today’s exact date, Lisa Creason saw a battle she had fought for two years, finally come to a close. By fighting for the passage of Senate Bill 42, a law that gives ex-offenders a second chance at success, the 43 year-old mother of four, including a son she has custody over, fulfilled a life-long dream. Before the passage of SB 42, Creason was barred from obtaining a license and from working as a registered nurse. Upon hearing the bad news about the license, the doors to her future seemed closed. But Creason’s devastation was short-lived. Instead of taking “no” for an answer, she fought back and won. While sharing her story with Lisette Gushiniere, Creason discussed how she turnedtragedy into triumph. GUSHINIERE: When you were 19, you committed

a crime. But today, you’re a successful mother of four, including a son you have custody over. Under Senate Bill 42, passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Governor Bruce Rauner on August 25, 2016,

individuals with forcible felonies on their records (other than sexual offenses) can seek waivers from the state to obtain health care worker licenses, provided the convictions occurred more than five years prior to applying fora waiver.

How did this law change your life? CREASON: Senate Bill 42 changed not only my life,

but also benefited the futures of my children, which is why I fought so hard for this change. I went from being on government assistance for years, receiving housing assistance, food assistance and medical assistance, to

being completely independent of any and all assistance programs. This bill ensures that myself, and others like me can work hard and show our children the American dream is possible.

GUSHINIERE: Before SB 42 was signed into law, you were told you couldn’t become a registered nurse because under the Health Care Worker Background Check Act, you were denied a license to practice. How did that make you feel?

CREASON: I felt devastated and did not understand. I had done all the right things: I applied for a waiver to pursue the nursing field in 2005 and was granted that waiver. I worked hard as a nursing assistant, went back

to college for nursing and made it through the program - all while telling my children it would pay off in the end. My dreams had come crashing down. But, then God told me not to give up. I knew I could not just sit back and accept the fate that our lawmakers were trying to force upon me.

GUSHINIERE: Senate Bill 42 was signed by the governor on August 25, 2016. It gives ex-offenders like you a shot at a productive career in health care. What was life like for you before the bill was signed? CREASON: Life was what it had always been: a struggle to move forward and progress in a world that restricts felons. We face lifelong restrictions and stigmas that then floods over onto our children. I have been denied housing and jobs due to my record. When you have children, it is hard to explain to them that they are now being punished for something you did before they were even born. However, this bill and others like it are removing barriers so a person who wants to succeed can.

GUSHINIERE: Tell us about the crime you committed that once stood in between you and your dreams? Why did you do it? You are now 43. It was decades ago that you committed that crime. How have you changed? What have you learned from it?

CREASON: The crime that restricted me was an attempted robbery. I walked into a Subway, undisguised and unarmed, and demanded money from the register. It was wrong and an act of desperation, done by a teenage mother who wanted to provide for a child when there were no options left. The changes I have made over the years have come through personal growth, hard work and listening to others. I wanted to show that you can overcome past mistakes. I became humble and grateful, those two things will always keep a person grounded and focused. GUSHINIERE: Explain your involvement with getting

SB 42 passed. What things did you have to overcome?

CREASON: When I called the regulations department to ask what I could do about my license denial, the lady on the other end of the phone told me to change the law. So that’s what I set out to do. I began going to the capitol every day with Amy Snider, a former IDOC worker and friend. I met Senator Manar and then Senator Martinez. For two years, I introduced myself and told my story to any lawmaker, media or organization who would listen. I detailed my journey on social media and gained national support. I wore t-shirts and handed out postcards. Illinois Policy picked up my story immediately and became one of the strongest support systems I could have asked for. Everything I did for those two years revolved around getting this bill passed. GUSHINIERE: Your story goes from tragedy to triumph and now you are a respected member of the community. In 2002, the father of your three children was killed by a stray bullet. What would

you tell other members of the community who might be in a similar position about how to cope with life’s disappointments and how they can work to change their circumstances?

CREASON: The key is to find a positive outlet, to never give up and to keep pushing forward. Many, many days I felt like giving up. But then, I would remind myself that giving up is not an option. In order to change your circumstances, you have to be willing to change yourself. Too many people get stuck in a dark place not knowing how to move forward. You just do it. Before you know it, that dark place does not exist anymore and a trail of accomplishments has replaced it. GUSHINIERE: The tragedy relating to the death of your children's’ father inspired you to found a nonprofit combating youth

violence, which joined with local churches and other nonprofits to form a chapter of CeaseFire in your community. Why is it important to not only rise above ones own personal circumstances, but to also give back to the community?

CREASON: Helping others always makes you feel good. It gives you purpose and reminds you that you are not alone. I wanted to lead by example and show the youth, as well as my fellow brothers and sisters, that there’s a reason to give back. When children lose their parents to death or incarceration, it is easy for them to feel as if there is no hope. However, if they see someone else who has survived hardships - if they see families reunited and doing good - then you restore that hope. GUSHINIERE: In 2012, you enrolled in

nursing school, have since graduated and SB 42 undoubtedly changed your life. How did it make life better for your children and how are they doing today?

CREASON: Well, my children are doing wonderful thank you for asking! My daughter who was one at the time of my offense is now a mother of two twin girls; she, too, is a certified nursing assistant. My 18-year old son just went off to college at Quincy University to major in communications, my other 18-year-old boy - a lifelong friend of my son’s who I also have custody over – is about to graduate high school, and my 12 year old just began junior high. Because of Senate Bill 42, I am now able to provide for them in a way that I couldn’t before. But most of all, my children learned through watching my struggle and victory that they should stand for what is right and help provoke change. GUSHINIERE: House Bill 5973 was also signed into law in 2016 and prohibits the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from barring former offenders from working in a variety of fields unless they’ve been convicted of a crime directly related to the occupation.

The law helps ex-offenders pursue productive careers as barbers, cosmetologists, hair braiders, estheticians, nail technicians, roofing business owners and funeral directors. There are a lot of people working

in these professions and while SB 42 helped you, how would you say HB 5973 helps the others?

CREASON: I’m so grateful that HB 5973 was passed. It amazed me that an inmate can be trained in prison, taught a new trade and made to feel good about it, only to return to society and be told, “Sorry you can’t

hold this license.” It makes no sense. Now, these fields are available for people to pursue.

HB 5373 means more ex-offenders have an even better chance of becoming successful tax-paying citizens, who are independent and free to pursue the American dream. That is a beautiful thing.

GUSHINIERE: When it comes to second chances, how should lawmakers view ex-offenders when making laws? What things should they take into consideration? CREASON: Lawmakers should form a committee of ex-offenders, former parole officers and social workers. I heard lawmaker

after lawmaker say there were unintended consequences they did not foresee, such as in my case, when passing 20 ILCS 2105-165. However, it takes 10 minutes to pass a law and 7 years to correct it. These restrictive laws do not only punish the offender for a lifetime AFTER release, but those restrictions trickle down to the next generation of children, who are innocent, but being punished through no fault of their own.

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