Editor’s note: This is the third in a ten part series that is running on dennews.com, celebrating the women of Coles County.

Q: Why is it important to be involved?

A: It’s one of the most creative things you can do with your life.

Gaye Harrison is involved in a little bit of everything.

From performing in the band Motherlode and Charleston Community Theater to directing I Sing the Body Electric, Harrison gives back to Coles County.

I Sing the Body Electric is a program that allows teens from seven counties in East-Central Illinois to learn about important health issues. The teens receive mentoring and materials to create art projects with health and prevention messages.

“One of the most positive effects our efforts have enjoyed is an increase in the level of awareness in the region with regard to teen health issues,” Harrison said.

The program conducts a biennial youth risk behavior survey that provides data for public health departments, prevention professionals and educators to help evaluate teen health status, support grant funding and execute plans that have a positive effect on the teen population, said Harrison. The program has been found to have a positive effect on the attitudes of teens towards alcohol, drugs and peer mentoring.

“Gaye’s mark can be seen in every area; from her mentoring of high school students working on art projects to her ability for writing program sustaining grant requests,” said Lois Cummings, Body Electric Secretary.

The program is a coalition between Eastern, the Regional Office of Education, Lake Land Community College, Paris Community Hospital and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.

“She is responsible for the I Sing the Body Electric program and has been the leadership and energy in its creation and growth,” said Vallery Mullens, vice president of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundations.

“This program has won several awards at the state and national levels,” Mullens said. “Largely due to Gaye’s enthusiastic leadership.”

Harrison expressed her enthusiasm for the program when she applied.

“I learned about Body Electric when it was on the drawing board,” Harrison said. “I expressed an interest to the vice president of the hospital foundation and when the time came to look for a director, I applied for the position and got it.”

Since then, Harrison has employed 130 interns and 15 graduate assistants from Eastern. In addition to conducting the biennial health survey, Harrison also over sees the annual regional arts and health tour that travels to middle schools and junior high schools. The show features art from the teens that participate in the Body Electric program.

Her co-workers notice her passion for the Body Electric program on a daily basis.

“Gaye is making a lasting difference in the youth of our community,” said Kimberly Uphoff, director of Planning and Healthier Communities at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. “Gaye motivates, inspires and empowers youth to make healthy choices.”

“She is passionate about giving our area youth the opportunity to express themselves by creating art projects on healthy life style themes and then to tour these projects to younger students and the community,” said Cummings.

“I admire her free spirit, creativity, collaborative approach and the passion she has for youth and health prevention,” Uphoff said. “She is a positive influence in the lives of many.”

Besides I Sing the Body Electric, Harrison is actively involved in the arts in Charleston. She is a fiddle player for local trio, Motherlode.

“Being part of a musical trio for 16 years has taught me the true joy of friendship and how a personal passion for music can be shared with and for the benefit of my community,” said Harrison.

In addition to music, Harrison has also worked at the Charleston Community Theater, direction the play “Master Class,” as well as doing all the graphic design work for the theater.

“Gaye seems to be a master of everything,” said Anne Higley of the Charleston Community Theater. “She’s one of those people who contributes to the community on multiple levels and makes Coles County a better place to live.”

Higley worked with Harrison on the Board of Directors for the Charleston Community Theater. Working closely with Harrison allowed Higley to see all the small, good deeds Harrison does.

“As a member of a local drama study club, Gaye would often drive one of the club’s senior members to and from meetings,” Higley said. “This woman had been with the club for more than 50 years, and Gaye wasn’t about to let her miss out on the monthly shows, the woman, who is now in her 80s, loved so dearly.”

One of the ways she makes Coles County a better place to live is by working on the behalf of poor and working class to ensure that they get the health care that they deserve.

“She’s an activist with a heart,” Higley said. “Often she works as a one-woman information clearinghouse on local, state and national issues, particularly those that have to do with improving the health and welfare of the poor and working class.'”

In addition to working on behalf of the poor and working class, Harrison uses her past as a graphic designer to design posters, flyers and brochures for various events. She, along with the other members of Motherlode, volunteer for various charitable events.

“I am finding out how wonderfully effective it is when members of the community work together to make things better,” Harrison said.

“I don’t know when she ever has the time to sleep,” Higley said. “If most of us were to use our time and talents in the same way she does, we’d be spread as thin as Saran wrap.”