On Wednesday, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn delivers his first State of the State address. It’s an inventory of the priorities and plans for the year ahead, and a measure of how the state is doing. So, we’re asking you: How’s the State of Your State? This week, we begin a series of personal reflections from Illinois residents navigating these trying times.

We hear from west suburban mom Katherine Buck, Pamela Bozeman-Evans of Blue Gargoyle Community Services, and Rogers Park coffee shop owner Ruth Hoekwater.