Fear + Frustration Are Powerful Motivators

I'm not going to sugarcoat it—this week's news about Quaker Oats closing its doors in Danville hit hard. Five hundred and ten of our neighbors, friends, and family members are facing the stark reality of losing their jobs in the next two months. It's a gut punch, no doubt about it.

But what's truly disheartening is the wave of negativity sweeping through our community in the aftermath. Blame is being thrown around like confetti at a pity party, and it's not doing anyone any good.

Let me make one thing crystal clear: no one from Danville made the decision to close that plant. Not a single soul. So why are we tearing down our own community when what we need most right now is solidarity?

It's normal to feel scared, frustrated, and angry in times like these. Trust me, I've been riding that emotional rollercoaster myself. But here's the thing: fear and frustration are powerful motivators. They can either paralyze us or propel us into action.

At Monyok Leadership, we've chosen the latter. We've spent the past two days pulling together resources for our friends at Quaker affected by the closure. We've created free resume templates and rallied HR professionals to volunteer their time to review resumes and offered support and guidance to anyone navigating the job market.

And guess what? We're not alone. Our community is brimming with people who are ready and willing to lend a hand. From Vermilion County Works offering job placement assistance to Vermilion Advantage offering their Job Board and hosting a Career Expo, to companies like thyssenkrupp Dynamic Components hosting their own open houses for employees to check out their options. The outpouring of support has been nothing short of inspiring.

So here's my challenge to you: instead of adding to the negativity online, let's channel that energy into something positive. Let's find a way to help, whether it's by volunteering your time, sharing resources or job opportunities online or simply spreading a message of hope and solidarity.

Vermilion County is a great place to live. It’s a great place to raise a family. There are opportunities here for all 510 of these Quaker employees- let’s encourage them to stay here and find their next opportunity.

Please pass along this email or our Support for Quaker page with someone who could benefit from these resources.