Bonding Together in Times of Uncertainty
Dear Chicagoland Community,
In times of uncertainty, our greatest strength is each other.
As Founder and President of the Gresham Community Center (GCC), I’m writing to you today not just as a leader, but as a fellow Chicagoan who deeply understands the power and resilience that lives within our communities.
We are living through a moment in history that has stirred fear, unease, and a renewed sense of urgency in communities that have long been marginalized. Though I won’t speak directly to the politics that have shaped our national climate, I will speak to the undeniable truth: when those at the top shift priorities, it is our most vulnerable — our elders, our youth, our working families — who often bear the brunt.
Now more than ever, we must turn to one another.
The challenges we face are real — economic strain, social division, and a growing sense of instability that echoes through households across our neighborhoods. But so is our potential.
The strength of Chicago has never come from Washington, D.C. — it has always come from our blocks, our churches, our barbershops, our schools, and our community centers. It comes from us.
At GCC, we are committed to being a beacon of hope and stability during these shifting times. But we cannot stand strong without your help. We need neighbors looking out for neighbors. We need mentors stepping up for the next generation. We need local leaders, businesses, and families to come together with a shared purpose: to ensure that no one in our community is left behind.
This is our call to action. Not just to react, but to build — to build bonds, build trust, and build systems of care that endure regardless of who holds political power. Our unity will always outweigh division. Our compassion will always overcome fear. And our vision for a just and thriving community will always be worth fighting for.
Let us stand shoulder to shoulder, not in despair, but in determination. Let us be the answer to the questions our youth are asking. Let us be the calm in the storm, the light in the dark, and the strength in the struggle.
With unwavering faith in our people,
Dwayne Williams Jr.
Founder & President
Gresham Community Center