Our Work

Past and current initiatives

  • After witnessing the nationwide protests for police reform and racial justice in 2020, we contacted city officials and the Des Plaines Police Department regarding transparency, training, and accountability; in response, the police department published the DPPD Commitment to Community webpage.
  • With community concerns about how to safely and effectively vote in the November election during the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched voter information campaigns throughout Des Plaines with guidance on requesting/tracking/submitting mail ballots, early voting dates and locations, and voter registration.
  • In honor of the late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg we organized a public demonstration to encourage others to speak up, vote, and dissent.
  • With cooperation from Maine West High School’s faculty, we have engaged students in canvassing neighborhoods with voter registration information, and have plans to further involve these active young residents in the future.
  • We assisted Reclaim the Northwest Suburbs in creating an educational, virtual event about racism in the suburbs.
  • In partnership with Maine West High School’s students, faculty, and Maine Westerner student newspaper, we have published local candidate interviews so that residents can be informed for the local April 2021 election.
  • In April 2021 we helped plan the United Against Hate Rally.
  • We have collaborated with the city of Des Plaines to launch the #ShopDesPlaines campaign to support our local businesses which have been affected by the ongoing pandemic.
  • In further partnerships with Maine West High School, we have collaborated on government class presentations, partnered with the GSA, and have worked with other school-based organizations for educational and volunteer opportunities.
  • In 2022, in collaboration with Maine West’s GSA we organized the first annual all-ages Pride event for students, families, and people of all ages to share resources and celebrate.
  • With Maine West High School’s support, we published local candidate interviews for the April 2023 city council election.
  • We continue to explore avenues of public safety through research, conversations with city officials, collaboration with Unity Partnership, and discussions with the Des Plaines Police Department and their social workers.
  • In 2024 we are collaborating with the city of Des Plaines to conduct a community strengths and needs assessment to identify resources and areas of unmet needs to inform local leaders and decision-makers.

If any of this sounds like something you would like to get take part in, find out how you can Get Involved!