I was born and raised in Libertyville.
- My parents ran a small grocery shop in the area.
Being of African American descent, there were a lot of things that I did not like. However, the town was my home, and I hoped it would be so for a long time. With the wave of change sweeping the country, I knew it was time for a change. During winter, I was doing my best to be part of the campaign team of Donna Johnson. She was vying for the seat to become the first African American mayor of the town. This was such a great opportunity to feel like we truly are part of Libertyville for all of us in the community. Despite the cold weather, we did our best to run the campaign, plus the heating system in the office helped. Come April 2021, Donna was elected as mayor of Libertyville. I was so happy that I found myself crying uncontrollably. Only people in the African American community could understand what such a win meant. Plus, she was the second woman ever in the town’s history to hold such a prestigious position. We went out for dinner with my parents to celebrate. They’d always tell me anything was possible, but I always took that with some grain of salt. But at that moment, there was no doubt in my mind about it. Even in a small town like Libertyville, dreams could come true if I believed. I got a chance to speak with the mayor once she was in office. My goal was to learn what her drive was and how she’d gotten to that point in her life. Her story was truly remarkable and inspirational.