Activist Toolkit

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

 I was motivated to run for Township Trustee because I find great joy in serving my community. I love Oak Park, and I have always had an interest in many of the services provided by the Township. Youth and mental health advocacy in particular. 

As I became more involved in the community, and serving on the Community Relations Commission, I learned very quickly that we are not doing enough to ensure our policies and practices are equitable in Oak Park. 

I am the child of an immigrant, born into a blended family, and the first in my family to graduate high school. My lived experience has made me a life-long advocate with a passion for equity. 

I learned to listen and speak up for others through my volunteer work as a teenager, founding a non-profit for women’s education, serving on the steering committee for the ACLU and organizing with dozens of other community organizations throughout my life.

I am not a politician, I am a civil servant. No matter the outcome of this election, I will always fight for equity in my community.

2. What are the three biggest challenges or opportunities you expect Oak Park Township to face in the coming years, and how would you work with your colleagues to address these challenges or realize these opportunities?

The biggest challenges will be, tackling the devastation left in the wake of Covid-19, assessing, and ensuring that everything the Township does is equitable, and increasing visibility within the village. 

I believe in collaborative creativity. Working together to think outside of the box is always the best way to find solutions. I also would encourage the community to weight in on possible solutions, giving us the best platform to make sound decisions.

Additionally, I will be forthright and transparent about any ideas, plans or issues I may have. Building strong relationships through trust and transparency create better working environments and more creative concepts.

3. How will you balance competing interests, such as your own values and opinions, input from Township staff and fellow Trustees, and diverse views from the community? How would you describe your leadership style and your decision-making process generally? 

As a trustee, it is my responsibility to make sure that every voice is heard. It is also my responsibility to ask questions when I may not understand a differing opinion. Although I may still have the same opinion in the end, residents and colleagues can trust that I explored every option. 

I have a very democratic leadership style. I have learned a lot over the years about who I am as a leader. My idea of a leader as a young adult was totally skewed. I thought a leader was the one in charge, the one who made the rules. I struggled to find the leader in me. The truth is, that is not a leader, that is a boss. A leader is part of the team, not outside of it. I am a leader because I am a good listener, patient, reflective and collaborative. My leadership style has nothing to do with ego or status, I only want the best possible outcome for all, not just myself.

My decision-making process is very reflective. I prefer to give myself space and time to run through the issue and contemplate the positives and negatives. I rarely make snap decisions, and I am always willing to ask for more time if I don’t feel certain. Although, I am willing to make quick decisions when necessary. In situations like we had last spring with Covid-19, immediate action was a must. Leading is not always comfortable, but I will always do what is most effective and necessary.

4. What values would you bring to the budgeting process?  What changes do you favor in the process by which the Township conducts its budgeting and fiscal planning?

The budget is a moral document. My focus at the Township is to promote and ensure equity in all its programs and services.  If we aren’t looking at the budget through the same equity lens, we aren’t looking at the whole picture. 

In a perfect world, if we created the best and most equitable senior program on earth, what would it matter if we neglected the youth services, or mental health services? The proof is in the pudding. 

In approaching the budget, I expect to ask a lot of questions. Before I can approve any budget, I will make sure I understand it entirely, and it reflects the morals of the board and the Township as a whole. I have a lot to learn when it comes to understanding the process, and what is possible. I prefer to see that as a strength because I have no preconceived ideas limiting my creativity.

5. How will you balance the community's desire to decrease the property tax burden with the Township’s mission of providing an array of services and supports to the community, including youth and seniors?

I believed this is most easily tackled by being more visible and accessible. If you don’t know of or aren’t utilizing the Township services, it makes sense that you may feel it’s an area of burden. Education and awareness are the key. The impact the Township creates with such a small budget is incredible. Dollar for dollar, we are really getting a bang for our buck. Everyone in the township can utilize at least one, if not several of the services they provide.  Many people are using township services and may not even know it. 

Easing the tax burden on residents will always be a priority, but it cannot be done at the expense of the critical services provided to the residents of Oak Park.

6. How do you define equity? Have recent discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

Equity is going beyond what is fair, but what is just. Equity is considering all the facets that may impact someone or something. It is embracing the history, lived experiences, and unique challenges of everything impacted. It is understanding that one person’s perception is not another’s experience and listening and learning from it. Equity is creating space for authenticity and individuality without discrimination or oppression. 

Absolutely my thinking has been changed. If you aren’t constantly learning, you cannot fight for equitable change. I have found myself returning to conversations and events that happened years ago and realizing how much I overlooked, often times, I am even embarrassed. The truth is, it’s a journey. I cannot get upset that I didn’t know then what I know now, but I can use it as a learning tool to help others on their journey. The further I get in understanding, the more questions I have. I will never accept that I am finished learning and I welcome every chance to improve.

7. 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?

Making a point to meet people where they are is important. I must reach out intentionally and genuinely. There are hundreds of different social groups, programs, events, and organizations in this community to connect with. When you start talking to people, they are almost always willing to make suggestions and give feedback, but you must make the effort.

The barrier will be getting people informed on township issues in the first place. How can we expect feedback if this is the first time they are hearing about it? We need to make a consistent effort to be visible, otherwise we are limiting ourselves and the potential of the township.

8. Residents often express confusion about the disparate roles of the Village and the Township, particularly in the wake of the advisory referendum on consolidation in 2018. What steps would you take to increase the visibility and community awareness of the Township’s mission and programs?

This was definitely a visibility issue. The Township and the board need to do more to combat this issue by engaging with the community and other governing bodies more often. I believe that consistency is key. Having trustees and staff steadily at events especially those sponsored by the township answering questions and handing out flyers, holding quarterly workshops and info sessions, reaching out to community organizations on a regular basis, and teaming up with other taxing bodies. 

The invisibility and confusion regarding the Township can only be tackled by a multi-level, multi-faceted approach. Just like in advertising, companies don’t just put out an ad once, they repeat it over and over again so that when you are in need of their product, they are the first company that comes to mind.

9. 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?

In particular, while creating an equitable framework for Township policy, all the governing bodies should be working together. I believe the Township has an opportunity to open the door for intergovernmental advocacy and equity work because of its direct work with the community. Those who are most impacted by systemic inequality are also those most likely to need services like the ones provided at the township. 

Working together on something like an equity framework can not only help create community engagement, but it can help with Township visibility, as well as a starting point for more cross body policy.

10. What lessons learned from the adjustment of service and program delivery during the pandemic do you believe will be applicable going forward, even after the pandemic abates?

I think we can learn from more than just the efforts of Oak Park’s governing bodies. As a country we learned that there are other ways of doing everything. It has forced everyone to think creatively. I do think that one negative consequence is, because everything has been adjusted quickly, we have not had the ability to do things in the most equitable and impactful way long term. 

Of course, having to close cooling centers and limit bus riders is not easy, but it does give us an opportunity to reflect on how impactful cutting those services were to the community. We should also continue the telephonic efforts that were increased through this pandemic, as the world becomes more digital, it is important to keep those who don’t have access informed.

11. Private fundraising for a proposed Community Recreation Center has begun. What resources do you believe the Township can or should bring to such a project? How do you see the Community Recreation Center leveraging existing local facilities and programs?

The Community Recreation Center is so exciting because it can be used with all of the Township services. We should be utilizing it in every way we can. I cannot think of a better way to connect all three of the major services. Recreation centers are great for not only physical activity but overall wellness and community. Much of the mission in building the Community Recreation Center is directly in line with the vision for the Township with a major focus on equity. 

I would love for it to be a place we can bring seniors and teens regularly. Where multi-generational, and diverse groups can interact and play. Additionally, health inequity is an issue and a recreation center is a great place to begin to address it. Especially after learning about the health impact on low income communities during the pandemic.

12. What concerns you most about the state of service availability in Oak Park? Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve?

What concerns me most, and what made me investigate the Township in the first place was a lack of understanding of its role. Other than creating a more equitable township, visibility is a major concern. There services are available, but are we doing the best we can to make sure people know they exist? If only a handful of people are even aware, that is an equity issue itself. We need to make sure the people who are most in need, are the ones who know the most. 

13. How will you collaborate with neighboring communities? Discuss a specific initiative you would wish to undertake. What benefits and challenges would you anticipate?

Collaborating with neighboring communities is important to me. I would love to see a youth in leadership program where we can give space and resources to our younger residents who wish to learn about different types of community organizing and governments. Our neighboring towns all have different approaches to government and different needs which could be a great way to spark creativity and inspire.

I believe that it would be challenging to find a structure for such a program while leaving lots of room for inspiration and growth. I think it would take a lot of community organizing to get it started with good mentors who not only have the time, but are willing.
14. 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?

When I was living in central Illinois, I was advocating for a welcoming city ordinance, much like the one we have here in Oak Park. The town was nearly 50/50 in their support and opposition to the ordinance. I spent a lot of time telling my story about the hardships my father faced as an immigrant. One time, after presenting a tearful public comment on the issue, a man stopped me to tell me that he thought my dad should be able to stay in the United States, but he would not support the ordinance. I chatted with him a bit and moved on. I learned later that he had changed his mind and supported the ordinance. 

That conversation made me really reflect on how I could reach that audience better. I realized that connection is the key to understanding. Since I connected with him, in person and with heart, he could understand my viewpoint. I wanted to be angry at him at first, but I learned so much about human connection. I am so thankful to him now because I know sometimes, real connection is how we can get to our goals.

15. Two advisory referenda were added to the ballot in Oak Park in November of last year through a process at the Township. Do you believe non-binding referenda such as these are a useful tool for governance and civic engagement? Why or why not?

I am not sure quite honestly. I think it’s a great way to gather public opinion in theory, but I have seen it used maliciously. It is difficult for voters to know the intent and if it even makes sense. Additionally, many voters do not know it is on the ballot until they are at the polls. That puts pressure on the voter to just choose and that may not be reflective of how they actually feel. I would hate for people to unknowingly vote against their own interests. 

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[The above answers were supplied on 2/19/21.]