Neighbors in the news: Area orthodontist named president-elect of Chicago Dental Society
• Dr. Michael Durbin of Prospect Heights was installed as the 2022 president-elect of the Chicago Dental Society.
With more than 30 years of experience in orthodontics, Dr. Durbin has held multiple leadership positions within the society, serving as secretary, treasurer and vice president in addition to multiple leadership positions with the organization's Northwest suburban branch.
As president-elect, Dr. Durbin will work closely with Chicago Dental Society leaders and assume the role of president in 2023.
He is very involved in the field of orthodontics, holding leadership positions in multiple organizations, including the American Association of Orthodontists, Illinois Society of Orthodontists, Illinois State Dental Society and Midwestern Society of Orthodontists.
Dr. Durbin has also received fellowships from the International College of Dentists, American College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy and Academy of Dentistry International.
For more than 30 years, Dr. Durbin operated a private orthodontic practice in Des Plaines. Since 1998, he has been a partner at Associated Dental Specialists of Long Grove.
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Evanston resident Cheryl Lawrence joined Open Communities, the fair housing nonprofit serving the Chicago area's North and Northwest suburbs, as chief executive officer. Lawrence replaces Mary Ellen Ball, who resigned to pursue a coaching career.
Lawrence, who comes to Open Communities with executive-level experience in both the nonprofit and business sectors, will lead Open Communities at a time when demand for fair housing and housing counseling is at a high point. The organization has seen a record number of requests for services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The Open Communities board looks forward to having Cheryl lead the organization. Her leadership and legal experience are exactly what we need at this time to continue to protect families from unfair housing practices, eviction and foreclosure. We know her passion will strengthen the organization and allow us to do even more housing justice and advocacy work," said Carol Golder, Open Communities' board president.
Lawrence is a graduate of DePaul University and received her JD from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
• Palatine native Arash Abbas spent this fall interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, working behind the scenes in the senator's Capitol Hill office as an intern.
Abbas' responsibilities included assisting full-time staff in responding to constituent related topics, assisting with information inquiries, attending committee and agency hearings and briefings, researching legislative issues and policy questions, and observing floor proceedings.
During that time, he gained firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learned about the inner workings of the federal government, and developed research skills.
Arash is graduating this semester from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service with a major in international politics and a minor in history. He hopes to pursue a career in public service.
• Lake Bluff resident Maeve Summerville, a DePauw University senior, was recently selected as the North Coast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week following her performance in the Tigers' wins over Wittenberg and Oberlin.
Summerville, a forward, averaged 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. In the 83-57 victory over Wittenberg, she matched a career high with nine rebounds while also scoring 12.
She netted a career-high 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a career-best four shots in the 55-50 victory over previously unbeaten Oberlin. Summerville connected on 4-of-5 3-point field goals in the win, including two in the fourth quarter. Her four 3-pointers matched her combined total in the Tigers' first eight contests combined.
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