Over and again these past two weeks, the Journal has reported on, hosted, or attended events across Oak Park and River Forest where a range of people in a range of roles have actively, passionately, determinedly stood up for the values of diversity, equity, belonging.
These have been unapologetic and unafraid declarations that diversity defines these villages, that equity is core to our values, that standing up for the LGBTQ+ community is a given, that fostering hometowns that welcome migrants is who we are.
It has been gratifying to see this in a moment where the Trump administration is working feverishly to erase all mention of DEI from the public dialogue and wants to deport people by the millions. Under the made-up and, as courts keep declaring, illegal efforts of Musk and DOGE, Trump’s administration works to actively defund any entity — governmental, academic, nonprofit — that dares to express values and make policy around what to us are foundational values for America.
In Oak Park we have elected leaders and candidates, nonprofit CEOs, clergy and activists with the courage to dissent.
At election forums, sponsored by Growing Community Media for the Oak Park Village Board and the OPRF and District 97 school boards, candidate hands shot up when we asked candidates if they would defend current, long-fought-for, policies around inclusion for all.
Are elected officials concerned that federal policies are going to impact their budgets? Absolutely they are concerned. As they should be. Candidates for the OPRF board point out that some 6% of the school’s budget comes from the federal government. And that does not reflect challenges to funding for infrastructure programs as Trump targets projects that dare to mention climate change.
But there is no sign of knuckling.
We have a story this week about the intersection of two vital local institutions. Tony Martinez, for six years the top person at the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, announced he is stepping down and stepping over to a critical post as the lead fundraiser at Dominican University.
Under Tony’s leadership, the foundation has actively, and with intention, broadened its vision beyond the two villages and now sees its mission as focusing on racial equity and social justice across the greater West Side, creating a powerful community needs assessment as its guide. It has shifted its grant-making processes to include new and smaller nonprofits. And at a meeting just recently, Martinez and the foundation board introduced new financial advisors who will actively align how it manages its donors’ assets so that those investments reflect the determination of the foundation to move toward equity.
Dominican is another institution that, over a decade plus, has intentionally embraced a much more diverse student body with a wide welcome to young Hispanic students. That will not sit well with Trump and his MAGA minions. President Glena Temple made a strong choice in asking Martinez to raise more money in a fraught moment.
This is a dispiriting moment nationally. But it is good to live in villages that are clear-minded about our shared values.