Community Is an Act of Resistance

Event Recaps

Jan 10

Last night, I had the honor of receiving an award from the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness—recognition for work ensuring that homelessness is not criminalized here in Arlington Heights.

I accepted this award with deep gratitude, but I didn’t accept it for myself alone.

I dedicated this recognition to Renee Good, who showed our community what it truly means to stand up for our neighbors. Renee believed—just as I do—that community is an act of resistance. Resistance to fear. Resistance to punishment-first thinking. Resistance to policies that dehumanize instead of help.

Choosing dignity over punishment.
Choosing compassion over fear.
Choosing solutions over blame.

That is how we build safer, stronger communities.

Homelessness is not a crime. It is a human issue—and a policy failure.

And it demands a response rooted in care, courage, and collective responsibility. Criminalizing people for lacking housing does not make communities safer; it simply pushes suffering further into the shadows.

If we are serious about safety, stability, and belonging, then we must be serious about housing-first solutions, prevention, and policies that treat people as people—not problems.

This moment was a reminder of what’s possible when we lead with empathy and act with intention. And it strengthened my resolve to keep fighting for policies that reflect our shared values: dignity, accountability, and community.

Because when we choose one another, we all move forward.