With the goal of inspiring the next generation of leaders, Missouri’s 11 female state senators have collaborated to create a book that tells the story of all the women who have served as senators in the state.
Elaine Gannon, R-De Soto, is one of the state’s current female senators who worked on the 48-page book, titled “You Can, Too! Journey to the Missouri Senate: 36 woman senators share their stories.”
Gannon said a copy of the book will be given to every fourth grade classroom in Jefferson County, as well as to public libraries and schools across the state.
“I hope to be an encouragement to other women, that they can do the same thing,” she said. “Regardless of what your background is and how you grew up, you can become what you want in life with dedication and hard work.”
Gannon said the idea for the book was born in spring 2021 when all the current female senators got together for dinner.
She said the book was released in January.
On June 1, Gannon delivered a copy of the book to the De Soto Public Library, 712 S. Main St.
She signed the book on page 12, which features her story.
Karen Graham, director of the
De Soto Public Library, said she was excited to receive the signed copy.
“Kids now really need hope,” Graham said. “They need to know they can make a difference in their community and society, that they’re important, they’re valued.”
Graham said her favorite part of the book comes at the end.
The last page has the phrase, “You Can, Too,” with a mirror underneath so readers may picture themselves as leaders.
“I love the mirror at the end of the book where they can see their reflection,” Graham said.
Gannon said the mirror is meant to inspire young women.
She said more than 1,000 state senators have served during Missouri’s history, and even though just 36 of them have been women, with the right inspiration, more could enter those ranks.
Graham said the book will be displayed so visitors to the library may easily see it. Then, it will be put into circulation and available for check out.
Cindy Hayes, branch manager for the Northwest Branch of the Jefferson County Library, said she is looking forward to displaying the book when she receives a copy.
“It sounds like a book we could very easily put in a couple of different collections that we have at the library,” she said. “First and foremost, would be our local history collection, and we do have books geared toward younger readers in that collection.”
Hayes said she likes the book’s positive message.
“I think it’s important to show kids positive role models, regardless of gender or race,” she said. “It just helps them to be able to see that no matter where they fit in either of those spectrums that they can do anything; the world is their oyster.”
State Sen. Paul Wieland, R-Imperial, who is helping distribute some of the books to local schools and libraries, said he likes that the book doesn’t focus on any particular political party and has information about local people.
“There is a closer connection than reading a book about some lady who swam across the English Channel,” he said.
Wieland said he had 88 books to distribute and most have been delivered, with the help of state representatives Dan Shaul, R-Imperial and Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold.
The Fox C-6 and Windsor C-1 school districts received their books during spring break, Wieland said.
Gannon said she is working to distribute books to the Grandview R-2, Hillsboro R-3, Jefferson R-7 and Northwest R-1 school districts, as well as to St. Pius X High School in Crystal City, Good Shepherd School in Hillsboro, St. Rose of Lima School in De Soto and Jefferson College, which is based in Hillsboro and has campuses in Arnold and Imperial.
She said 10,000 books were printed.
Gannon said the Missouri Humanities Council, a nonprofit organization founded by Congress in 1971, covered the $60,000 cost to publish the books.
She said state senators are working to distribute the books in their districts and any teachers looking to get a copy may reach out to their state senators.
Books may be purchased online at missouri-life.myshopify.com/collections/books for $14.99.