Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring to the position you are seeking, and why would those contributions be valuable to River Forest Township?

I am passionate about human services and bringing those services to the people that need them; that in essence is the mission of the Township.  I believe in advocacy on behalf of the populations whom we serve, specifically older adults, people with mental health issues and disabilities, youth and those with financial need. 

I bring a well-rounded skill set to the Township, including education and work/volunteer experience in government, marketing, finance, and non-profit engagement. My personal experience speaks to the Township’s services as well, as I have a wonderful adult daughter with autism and have learned firsthand how to navigate the world of developmental disabilities.

This combination of passion, skills and experience have guided the Township team and me over the last 8 years in taking the Township to the next level of excellence. By creating new partnerships, programs, and services, by delivering services in a creative, cost effective way, and by growing awareness of the Township, we have enhanced the lives of those in River Forest whom we serve. 

As we look forward, we have added new members to our team, and we will continue to make the Township even better and more effective in its work.

2. What steps will you take to improve and expand community engagement with the Township and the Board? What is your view on how to involve residents in the decision making process in the Township?

We very much value the input of residents in the Township’s decision-making process and already engage them in a significant way.  The Township has three volunteer committees, made up of residents with excellent experience and perspective. The Youth Services Committee and the Senior Services Committee are shared jointly with Oak Park Township, with whom we provide those services.  The third, the Mental Health Committee, is unique to River Forest. The Youth Services and Mental Health Committees make funding recommendations to the Township Board regarding programs and services; the Senior Services Committee acts in an advisory role.  

In addition, the Township officials and staff serve on several citizen committees in River Forest and Oak Park, e.g., Dementia Friendly Committee, OP RF Community Foundation, Arbor West Neighbors; this also helps to inform our work as we gain valuable outside perspective.

We have also engaged in the traditional means of gathering community input, either on our own or with our community partners.  This effort includes surveys, formal needs assessments, and listening opportunities.

Can we do more? Yes, we can. In addition to continuing our existing efforts of community engagement, I would like to create more listening opportunities among residents, that is, forums where we can better hear what people need.

3. Give an example of a time when you worked to understand a situation or view different from your own. What helped you to move through that process? What hindered you as you moved through the process?

Several years ago, when I first became Supervisor, the human services side of the Township was not very well known (although many were familiar with our wonderful Assessor’s Office).  Although the Township had always done good work, it often flew “under the radar” in terms of communicating its contributions. Hence, the Township became a target for takeover. While I disagreed 100% with this takeover attempt, I had to understand it, and the motivation for it, in order to effectively oppose it.

We built support for the Township, one person and one relationship at time.  We convinced people that since the Township is only 1% of a property tax bill, that property taxes would not go down if the Township went away, especially since the human services still needed to be provided.  We demonstrated that the Township added value to the community at a relatively low cost, that the Township did not duplicate services with other taxing bodies, and that human services would be in jeopardy without the Township. In brief, the Township was no longer quiet, but loud!

After much hard work, the Township ultimately prevailed, and we have enjoyed several years of productivity, collaboration and value-added service …with many more years to come.

4. Who or what is your role model for your approach to governing?

I am fortunate to have role models across all facets of my work at the Township. In River Forest, we have strong leaders of our taxing bodies, both elected and appointed. We collaborate and communicate well together and support each other in making River Forest a better community. I am also motivated by the many volunteers who serve in River Forest, enriching our community with their talents and experience.

River Forest Township works in close partnership with Oak Park Township in many areas; their leaders have been excellent mentors to me in the areas of seniors, youth, and mental health.

I also respect and look up to the leaders of the many non-profit human services agencies which the Township funds and with whom I work each day. These individuals teach and inspire me with their ability, experience, energy and passion.

Finally, I work closely with other Townships outside of the OP and RF area, particularly those in Cook County. Like River Forest Township, these Townships make a difference and provide value, in a highly cost-effective manner, to those in need. The leaders of these Townships are dedicated and hardworking and have mentored me over my tenure as Supervisor.

5. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing River Forest Township, and how do you intend to address them? How will you prioritize among competing priorities?

Issue #1: how to meet growing needs with limited or no increases in funding from property taxes.  River Forest’s senior population is growing.  The mental health needs of all age groups are increasing. The Township needs to adapt to meet these growing and changing needs.  Yet, Township revenue from property taxes is not likely to increase. We need to work smarter and increase our partnerships with agencies and taxing bodies in the community. We cannot meet all the growing needs, so we must prioritize which are most important to the community and meet those needs well.

Issue #2: how to make residents more aware of Township services and programs and those of the agencies we fund.  River Forest and Oak Park are resource rich.  We have amazing agencies and programs available to our residents; I see this every time we all sit around the table and network.  Yet, people do not often know about these programs and services… or they are reluctant to ask for help… or they are reticent to even admit they need help.  The Township needs to somehow break through the noise and do an even better job of getting the word out about services and programs. 

Issue #3: how to face the threat of consolidation from state legislators, who perpetuate false ideas about property tax savings. Township in this state cost just 1-2% of a property tax bill and provide valuable human services which are not provided by other taxing bodies.  We must continue to work with our legislators to convince them that consolidation of Townships is not the way to save the Illinois budget.  We also need to convince the voters of the added value which Townships provide.

6. What do you believe has been the most significant action taken by the Township in recent years, and why? Do you believe the Township acted appropriately?

The most significant action taken by the Township is to partner and collaborate with numerous agencies and taxing bodies to launch initiatives, projects, and programs.  Through these partnerships, we accomplish things we could not readily or affordably do on our own.  For example: 

• In 2017, we completed a Community Health Plan with the OP Community Mental Health Board (OP CMHB) and the OP Public Health Department.  This Plan has been the roadmap for our mental health and disabilities work in both communities.  

• With the OP CMHB and two local health foundations, we launched The Hub, a closed loop referral and resource website.  

• With numerous organizations joined as the Suicide Prevention Task Force, we launched Support4U, where students can text licensed clinicians 24/7 with mental health issues.  

• With the RF Library, we conduct well-attended cultural and education programs.  

• With Catholic Charities, we host a non-denominational support group for those who have lost loved ones to suicide. 

• With the RF Fire Department, we assemble and distribute packets for the homeless, and we developed the ICE Packet for seniors to document their medical information for paramedics.

The list is quite lengthy. The collaboration touches all aspects of the Township and is the hallmark of our success.

7. What relationship do you believe the Township should have with the other local taxing bodies? How can the Township and other government bodies work best together?

I believe the Township must continue its close working relationship with all the taxing bodies in River Forest and Oak Park; this includes joint programming and open/ transparent communication. This across-the-board collaboration is the backbone of how the Township works best. 

We are small; the Township levy is only 1% of a River Forest property tax bill.  Yet we achieve big things, often because of our partnerships, through which we make 1 + 1 = 3…we “make the pie bigger”. 

We have joint programs with the RF Public Library, the Village of River Forest (including the police and fire departments), D90 and D200. These include our numerous senior programs, the I-Search and Connections programs, ICE packets, the D200 Wellness Collaboration.  We also share many programs with Oak Park Township. 

8. How do you define racial equity? Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking?

To answer this question properly, I felt it was important to research different definitions of racial equity.  This is the one which I believe is most accurate: “Creating a space where one’s race identity has no influence on how one fares in society.” What is entailed in creating that racially equitable space? Further searching provided the answer: “Eliminate policies, practices, attitudes and messages that reinforce different outcomes by race.”  

Recent events have indeed altered my thinking.  Like most, we want to believe that we are not racist…that our organizations are not racist.  However, I have come to see that the Township, and those with whom we work, try to achieve racial equity in our work, but we still fall short.  For example, people of color are disproportionately underserved in terms of mental health. We need to look harder at why and do a better job of removing those barriers. I also believe we should seek out more people of color to serve on our volunteer committees and on our Board in future elections.

9. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing this community in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process?

Obtaining feedback requires multiple tactics if various parts of the population are to be heard properly. For example, surveys are useful, but if you are surveying older adults, it is important to realize you may only hear from that segment of seniors who are sufficiently tech-savvy and can navigate a survey online. You may also need a paper survey which is physically accessible to non-tech savvy seniors…or you may need to meet seniors in person through a focus group or other meeting. 

The key is to “meet people where they are” in order to effectively gain feedback. For example, we have connected with the local churches to do outreach to seniors.  We have worked through the D90 social workers and special ed department to share about our programs.  The OP RF Township Youth Interventionists are also social workers, and they work hard to reach families who may not be experiencing the community in the way that others do.  

When we work on programs related to youth or substance prevention, like Support4U, we often ask the young adults themselves for feedback. This has been highly effective. Social media also works well when communicating with youth. 

10. What is your position on the extent to which the Township includes or should include accessibility features? Please address both physical structures and virtual/information processes.

River Forest Township leases space on the 2nd floor of the RF Civic Center Authority Building, which also houses the River Forest Community Center, Opportunity Knocks and the D200 CITE Program (for OPRF High School students with disabilities age 18-22). The building is totally accessible with an elevator and sufficient parking.  We have a steady stream of older adults who visit the Township Assessor’s Office, for example.  This accessibility exists at the Township Senior Center in Oak Park, and at the River Forest Public Library where we hold many of our programs.  Our agencies, many of whom serve people with disabilities, are also physically accessible.

Regarding virtual/information processes, their accessibility remains an issue for some, mostly older adults 75+.  For quite a long time, we partnered with the RF Library to offer tech classes to seniors. Although attendance dwindled, we hope to offer these classes again in a new and creative way. Township Senior Services still mails a paper newsletter each quarter, to make information more accessible to our seniors. We are finding that over time, of course, the senior population is becoming more tech savvy; it may be that the Covid-19 lockdown has motivated more older adults to “come on board” with at least basic online technology.

11. What are your plans for collaborating with our neighboring communities?

River Forest Township already collaborates extensively with Oak Park Township, as well as with various joint River Forest- Oak Park entities, such as OPRF High School and the OP RF Community Foundation.

We have worked in the past with the senior services group from Forest Park and will continue to do so once Covid-19 is resolved. Led by Arbor West Neighbors, we are also involved in a new senior collaborative which includes our neighbors in Forest Park and Maywood.

Most of the agencies we fund for mental health and senior programs have a strong presence in the surrounding communities.  This includes organizations such as NAMI, Sarah’s Inn, UCP Seguin, etc. 

I do believe one of our goals for the next fiscal year should be to do a project with our Proviso Township neighbors and/or the Austin neighborhood.