Student wants civilized chat about Carpentersville's future
The event may be called "One Voice," but Linda Campos-Moreira wants to hear from 100 Carpentersville residents at a luncheon she'll host Saturday.
Campos-Moreira, 25, of Elgin, says the event, which will run from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Carpenter Park, is intended to get residents talking about their concerns and the village's future.
The constant talk about illegal immigration, which often involves disruptive behavior at heated village board meetings, has overshadowed issues that affect all residents, Campos-Moreira said.
"Only the extreme voices involved in the immigration thing have been heard," Campos-Moreira said. "This will give other people the opportunity to become involved in civic life where they might not have before."
Campos-Moreira, a second-year master's degree student in the University of Illinois at Chicago's public policy and advocacy program, said about 50 people have responded.
Pizza Hut in East Dundee, Old World Pizza in Algonquin and Jamba Juice and White Hen in Carpentersville will provide food and beverages for the day, Campos-Moreira said.
Speakers will include Community Unit School District 300 Communications Director Allison Smith; Lydia Falconnier, a University of Illinois at Chicago professor specializing in mental health; as well as a representative from the local police force.
In addition to the formal speakers, Campos-Moreira said residents will have the chance ask questions or voice opinions, as well as chit-chat among themselves.
"The purpose is to come up with a shared relatedness where individuals can see themselves in each other and realize that at the end of the day, they share similar concerns," Campos-Moreira said. "All residents want to make it a better place to live."
Those who have said they will attend include Carpentersville trustees Ed Ritter, Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski and Keith Hinz.
"Carpentersville is trying to step forward and we are trying to make a unified effort for all residents," Hinz said. "We need to show what has been in the past, or what has been perceived as a divided community, is not the case."
To reserve a seat, call Campos-Moreira at (224) 402œ-1482 or e-mail carpentersville1voice@yahoo.com.