At the Justice Project’s quarterly Beloved Community Roundtable, Andrés Tapia, a Senior Client Partner and Korn Ferry’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategist, outlined ways we can foster equitable, inclusive and diverse suburbs that last.

How do social justice causes get support from elected officials? How do we create a culture of collaboration between grassroots groups and City Hall? Thirty residents from eleven suburbs heard from Trustee Heather Ross of Northbrook, who made the transition from a grassroots activist to an elected official, about what she has learned being now on the "inside" about what works and what doesn't in advocacy to the Village Board; and from Rick Marsh of Community Alliance for Better Government in Evanston.

One would think that in the wake of pan-racial demonstrations in support for Black lives last year, Chicago's northern suburbs would have included among their anti-racism pledges plans to create or beef up their human relations commissions. But we've gone backward in Evanston, Highland Park, and Northbrook. The rest of the northern suburbs are no better. Only Wilmette heeded the call. This article by the Justice Project's Gail Schechter is a call to action.

By engaging in the doings of your community and standing with neighbors in all our diversity, you are breaking the silence of the good people. In anticipation of the April 6th local elections, participants from Evanston, Glenview, Highland Park, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Wilmette, and Winnetka reflected on the Principles of the Welcoming Community and where they would like to see elected officials focus.

The Justice Project: The March Continues, a grassroots network of north suburban residents, endorses Joe Biden for President. While we work to make sure no one’s vote is uncounted or suppressed, we must as individuals and as an organization, speak JUSTICE with our votes.