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ACERCA DE
nosotros

Luchamos por una vivienda justa.

 

Creemos que el lugar donde vive importa, y el lugar donde vive determina cómo vive. Todas las comunidades, especialmente las comunidades ricas en recursos y oportunidades, deben ser accesibles para todas las personas.

 

Open Communities alienta las prácticas de vivienda justa a través de la educación, incluidos los servicios de asesoramiento para propietarios e inquilinos y ejecuciones hipotecarias y la educación comunitaria para hacer que nuestras comunidades en los suburbios del norte y noroeste de Chicago sean acogedoras para todos. Todos nuestros servicios son gratuitos e incluyen asesoramiento y educación sobre vivienda, investigaciones sobre vivienda justa y ejecución.

LEA LA HISTORIA DE UN INVESTIGADOR DE VIVIENDA JUSTA.

NUESTRA MISIÓN

La misión de Open Communities es garantizar que la vivienda en los suburbios del norte de Chicago sea justa e inclusiva.

Hacemos esto educando, abogando y organizando para erradicar la discriminación en la vivienda, en todas sus formas y contra todas las personas, por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, religión, género, identidad de género, sexo, orientación sexual, discapacidad, estado familiar. , o fuente de ingresos.

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Mission
Fair Housing march in 1965

NUESTRA HISTORIA

Open Communities tiene sus raíces en el Movimiento de Derechos Civiles cuando las mujeres locales y los líderes religiosos organizaron el Proyecto de Verano de North Shore para protestar contra la discriminación en la vivienda. El grupo culminó sus actividades con una manifestación en Winnetka Village Green en 1965, donde el Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. habló ante una multitud de 10.000 personas, su primera manifestación por los derechos civiles en un suburbio totalmente blanco. Después de algunos años de colaboración informal, el Consejo Interreligioso de Vivienda de North Shore fue organizado formalmente en 1972 por un grupo de congregaciones "para proporcionar un vehículo continuo para la expresión religiosa de la preocupación por comunidades más inclusivas y la provisión de vivienda para personas de ingresos moderados y moderados". bajos ingresos."  

 

Durante los años que siguieron, el Consejo creó el Centro de Vivienda Suburbano del Norte en 1977 para brindar servicios de apoyo y la Corporación de Desarrollo de Vivienda Interreligiosa en 1983 para desarrollar viviendas asequibles necesarias en las comunidades objetivo. Tras la jubilación en 1986 de la directora fundadora Rayna Miller, el Consejo y el Centro se fusionaron para formar el Centro de Vivienda Interreligiosa de los Suburbios del Norte, que combina servicios y defensa. La Corporación de Desarrollo (ahora Corporación de Desarrollo de Oportunidades de Vivienda) permaneció independiente. La organización siguió creciendo y expandiéndose en respuesta a los desafíos cambiantes que enfrentan las comunidades y, en 2012, cambió su nombre a Open Communities.

History
Board

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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President

Years ago, Herb Brenner came to Open Communities as a Fair Housing tester. He has advocated for affordable housing, created the Northbrook Working Family Coalition, and promoted the Cook County minimum wage and paid sick leave ordinances. Professionally, Herb is a CPA who specializes in taxation. He lives in Northbrook with his partner, Patti.

HERBERT BRENNER

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Board Member

Adam Klinger is a real estate professional and president of Greenwood Beach Partners, a boutique investment firm specializing in the acquisition and asset management of class A/B multifamily housing. Adam holds an MBA in Accounting and Finance from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in History from Lake Forest College. Adam has two adult children and lives in Evanston with his wife, Amy, and dog, Lily.

ADAM KLINGER

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Board Member

Rose Shapiro, MSW, is the Community Development Manager at JCUA, an organization bringing together the Jewish community to pursue justice in partnership with neighbors across the state. She manages the Community Ventures Program, a zero-interest loan fund for affordable housing and economic development projects. Rose is grateful to be part of Open Communities, an organization with endless care for clients and dedication to the pursuit of fair housing.

ROSE SHAPIRO

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Vice-President/Treasurer

Jessica Flores was born in Mexico City and grew up in Chicago's West Town community. She is a first-generation college graduate with more than fifteen years of leadership experience in the nonprofit social service and education sector. Currently, she is the Director of Innovation, Economic Mobility Partnerships at Feeding America., As a Board member, she looks to continue to center neighbors by supporting the mission to eradicate housing discrimination.

JESSICA FLORES

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Secretary

Emily Love has practiced exclusively in immigration and nationality law since 1993. In 1999, she opened the Law Office of Emily Love, P.C., in Evanston. Throughout her career, Emily has collaborated with various local and national nonprofit immigrant and refugee legal services agencies. She has witnessed first-hand how housing discrimination affects immigrants and joined Open Communities to help put an end to it. She lives in Highland Park with her family. 

EMILY LOVE

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Board Member

Roger Williams is a real estate broker who is committed to racial equity, justice and mercy. Roger is also a board member of Championing Racial Equity Work in District 65 (CREW65) and previously served as president of the Organization for Positive Action and Leadership (OPAL). After entering the real estate business, Roger became aware of the historical and present injustices that have led to race-based housing and wealth disparities in our community. Roger holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He has lived in the Evanston/Skokie community with his wife for more than 44 years and has 2 adult daughters.

ROGER WILLIAMS

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Board Member

Carol Golder is a retired marketing professional who is passionate about justice and equality. This passion led her to Open Communities, where she uses her boundless energy to work to make fair and diverse housing a reality in the north and northwestern suburbs. Carol has served on a variety of boards in the area. She resides in Glencoe with her husband, David.

CAROL GOLDER

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Board Member

As a North Shore native and Evanston resident for 30+ years, Grace Miya values the diversity that Evanston brings to the North Shore. Grace is a licensed Realtor in the State of Illinois, with Baird and Warner as her brokerage company. She enjoys cooking, hiking, dinners with friends, and traveling in her spare time.

GRACE MIYA

People

NUESTRA GENTE

Nuestro personal es pequeño pero poderoso, pero nuestra capacidad es limitada. Hacemos todo lo posible para devolver todas las llamadas y correos electrónicos dentro de los 2 días hábiles.

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ANAYELI AGUILAR

Anayeli Aguilar graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2019 with a bachelor’s in Justice Studies and a minor in Criminology and Child Advocacy. She gained professional expertise while working and volunteering in nonprofit organizations. In her previous role, she served as a Case Manager working directly with the homeless population connecting them with community resources. Anayeli is passionate about helping those in need and is excited to bring that energy and passion to supporting those in her community of Evanston. Anayeli enjoys traveling and getting to know new places around the world.

Bilingual HUD-Certified Housing Counselor

SARAH BUCKLEY

Sarah Buckley graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 2019 with a Bachelors of Social Work. She has been working in non-profits for about 4 years, and has gained significant experience in working with individuals and families experiencing housing instability. Sarah has a passion for helping and loves to uplift others to see their strength in the challenging moments of their lives. She is excited to start her journey at OC and be a part of a team that shares the same passion for our community. She loves anything and everything outdoors. Her ideal day is filled with sunshine, live music, and good friends.

HUD-Certified Housing Counselor
HECM Counselor

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CHERYL LAWRENCE

Cheryl Lawrence, JD, has executive-level experience in nonprofit and business sectors. She served as the Executive Director at Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, one of Illinois' preeminent housing and legal-aid organizations. She is excited to bring her many years of leadership experience to support fair and equitable housing opportunities on the North Shore. She lives in Evanston with her wife and daughter.

CEO

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SARAH B. PETERSEN

Sarah B. Petersen, LCSW, is a community connector who uses linkages to create meaningful change for equity and justice. Trained as a clinical social worker, Sarah has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit, education, mental health, and interfaith sectors. Through volunteer work advancing racial equity in Evanston’s public education and civic arenas, Sarah recognizes the central role fair and affordable housing plays in creating inclusive, just, and vibrant communities. Sarah lives in Evanston with her family and loves spending time in nature, reading, and being creative.

Development and Communications Director

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Our Director of Fair Housing shifted towards the policy and administrative side of social work practice after more than a decade of therapeutic work with youth and families in the mental health sector. Inspired by The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, he decided his passion was in the realm of housing justice, organizing and advocating for the human rights of all people to access safe and affordable housing, free from discrimination. He graduated with a Master's  at the University of Chicago's Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice in June 2021. He joined our team in December of that same year.

Director of Fair Housing

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Our Fair Housing Test Coordinator was born and raised in Chicago. She grew up in Public Housing which birthed her passion for criminal justice reform and fair housing/housing reform. She earned her BA in Political Science and Justice Studies at Northeastern Illinois University and her Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Her Commitment to social justice led to internships with Legal Council for Health Justice, CGLA, and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, followed by full-time employment with Legal Aid Chicago and Westside Justice Center. She enjoys watching Beyonce concerts, reading, and watching sports during her spare time.

Fair Housing Test Coordinator

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Our Fair Housing Associate grew up in Chicago and Evanston before attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She studied Molecular and Cellular Biology pre-medicine, but after graduating in 2020, she began to transition to the world of public health and policy. Since then, she has worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA at a nonprofit clinic in Chicago and completed a fellowship with Cook County Government through the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. As the Fair Housing Associate with Open Communities, she will continue her pursuit of knowledge in public health from a holistic standpoint while working to expand organizational capacity through outreach, education, and advocacy.

Fair Housing Associate

RAE LINDOW

Rae Lindow graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in International Humanitarian Assistance. After growing up in Germany, she is passionate about expanding access to green and walkable spaces for all communities.  As a VISTA member, Rae is using her experience to revamp the intake system at OC. She is excited to learn more about the nuances of housing issues and the best ways to help those in her community. In her spare time, she likes to walk around her neighborhood, read books, and make jewelry. 

AmeriCorps VISTA

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SARAH PRICE

Sarah Price, JD, considers herself a lifelong learner. She has spent the bulk of her legal career in the non-profit sector: advocating for the rights of individuals who are homeless to meaningfully access their education, representing tenants in eviction cases, and advising individuals with disabilities about their civil rights. Her combined background in education and law fuels her passion for helping people learn about their individual rights and available community resources. She lives in Evanston with her spouse and two children and is thrilled to be working with a team devoted to ensuring fair and inclusive housing in her hometown. 

Client Services Coordinator

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DALAL BOUDIAF

Dalal Boudiaf's experience in advocacy work has cemented her passion for social justice. She strives to support and empower underserved populations. With her educational background in Urban Development and her strong cultural competency, she helps ensure that the efforts of OC reach community partners and the families in the North Suburbs of Chicago. In her free time, she likes to connect with her friends (the power of a good laugh) and bake (her three children are her best fans). She has lived in four different countries and speaks three languages, and would love to add Spanish to her language skills.

Finance and Administration Director

SARAH DELGADO

Sarah Delgado has a passion for social justice and almost 10 years of housing equity experience. She oversees intake and housing counseling staff, provides direct client support through counseling and community education, and ensures that her team has appropriate training and resources. Previously, Sarah worked in policy and advocacy for Fair Housing rights at the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA). She was also a Housing Counselor, Condominium Program Coordinator, and Interim Executive Director at Lakeside Community Development Corporation.

Director of Housing Counseling & Education

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MAYRA MORENO

Mayra Moreno is bilingual/bicultural and uses her lived experiences and knowledge of overcoming hardship to help others. Prior to Open Communities, Mayra worked as a District 65 Parent Advocate connecting with families most in need through parenting education and support of the parent-child relationship. As a Community Navigator, Mayra provides outreach to the community in Spanish and English to help educate residents about their rights. Mayra lives in Evanston with her family, volunteers for Latinos en Evanston Northshore (LENS), as well as enjoys connecting with friends, nature walks, reading, and watching movies.

Community Navigator Coordinator

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EVE SUBRIN WILLIAMS

Eve Subrin Williams, JD, joins Open Communities with a desire to bring her knowledge of employment discrimination to housing. Eve uses her community outreach and Board experience to expand awareness about housing discrimination throughout the north shore and to build partnerships with new allies. Her 2022 Northwestern University certification in Leading Equity and Inclusion in Organizations offers a fresh lens on how the organization’s Strategic Planning and Equity Audit can be embedded moving forward.

Outreach Community Liaison

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