Rayna and Marvin Miller, long dedicated to civil rights and open housing in Wilmette and surrounding communities, were founders of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs (then known as the North Shore Interfaith Housing Council), in 1972. Rayna Miller was a founder of Interfaith and its first dedicated Executive Director from 1975 until her retirement in 1986.

Rayna Miller, in an undated Interfaith file photo.

Rayna Miller was a champion for fairness in housing throughout her life. She was among a group of Wilmette women who started the North Shore Summer Project in 1961, a grassroots mobilization of residents to fight institutional racism and anti-Semitism in the housing market, and in 1975 became executive director of the North Shore Interfaith Housing Council, Interfaith's original incarnation. A courageous woman, Rayna was heckled for her leadership in assisting African Americans of all incomes to move to the North Shore and for advocating for affordable senior, family, and group housing throughout the area. Her strong character, commitment and charisma drew hundreds of supporters and congregations to Interfaith and its open housing mission. Her community activism extended to the League of Women Voters of Wilmette, where she served as president, the New Trier Township Health and Human Services Committee, and the Wilmette Housing Commission. She passed away in 2001.

Marvin Miller, at the Wilmette home of Mary Sample in 2002, discussing Interfaith's founding thirty years earlier.

Marvin Miller, who passed away on May 6, 2008, was equally a champion for racial justice, women’s rights, and peace. Marvin was not only a founder of Interfaith with his wife Rayna, but he was a long-time activist for progressive causes including the League of Women Voters of Wilmette, where he was the first man to be an official member, the New Trier Democrats, the North Suburban Peace Initiative, and the Wilmette Community Relations Commission.

The Millers’ credo can be summed up in Marvin’s quotation of Rayna’s “primary guidepost,” at a 2002 meeting promoting affordable housing at Mallinckrodt in Wilmette: “If you have the spirit to struggle, you will have the power to prevail.”

In celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, in 2008 Interfaith established the Rayna & Marvin Miller Housing Justice Award. This new annual award recognizes the outstanding achievements of north suburban individuals to bring about diverse, inclusive, and integrated housing in their own north suburban Chicago back yards.

To be eligible, the nominee:

• Must be a resident of Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Park Ridge, Skokie, Wilmette, or Winnetka; and
• Must be an individual or group of individuals.

Outstanding achievement is understood to result from activities that advance the cause of fair housing and equal opportunity or affordable housing through the nominee’s creative and courageous actions. A nomination form can be downloaded here. You are free to call Gail Schechter with questions, (847) 501-5760, or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to read about Interfaith's first Miller Award winner, Betsy Lassar, the long-time Highland Park housing advocate who was honored at Interfaith’s 35th Anniversary event on September 18, 2008.

Click here to read about Interfaith's 2010 winners Nancy & Lee Goodman of Northbrook (see also the Northbrook Star's full story on the Goodmans, North Shore couple honored by housing group) who Interfaith celebrated on May 13, 2010. Interfaith also honored Highland Park residents Louise Pearson and Jack Henkin with a new Housing Action Award -- recognizing action for justice, one family at a time. (see also the Highland Park News' full story on the Louise & Jack, Couple to get Interfaith award: They helped prevent eviction of grandmother, her adopted child)

Stay tuned for more information on the 2011 applications.