Fisher has passion for making communities better

Published: May 05, 2022

Since her days at Greenville University, Lenora Fisher has had a passion for making communities and neighborhoods better.

A religion and sociology major, she spent one summer during college working at the Olive Branch Mission on the south side of Chicago. There, she provided food, shelter, and services to the area’s homeless population.

“Through that experience, I learned that it is possible to change the direction of a community by ministering to basic human needs,” Fisher said. “But I also learned that beauty matters; if we can create a safe, beautiful, and positive environment, good things are going to happen, and people will be drawn to that space.”

That recognition has led her to a career in economic development. For the past two years, she’s served as director of business attraction for the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council. She held a similar position in nearby Morton the previous two years. Fisher’s innovative and passionate work in those roles resulted in her being named one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in North America last year.

She recalls a time when she had an office overlooking a city, and all she could see was lane after lane of interstate traffic. It struck her that spaces for people had been left out of the growth equation in that community.

Environment is important

“I don’t think most people realize how important the environment in which we live is to our overall well-being,” Fisher said. “Most of our built environment is made for cars and trucks. But people thrive where there is beauty and where they can be with other people. Thus, when you create for people, not cars, that will be a place where people will want to be. Our communities must invest in people; that’s what will pay them back.”

Another notable item on her resume is her service from 2007 to 2009 as the director of field operations for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and transition team. “I am so glad to have been part of the Obama campaign,” she said. “He was a politician who wanted to make changes to improve things in the world. From my experience there, I learned that it’s really important to engage in conversations and work with people who may be different than me.”

Though she grew up in a military family and moved frequently during her youth, Fisher graduated from high school in Tremont, IL, also located just south of Peoria. She came to Greenville University as a presidential scholar, graduating in 2000.

“My education in the religion department was life-changing,” she said. “I learned to think critically and to delve deeply into things. Three professors – Brian Hartley, Ruth Huston, and Rick McPeak – were especially influential during my time there.”

She also holds master’s degrees from American University School of International Studies and Wesley Theological Seminary, both in Washington, DC. Following her work with the Obama campaign, she served three years as assistant director of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. She helped launch the new center by creating a strategic plan, marketing materials, and a strategy to engage the neighborhood surrounding the campus.

Lenora and her husband, Dan Newcomb, at President
Barack Obama's farewell address in Chicago.

Career advice for students

Now, after two decades in the working world, Fisher has some advice for those just starting out.

“In my life, I’ve found my calling by doing – often through trial and error,” she said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated from college, but I just took the approach of doing my best on the work that was in front of me. A particular job may not be what you want to do for the rest of your life, but there is value in all experiences. Nothing I’ve done has been wasted.”

In fact, as she looks back on her path since college, the seemingly disconnected jobs have formed a unique tapestry, each one preparing her for opportunities that came later.

“From this vantage point, I can look back and see things that I couldn’t always see when I was going through those experiences,” she said. “I can see the hand of my creator on my life, and I’m thankful.”