Stories of Local Impact: The DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast returns to record community turnout

Leaders & Legacies: Stories of Local Impact is an ongoing series brought to you in partnership with the Daily Herald and DuPage Foundation. It highlights the inspiring stories of local individuals, families, and businesses who have made or are making a lasting impact for our community through their generosity and leadership.

The series continues with the return of the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast.

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

These words, so eloquently spoken to an audience at Cornell College back in 1962, still resonate and are especially meaningful as the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast resumed after a five-year hiatus.

On Jan. 15, more than 1,200 community members, including leaders from DuPage County’s business, education, government, religious, and nonprofit sectors, came together at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace to celebrate the civil rights leader’s life and legacy.

The original breakfast was the idea of William J. Carroll, president emeritus of Benedictine University in Lisle. Before joining the university in 1995, he had enjoyed the experience and community-building spirit of an annual breakfast in Columbus, Ohio. After settling into his new position, he asked if a similar event existed in DuPage County and was surprised to learn one did not.

His inquiry connected him with a kindred spirit: Daniel L. Goodwin, founder of The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc. Goodwin, who passed away on Jan. 19, was a longtime Benedictine University board member. His generosity and appeal to his network of friends and business colleagues helped launch the first breakfast. In the beginning, it was not free of controversy.

“Even in 1995, DuPage County had certain parts of society that were opposed,” Carroll said. “There were nasty anonymous calls and threats received, which resulted in undercover police on hand to protect breakfast attendees.”

Despite these threats, the breakfast went on to become an annual success, drawing more than 1,000 attendees and raising significant funds for Benedictine University and College of DuPage student scholarships for many years even after Carroll’s retirement in 2015. However, after 2018, the breakfast lapsed.

Getting back to the breakfast

Flash forward to 2023, when community leaders Dan Wagner and Regina Brent set out on a quest to revive the annual breakfast. Together, they created and co-chaired an advisory committee, ultimately enlisting nearly 300 fellow community leaders from across the county to join them in their mission. The two friends (Wagner is senior vice president for government relations at The Inland Real Estate Group LLC, and Brent is the founder and president of Unity Partnership) were deeply inspired by Carroll and Goodwin's example

In describing her vision for the event, Brent recounted, “This couldn’t be just an ordinary breakfast. Besides honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on this one day, it needed to serve the Black and brown people of our communities — and create understanding and trusting relationships between people of color and leaders in the business, education, government, and not-for-profit sectors.”

Brent knows firsthand the importance of building trusting relationships and connections. She and her team at Unity Partnership work tirelessly to eradicate the long-held barriers of systemic fear and distrust that exist between people of color and law enforcement, enabling open dialogue with extreme focus on rebuilding a strong foundation of mutual respect, trust, and understanding that will continue to influence and flourish with every generation. “The strength of these relationships is very important,” Brent said.

All united for one goal

An initial group of 25 leaders from various sectors of the community soon met in a board room at Inland to start planning the breakfast. After that first meeting last February, the number of participants grew steadily and, at last count, totaled 280. “We outgrew the board room after that one meeting, which is a great thing,” Wagner said.

For committee member the Rev. James E. Shannon, pastor of Peoples Community Church in Glen Ellyn, King’s teachings and legacy are especially personal, as King served as his pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, including for his baptism at age 12. Pastor Shannon treasures memories from King’s time at the Montgomery, Alabama, church and expresses admiration for King's “youth, enthusiasm, and leadership — especially his preaching style.”

When Shannon and his family later moved to DuPage County, King’s influence remained with him as he became a staunch advocate and champion for issues such as fair housing and lending practices. He was prominent in the planning efforts for the original breakfast — just as he was for this latest breakfast and intends to be for future ones. He hails the 2024 event as the new “keeping the MLK dream alive,” and said, “When Dan (Wagner) came to me, I was already on board.”

During 2023, the advisory committee enjoyed the hospitality of its members through special events and meals at venues throughout DuPage County, including the Mexican Cultural Center in West Chicago, The Mecca Center in Willowbrook, Cantigny Park & Museum in Wheaton, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple in Bartlett, and the DuPage AME Church in Lisle.

Each gathering inspired not only unity and togetherness, but provided opportunities for participants to engage with one another and learn about various cultures, faiths, and traditions, while building meaningful relationships through conversation and cuisine.

“It was incredibly powerful to bring people together through these events to learn and connect,” Wagner said. “I’m incredibly grateful to Mr. Goodwin and The Inland Real Estate Group, which spent tens of thousands of dollars over the past year to help underwrite events and committee activities. The restarting of this breakfast is a testament to Mr. Goodwin’s legacy.”

Joe Cosenza, vice chairman for The Inland Real Estate Group LLC, echoed Wagner’s sentiments about Goodwin’s generosity and commitment to community building.

“Dan Goodwin was a unifying person,” Cosenza said. “Whether it was his employees, charities, or business — he wanted everyone to come together. He wanted people to know each other — to be aware of what others are doing, and in turn to understand the mission. Just like his business partners, his original roots were in education and teaching. Dan always wanted the next person to learn and to understand ‘why’. He was mild-mannered and knew exactly what people needed — and he gave it.”

For Brent, the gatherings in these diverse locations were a wonderful experience. Reminiscing about the BAPS meeting, she said, “It was one of the holiest places I’d ever been in — sacred, spiritual, and just beautiful to take in.”

These occasions brought committee members closer together and fostered even deeper levels of knowledge and understanding — and reinforced the premise that the months of planning shouldn’t be solely about a single day, but rather a year-round endeavor.

“The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast was not a one-day event but the result of a yearlong process of engaging what I call stakeholders in the movement for civil rights and economic justice,” said the Rev. Janette C. Wilson, national executive director for PUSH For Excellence. “The members of the DuPage County steering committee, coordinated by Dan Wagner and Regina Brent, are on their way to expanding opportunities for all races and creeds in DuPage.”

Bringing the community together

Numerous individuals, corporations, and nonprofits generously contributed their time, resources, and finances to further ensure the breakfast’s success.

The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc., DuPage Foundation, Lorelei Foundation, Wintrust, Calamos Wealth Management, Country Financial, and United Airlines were among 93 sponsors providing support by purchasing tables or providing financial and in-kind donations. LW&CO also generously provided pro bono event management services.

“Wintrust was proud to support and to be involved in this event, as well as the gatherings leading up to it,” said Bob Hutchinson, CEO of Wheaton Bank & Trust, a Wintrust Community Bank. “These efforts will foster unification and understanding as we all aspire to create better and equal opportunities and positive outcomes for DuPage County residents regardless of color, faith, or circumstances.”

Mike Sitrick, president and CEO of DuPage Foundation, believes the breakfast’s continued growth in participation will be one of its key factors to its long-term success.

“This breakfast is incredibly inspiring because it engages people from all backgrounds and sectors of our community,” Sitrick said. “I can’t think of another event in our county that achieves that on this scale. The more we can rally and inspire our fellow civic leaders, area businesses, religious groups, philanthropists, volunteers, and neighbors to connect and invest in collectively solving challenges and pursuing opportunities on behalf of our shared community, the greater success and prosperity we’re all going to enjoy together.”

“The event’s resounding success can be attributed to its inclusive approach of bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to reflect on the values and teachings of Dr. King,” said Mark Wright, president and CEO of Diverse Facility Solutions. “The breakfast’s impact extends beyond the event itself. It will foster a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect that resonates throughout the year, driving community initiatives and empowering individuals to embody the principles of equality and service championed by Dr. King.”

One example of building lasting impact is the creation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Fund of DuPage Foundation, a new permanently endowed community fund, seeded with initial funding from The Inland Real Estate Group. It is designed to augment the foundation’s Community Impact grant program by annually awarding grants to DuPage 501(c)3 public charities that prioritize serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and delivering equitable services in the areas of health, human services, and education.

Net proceeds from the breakfast, estimated at $100,000, will go directly to build the fund. To kick off the fund’s grantmaking, $10,000 of the proceeds are being reserved for grantmaking later this year.

“As a former board chair and trustee emeritus of DuPage Foundation, it’s gratifying to see the foundation continue its mission to connect members of our community together,” said Joe Weidenbach, president of Calamos Wealth Management, an event sponsor.

To learn more about the fund, visit dupagefoundation.org/grants/community-impact.html.

Wagner is optimistic about the possibilities yet to unfold for the breakfast. “Right now, we’re aiming to raise $1 million by year 10,” he said. And when it came to choosing an administrator to oversee the day-to-day operations and disbursements from the fund, he said that selecting DuPage Foundation was the obvious choice.

Sitrick agrees that the committee is off to a phenomenal start in achieving its goal. “DuPage Foundation is in the ‘forever’ business,” Sitrick said. “Growing the fund to that level within 10 years will position it well to ultimately provide as much as $40,000 to $50,000 per year to deserving DuPage public charities, with that level of support continuing to grow over time to help future generations. That’s the power of endowment.”

A New Day

The freezing temperatures during the morning hours of Jan. 15 certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of those in attendance.

The program began with a special collaborative blessing conducted by local religious leaders representing eight faiths and organizations of worship: the DuPage AME Church, CIOGC-Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, the Sikh Community, Congregation Beth Shalom, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church, Cathedral of Grace St. John AME Church, and the Second Baptist Church of Wheaton.

The DuPage AME and The Cathedral of Grace St. John AME choirs combined their voices to deliver soaring renditions of the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Master of ceremonies and retired NBC 5 anchor Art Norman shared his memories with the audience, calling himself “a fly on the wall of history” when, as a 12-year-old back in 1963, he traveled by bus with a group of fellow congregants from the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, to witness the March on Washington in Washington, D.C.

Carroll commended his dear friend, Dan Goodwin, for his unwavering support. He spoke about the ancient Greek myth of Sisyphus who was forced by the gods to roll a giant boulder up a hill that would roll back down once it reached the top. His point to the audience? “We need to keep on pushing that boulder.”

Brent was profuse with praise and thanks for her family, colleagues, and attendees — especially the event sponsors. She challenged donors to “keep coming back” and stressed the importance of donors and sponsors being able to witness the impact that will result from their investment in the new fund.

The introductions were followed by a stirring video tribute featuring King’s sister-in-law, Naomi Ruth Barber King and Babs Onabanjo, president and CEO of the A.D. King Foundation.

The Open Doors Award went to civil rights activist Bob Zellner, whose grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. His life was forever changed by his first encounter with King, which developed into an enduring friendship as the two were often side by side on the front lines challenging racism, prejudice, and inequality. In accepting his award, Zellner thanked those present and said, “It’s important to keep the dream alive,” and that “if he (Dr. King) were with us today, he would say that he’s hopeful for the future.”

“The breakfast was a signature moment because it represented far more than just a group of people remembering Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday — it was bigger than that,” said Dr. Elaine Mosley, educator and educational consultant. “It recognized the interest and concern of individuals who journeyed together through the year and began a deliberate process to connect as human beings.”

“It was a delightful event,” said Judge Chantelle Porter of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. “The community came together. The advisory committee took the time and effort to involve so many of differing race, faith, and socio-economic backgrounds. It brought unity and understanding to a higher level.”

Next year’s breakfast has already been set for Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.

To make a donation in support of the fund or learn more about the annual breakfast, visit dupagefoundation.org/MLKDay.

To learn how you can get involved, contact committee co-chairs Dan Wagner and Regina Brent at wagner@inlandgroup.com or regina.brent@unitypartnership.org.

• The Leaders & Legacies series is brought to you by the Legacy Society of DuPage Foundation. Suggestions for future stories can be sent to Robin Carroll, director of marketing and communications, at Robin@dupagefoundation.org.

Interested in learning more about how you can make an impact or create a legacy for your community and favorite causes? Learn more at dupagefoundation.org or call (630) 665-5556.

DuPage Foundation is located at 3000 Woodcreek Drive, Suite 310, in Downers Grove, IL 60515.