Over 100 people turned out Sunday at La Grange Village Hall to celebrate the area’s rich diversity.
The annual Race Unity Rally was the latest iteration of an event first organized in the aftermath of nationwide racial unrest spurred by the police beating of Rodney King in 1992. Hosted by La Grange’s CommUNITY Diversity Group, this year’s theme was “Our Common Humanity.”
“This rally is an annual reminder to our community that we need to continue to recognize and appreciate our diversity and work together to make our community a better place for everyone,” Marian Honel-Wilson, the group’s president, said before the event.
The CDG Race Unity Rally has grown over the years to include several other events, including an Antiracist Story Time session last week at the La Grange Public Library and upcoming discussions of the book, “Between the Listening and the Telling: How Stories Can Save Us,” by Mark Yaconelli.
Additionally, CDG will screen the movie, “Caste: The Origins of our Discontent” Oct. 5 and 6 at the La Grange library.
On Sunday, the Caring Place Foundation’s Youth Choir, led by village Trustee Shawana McGee, sang selections throughout the day, including the classic “We Are The World,” made famous by 1980s music stars to aid famine victims in Africa.
Village President Mark Kuchler read a proclamation in honor of the day, declaring the day “Race Unity Day in La Grange” and said the gathering “shows why La Grange is such a great town.”
The Rev. Beth Johnson, of the Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, offered the invocation, calling the event a celebration of “our common humanity and work toward the well-being and flourishing of all of our communities.” She urged people to “pause and connect with our bodies and our spirits and to set an intention for our gathering today. Simply noticing our breath is a reminder of that common humanity. We all breathe the same air … in a web of connection.”
Honel-Wilson read excerpts from an essay on the day’s theme by La Grange Fire Chief Dan Reda, which said “Common humanity is a theme which transcends borders, cultures and ideologies. In a world that often feels divided by race, religion, and politics, it is vital to remind ourselves of what binds us together—our shared experiences, dreams, and struggles.”
Cathy Pierson, program director at the La Grange youth group, the LeaderShop, pointed out that CDG had raised $10,000 for 34 scholarships for children from area schools to attend various summer camps. The applicants for the scholarships were required to write an essay on what diversity means to them.
Essayist Ava Mputu, a second grader at Cossitt School, described diversity as “something with flavor … like ice cream, with happiness, joy, and fun it brings to family, friends, and community around the world.” Sixth grader Devin Cathey, said “diversity is not just a word, but a powerful idea.”
Pierson was also awarded the CDG Diversity Achievement Award.
The 2024 Minnie Carr Community Service Award, named for a community activist from the 1930s through the ’50s who directed the Eastside Community Center and wrote a weekly column for the La Grange Citizen, was presented to Russell Davenport, La Grange assistant Public Works director.
Davenport has worked for the village for 36 years, operated a concrete business, is a church deacon and a longtime volunteer.
“There’s a lot of times in your life when you do stuff, but you never know who’s watching. This paid off,” he said, drawing laughs. “Thank you for this award. I will cherish it all my life.”
Jen Rowe, director of Lyons Township High School Equity and Belonging, brought a group of students, including Artist Dingle-Guynn, who told the audience that simple acts of kindness are essential in a diverse community.
“I moved to La Grange and I feel like when I walk around, as a person of color, you really notice that you’re a person of color, which is something that my mom tells me, to be aware of my color,” he said. “I feel maybe even stopping to say, ‘hi’ would be something nice, and I guarantee that some of you do that.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
