Congregations Unite to Tackle Shared Concerns

For the past eight years, Lake County United (LCU) has brought residents of different faiths together to tackle some of the area’s problems. 

“The purpose is to work together on issues of common concern, and try and bring about a more fair and just county,” lead organizer Matt McDermott explained about the nonprofit’s goals.

Founded in 2003, the citizen’s organization now has 35 Lake County churches, synagogues, mosques and other institutions signed up, including several from Deerfield and Highland Park. According to LCU’s website, the participants “have joined together across religious, geographic, racial, and economic lines to fight for the common good on issues of shared concern.”

About 15 years ago Meredith Woods Potter moved from Evanston into Lake County to become more involved “because I wanted--in a sense--to be where the action is,” she said.

Potter, now a Buffalo Grove resident, had become familiar with community organizing and was interested in working with Lake County board members and officials involved in the process.

“I have been involved in various peace movements for many, many years,” she said. “If you want peace, you have to work for justice.”

After retiring, Potter decided to put her energy in addressing local issues.

So when Potter’s church, of Deerfield, decided to become a member of Lake County United, she was on board.

“We have a common goal that goes beyond individual faith concerns,” she explained about LCU. “Working together to make systemic change where there is unfairness and injustice in our community…We help empower people that need this change.”

LCU is currently active with the county government to preserve Winchester House, which is a health care center in Lake County. The organization is also seeking to improve education in Waukegan.

In 2009, LCU launched a college readiness program for immigrant and low-income families in the area. The nonprofit also recently received funding for affordable housing in Grayslake.

The organization is currently working with congregations in Highland Park and Deerfield to come up with ways to support senior citizens who want to remain in their homes.

“The teams that work on issues are made up of people from all different congregations,” McDermott said, who noted that the diversity helps the organization flourish and strengthens relationships between members of varying communities.

“When people do work together--elbow to elbow--and are successful, there’s nothing like that,” he said.