Educating, advocating, and
organizing to uphold just
and integrated communities
north of Chicago, Illinois
Educating, advocating, and
organizing to uphold just
and integrated communities
north of Chicago, Illinois
On Thursday, April 30, 2009, thirty persons representing elected officials, municipalities, or grassroots fair or affordable housing groups from seven suburbs -- Deerfield, Evanston, Glenview, Highwood, Morton Grove, Northbrook, and Park Ridge -- gathered at the Northbrook Village Hall to participate in Interfaith's annual Fair Housing Month Reunion. This Reunion is an opportunity for communities to share their successes and challenges over the past year in promoting inclusive and diverse communities, solicit advice and support, and get an in-depth perspective on a relevant topic of interest.
This year, the focus was on the housing issues of immigrants in our area, particularly those with low and moderate incomes and limited English capability, and the need for and challenges involved in including their voices in political decision-making.
As Debbie De Palma-Youssef of Northbrook aptly put it during the meeting, "We have diversity, but we don't have engaged diversity."
Professor Janet Smith, Co-Director of the Voorhees Center of the University of Illinois at Chicago, presented data on immigrant housing patterns in the northern suburbs of Chicago. An innovative aspect of this research is a quantifying of the economic contributions of immigrants who live and work in the community, regardless of income.
Prof. Smith's key findings include:
Following the presentation, three women shared their stories of struggle as immigrants living in Evanston (Lugarda Castillo, in a written statement read by Interfaith's Immigrant Integration Initiative Project Director, Alicia De La Cruz), Highwood (Graciela Salinas), and the northern suburbs generally (Maya Gumirov, also with the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, or HIAS).
Interfaith is in the process of developing a set of "best practices" for municipalities to encourage immigrants regardless of income or education to get involved as civic commissioners, elected officials, tenant/homeowners' association leaders, or community volunteers; and will conduct additional research over the coming year with the Voorhess Center to present to municipalities on making the housing stock affordable, accessible and integrated. Interfaith has already created a web page on how to join a commission.
The Interfaith Housing Center's Immigrant Integration Initiative work is underwritten by a three-year grant from The Chicago Community Trust, with matching funding from the Grand Victoria Foundation (for affordable housing advocacy), the Woods Fund of Chicago (for tenants' rights intiatives), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing Initiatives Program. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements, and the interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government.
Stay tuned for the 6th annual Fair Housing Advocate Reunion in April 2010. For further information contact Andrea, (847) 501-5760, or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text93304 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Alicia De La Cruz of Interfaith (left) with Alderman Kathy Murphy-Pieri of Highwood (center) and Graciela Salinas of Highwood.
Individuals participated from throughout the northern suburbs. The Northbrook Community Relations Commission hosted the event, with Chairperson Ray Wehr in the center back, in the dark jacket. Over the last year, Northbrook has held Black History and Asian Heritage events, its annual interfaith walk, and is involving public and parochial school children in organizing a film festival around religious understanding.
From left to right, Dr. Jared Bhatty (Glenview), Nan Parson (Park Ridge), and Debbie DePalma-Youssef (Northbrook).
Nan Parson, Chair of the Park Ridge Fair Housing Commission, speaks of the challenges of getting community support for affordable housing.
Commission Karen Chavers of the Housing Authority of Cook County shares information about the waiting list for senior housing. Ms. Chavers is also Community Outreach Director for County Commissioner Larry Suffredin.
Highwood Alderwoman Kathy Murphy-Pieri shares her pride in Highwood having elected its first Latino Alderman, Quintin Sepulveda (seated to her left). Highwood is estimated to have a population that is half-Latino. Ms. Murphy-Pieri also stated her support for ordinances that further fair and affordable housing.
Terry Cousar reports for the Morton Grove Community Relations Commission. Affordable senior housing is planned, and a gathering to promote unity with the Muslim community, featuring the Council on American_Islamic Relations (CAIR) drew 100 residents.
Barbara Struthers of Deerfield says that community is working on an affordable housing plan.
Alicia introduces the panelists: (left to right) Graciela Salinas, Maya Gumirov, and Janet Smith
Prof. Janet Smith, Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement, University of Illinois at Chicago
Alicia De La Cruz of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs. Alicia shared Lugarda Castillo's experience, which she forwarded in writing when her health prevented her from participating. She wrote, "In 2001, I purchased a condominium in the south part of Evanston. When I moved to my condo, I thought I made a great decision because I will be living with people of different nationalities. But to my surprise I was not accepted as freely as I had hoped. There was some tension between different nationalities. Since I was not of the same nationality and culture, I often had to speak up to be heard but I had some rapport with my neighbors. In 2004, I had surgery which left me disabled. My neighbors treated me differently and had preconceived ideas of me of what I can do and cannot do. I support cultural diversity. But in order to understand and respect one another's different ethnicities we need more education. I believe cultural diversity should be taught in our educational institutions, workplace, and neighborhoods in order to help avoid misunderstandings and conflicts which hinder, advancement, growth and productivity."
Graciela Salinas tells her story: "For 5 years I moved from one apartment to another. To find someone who wants to rent a two bedroom apartment for myself and my three children is almost impossible: in most places they do not want to rent if you are Hispanic, if you don't have a perfect credit and if you have children or they don't want to renew the lease because they think there is to many people."
Maya Gumirov, a social worker and herself an immigrant, spoke of the struggles immigrants face, especially those who cannot speak English and cannot defend themselves when they sign exploitative leases.
Photo Report Author: Gail Schechter. Photos by Andrea Juracek.
