As President Donald Trump’s administration continues to push through reforms drastically reshaping federal programs, Oak Park leaders are looking to lean on local solidarity.
Recently reelected Village President Vicki Scaman said village government has been working to strengthen its relationships with like-minded leaders as it works to navigate the unpredictable years ahead with Trump’s governance. That work has involved outreach at the state, local and national levels, Scaman said.
Oak Park is one of the most liberal communities in the country, with over 90% of voters casting ballots for Democrat Kamala Harris last November. How Oak Park’s elected leaders would respond to the impending loss of federal grant money and other nationwide shakeups was a key topic in the village’s municipal election earlier this month.
Scaman said village leaders have a responsibility to protect the local spirit prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion as the federal climate turns hostile toward such initiatives. That will involve relying on strong relationships both within the village limits and beyond, she said.
“It’s a very difficult time,” she said. “You encounter that by sharing resources and collaborating, working together and supporting each other.”
She recently established a regular meeting with a representative of the Governor’s Office to advocate for Oak Park’s interests, as well as keeping close contact with other elected Democrats, both in Congress and in the State Legislature.
“It’s to have that regular contact person that is accessible to me on a regular basis as we navigate identifying the funding to keep our priorities on track,” she said. “We have kind of a power bloc, and so those relationships are important.”
Another priority is nurturing relationships with Chicago-area communities with similar interests as the village, like Evanston and Oak Park’s partners in the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4), Broadview and Forest Park, Scaman said.
“A lot of us have a shared agenda, and so those relationships are very important,” she said.
These relationships are being built as Oak Park looks to see what will come of this year’s round of Community Development Block Grants, a federal program that has worked since 1974 to help communities support low- and moderate-income residents. Oak Park reported receiving $1.5 million from the program last year, in a village statement published last week, marking “National Community Development Week.”
The village said it used last year’s round of funding to support 17 different local organizations that work on issues like addiction recovery, food insecurity, homelessness, mental health and support for people with disabilities, according to the village.
“These resources allow us to invest directly in projects and services that improve the quality of life for our residents, support local organizations, and promote equitable, inclusive growth,” Village Manager Kevin Jackson said in the statement. “I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished together and look forward to continuing our commitment to building a vibrant Oak Park.”
New grant applications were due by the end of March, and the village’s CDBG committee reviewed new applications at its April 10 meeting, according to a meeting agenda for the group.
The workforce at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the agency that administers the Community Development Block Grants, has seen more than 15% of its staff cut as employees report bracing for an expected 50% layoff at the agency, according to NPR.
Federal community development investment represents just one area that may be drastically changed by the new administration, underscoring why Scaman said she has made collaboration with other stakeholders a priority.
“We truly need to define ‘collaboration,’” she said.