The first Stronger Together Community Engagement Expo on May 4 in Wilmette at the Wilmette Public Library drew patrons to a 90 minute opportunity and conversation starter.
The downstairs auditorium accommodated tables staffed by representatives of local organizations including the League of Women Voters Wilmette, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense New Trier Township and the YWCA Evanston/North Shore.
“One of our advocacy issues this year is gun violence prevention and so that’s why we wanted to partner with Moms Demand Action, that’s their main issue,” said Laurie Leibowitz of Wilmette, Wilmette League of Women Voters co-president. “We wanted to engage the community and educate the community about gun violence prevention, about how you can advocate for legislation that’s pending in Springfield.”
Other topics the public could get educated on included domestic violence and its relation to gun violence.
Left, Laurie Leibowitz of Wilmette, Wilmette League of Women Voters co-president, talks with representatives of the YWCA Evanston/North Shore at the Stronger Together Community Engagement Expo on May 4, 2024 in Wilmette at the Wilmette Public Library. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
“And we wanted also to encourage people to vote,” Leibowitz said, also wishing to inform adults how to become election judges.
Leibowitz said the LWV role is to educate people on how to be involved in politics and how to navigate the system which can be intimidating.
“We see low voter participation in the last primary election in this area,” Leibowitz said. “So what we’re trying to do is to educate voters and encourage them to participate in whatever way.”
Moms Demand Action New Trier Township also presented a Moms to Moms Purse Drive. People could fill a new or gently used purse with a $15 gift card and four personal items to benefit single mothers staying at Cornerstone Outreach homeless shelters this upcoming Mother’s Day.
Melanie Uteg of Lake Forest, volunteer deputy lead for Illinois for Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense, was among volunteers wearing red t-shirts and engaging with visitors. Emerging adults were among numerous patrons.
“The message is that we want people to get out and vote,” Uteg said. “Gun violence prevention is a top issue particularly among Gen Z young adults (who) are in their 20s. They consider themselves to be the lockdown generation who have experienced gun violence and the trauma of gun violence.”
Center, in red t-shirt, Melanie Uteg of Lake Forest, volunteer deputy lead for Illinois for Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense talks to patron at the Stronger Together Community Engagement Expo on May 4, 2024 in Wilmette at the Wilmette Public Library. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
Uteg explained the group’s main priority is to keep communities safe but with elections on the horizon, gun violence legislation is a topic of concern for many Americans. People can visit gunsensevoter.org to get recommendations by Moms Demand Action for candidates running for office with a gun sense safety mindset, Uteg said.
Uteg could not comment on recent demonstrations at college campuses regarding the Israel/Hamas conflict. People have said around the country they fear gun presence at these protests.
“We are all about advocating for keeping communities safe and having not only laws but also education and awareness around gun safety,” Uteg said.
The YWCA Evanston/North Shore promoted the 25th Annual Ricky Byrdsong Memorial Race Against Hate on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16 at Long Field at Northwestern University in Evanston. The group considers this the largest social justice run/walk event in the nation, galvanizing thousands of people who run and walk against racial hatred and violence. Sign up at ywca-ens.org/rah.
Attending the expo was Patrick Hanley of Winnetka, of the 2007 Class of Glenbrook North High School of Northbrook, who brought son Max, 7 months. Max was likely the youngest attendee that Saturday drop-by afternoon and had plenty of adult fans willing to hold the tot while his father had conversations with a cause.
Patrick Hanley of Winnetka, of the 2007 Class of Glenbrook North High School, gives a lift to son Max, 7 months, at the Stronger Together Community Engagement Expo on May 4, 2024 in Wilmette at the Wilmette Public Library. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
Hanley said it is “critically” important for Americans to show up for issues that matter to them like education, democracy and gun violence prevention.
“We’re talking about active shooter drills in schools and I just hope that in 14 years, when Max is in high school, we don’t have to do them anymore, because we’ve addressed gun violence…in a way that actually works,” Hanley said. “That’s why we’re here, that’s what this community is all about.”
Hanley’s neighbor Erinn Martin of Winnetka, Wear Orange lead, wanted to promote Wear Orange Experience, Yoga in the Park on Sunday, June 9 from noon until 2 p.m. at Indian Hill Park in Winnetka.
The first-ever Winnetka Wear Orange type of planned local event is presented by Moms Demand Action New Trier Township and Students Demand Action New Trier. The focus of the community yoga practice is on gun violence survivors. A $25 fee benefits four groups in Illinois working to prevent community gun violence.
“We all get together as a community and everybody wears orange because if you’re in a forest and you’re wearing orange, it means don’t shoot,” Martin said. “We’re all going to hold up pictures of people who have died from gun violence.”
Anyone can sign up, Martin said. See https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOChYMmWR5V9R-AJwQqqZdg2bvkqmiP_fx_bAY_e2zwybjTA/viewform.
Check in begins at 11 a.m. Bring a preferred yoga mat. Yoga practice begins at noon and runs for 30 minutes. Speakers and learning opportunities go until 2 p.m.
Martin urged people not to lose hope and to show up with a confident voice and be present.
“Keep going, keep going,” Martin said. “We’re going to get there. You have to keep showing up because it’s in the process of showing up that helps calm the anxiety and that helps connect you with community which is who is there for you.”
Erinn Martin of Winnetka, center, holds a neighbor’s infant Max Hanley, 2, of Winnetka, son of Patrick Hanley (unseen, but in attendance) at the Stronger Together Community Engagement Expo on May 4, 2024 in Wilmette at the Wilmette Public Library. (Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press)
“We help each other,” Martin said. “We’ll get there.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
