Meet Tonya Hitschmann | Director of Community Programs at the ALS Association Texas Chapter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tonya Hitschmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tonya, we’d love to hear about a book that’s had an impact on you.
I recently read Man’s Search for Meaning. These powerful lessons from the book have stayed with me, they help guide me as an individual, and have compelled me to share with others: 1. The Power of Purpose-and living our lives in that Purpose. 2. We always have the power to choose our attitude in any given situation. 3. There will be suffering – it’s how we react to suffering and our resiliency that counts. 4. Our true test of character is revealed in our action and response, and 5. Human kindness can be found in the most surprising places.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think that living on Purpose-meaning knowing our gifts, using them daily in some capacity, and in a life filled with service to humankind is what sets each of us apart. Years ago, I discovered that some of my gifts include building relationships, healing wounds, and seeing the possibilities. Once I discovered/re-discovered those, I knew that I had to focus on them each and every day. I am most proud of the enhanced education, programming, and support that we have been able to provide to our ALS Texas community in the last few years; specifically to caregivers of all ages, including family members as young as five years-old. As an organization, we displayed bold resilience during the pandemic, saw the possibilities, and never waivered in supporting Texans living with ALS.

Throughout my career, I have had some incredibly strong women mentors. They saw in me things I had not yet seen, and put me in situations to help those traits and skills grow and shine. I try and do the same for other women that I meet. On the flip side, I have also in the past been bullied in the workplace, and it was also unfortunately by women. I truly believe we are all better and stronger together.

We are all better and stronger together – that is what I want our ALS Texas community to believe and know. It is so easy to get on “isolation island” and yet it is incredibly difficult to find a lifeboat off of that island. Connecting with others is a big part of our mental health and self-care. We are very aware of the physical effects of ALS, and what we are still bringing to light is the emotional and mental health components for both those living with ALS and for their loved ones. We want to continue bringing the tough conversations to light, and create safe spaces for our community to be transparent without guilt or shame, and to know that they are not alone.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Stay in the West End Historical District- so much to see here, and the perfect “taste of Dallas” in a day! We’ll start by visiting the Cattle Drive Sculptures in Pioneer Plaza-classic Texas. Then on to Dealey Plaza-The Sixth Floor Museum, and John F Kennedy Memorial. Then on to some culture and art with a visit to Dallas Arboretum, ending the afternoon/evening with dinner at Reunion Tower.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This shoutout is dedicated to our ALS Texas community; those living with ALS, and their family members and caregivers-truly heroes and sheroes tapping in to their resilience and Purpose each and every day in spite of their circumstance, and sharing human kindness in a multitude of ways.

My grandmother also deserves some credit and recognition in my story. She passed in 2002; 20 years ago now, and yet her legacy in my life remains strong. She was the first in my life to model so many of the attributes that I still admire today; determination, empathy, faith, beautiful grace that radiated from within, strength, and compassion. She battled cancer twice, physical and emotional abuse, the death of a husband, and later in life Parkinson’s Disease.

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