City of Highland Park and local clergy collaborate to meet community needs

Submitted by the city of Highland Park

Representatives from denominations across the religious spectrum met with Mayor Nancy Rotering at Highland Park city hall recently as part of an ongoing effort to address human service needs, increase equity and inspire civic engagement throughout the community.

This group serves as a direct line to the city, strategically enhancing communication and connecting community members to a multitude of initiatives that benefit the day-to-day lives of those who live and work in the area. As part of the meetings, nonprofit partners are often invited to educate and raise awareness of services and critical issues facing the community.

"People often go to their faith and community leaders in search of guidance, comfort and assistance. Too often, they do not know where to access programs, services and even discover opportunities to make a difference," Rotering said. "Since its inception, this group has been vital in forging partnerships, connecting our most vulnerable neighbors with services that address quality of life issues, and bringing the community together to address challenges before us."

The recent meeting resulted in plans to assist with the assessment and communication of expanded transit services available to seniors via the Senior Connector, as well as free income tax return preparation assistance for low- and moderate-income taxpayers offered by Moraine Township. In addition, the group plans to collaborate on drug abuse prevention via Community - The Anti-Drug and assist with raising awareness of specific legal services available at the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic.

In 2013, Rotering created the all-volunteer Human Services Task Force to assess needs and inventory services available to the community. The task force identified area clergy as a group that could help assist with outreach and programs. Beginning in 2014, an ever-growing group of clergy meets quarterly with the mayor at Highland Park city hall. Coordinated efforts, communication and areas addressed by the group include: domestic abuse prevention, food insecurity, promoting volunteer opportunities, gun violence prevention awareness, anti-bullying, inclusivity, and the prevention of child abuse.

For information regarding the local clergy group, call the Mayor's Office, at (847) 926-1008, or visit www.cityhpil.com.

• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.