Cagney brings laughter, tears to honorees

CADILLAC - Colleen Cagney breezed to the podium to give a small speech on her experience as a founding member of both Cadillac Area OASIS and Family Resource Center.

She laughed and told stories about early beginnings of both organizations before mergers and large budgets, including a first celebration in an attic with pizza they bought themselves.

However, when she stopped to think about OASIS honoring her with a "Celebrate Women!" award later in the day, her eyes teared up and it was hard for her to speak.

"It's really humbling," she said. "I like to think I represent people who cannot represent themselves."

Cagney was one of four women honored Wednesday at OASIS Family Resource Center's ninth annual Style Show and Luncheon.

Cagney has a background in social work, has been a foster parent and adopted three children with her husband. She was involved with developing community protocols for dealing with child abuse and neglect cases and did a great deal of work relating to family violence and parenting issues.

In addition to being a founding member for OASIS and Family Resource Center, she also was on the original board of directors for OASIS.

Cagney said she can see so many miracles when she thinks about the early days of the center and OASIS.

"I can remember before we had a shelter and we would get a call and need to find housing for a woman. We took people in our homes back then before we worried about cell phones and lepers," Cagney said.

Cagney also said the messages the center tries to teach are getting through.

"My son came home and said in school they learned that yes means yes and everything else means no. We've come a long way," she said.

Cagney joked she was nominated because she was an "old lady" and a mother.

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