On Sunday afternoon, January 6, 2019, members of Unity Partnership kicked off the new year by attending an event hosted by several different faith-based organizations.  This event was held in Naperville at Wentz Hall. Tom Cordaro, from St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, organized the event and served as the moderator. They keynote speaker was from the Sikh community.  Representatives from a variety of faiths shared their reflections.  I represented the DuPage AME Church, and used as my theme the allegory of The Long Handled Spoons, a parable which has become part of the folklore of several cultures.   My message was that sometimes, thinking solely our own personal gratification, we stop caring for each other.  In so doing, we unconsciously harm ourselves since we are all interdependent.

​In reference to law enforcement too, we must realize that both civilians and police need one another.   Acknowledging our interdependence will ensure that we treat each with respect, and achieve our goal of life, liberty, and justice for all.  Remember, change begins with ordinary people, and it can begin with you.
 
Regina Brent, Founder & President
Unity Partnership

There are many times during the holiday season, that I tend to reminisce about the good times shared with my parents and siblings while growing up as a child.  Even though at times things were complicated and we faced our share of challenges, we were all under the same roof and I felt loved. This is not true for many of our youth, who long to be at home with their loved ones at Christmas time.  They may reside in shelters, foster homes and many other places while trying to find their way back to some kind of normalcy of life.  It is our duty as a community to provide some type of additional holiday cheer by demonstrating to each and every one of them that they are loved and cared for, no matter the circumstances. On Wednesday, December 5th, Unity Partnership decided to treat several young ladies from the 360 Youth Services located in Naperville, for a night out with law enforcement agencies from the DuPage County Sheriff's department, Naperville Fire Department and the Naperville Police Department.  Four female officers took the time to come out to Bowlero Lanes to be partnered with the teens for a competitive game.  The counselors from 360 Youth were very excited about the evening and expressed their gratitude to UP for sponsoring the event.  After bowling, we all met and talked. I encouraged all the young ladies to live in the moment and not in the past, because someday they will look back and remember not just the difficult times, but the good times as well. There were hugs and tears of joy in appreciation for the gifts and the trophies they received. It was a wonderful evening!
 
I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dep. Sharon Hood, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, Kathleen M. Anderson, Deputy Chief of Police, Sergeants Sherry Meine and Jennifer Johnsen, Naperville Police Department , Jessica Crowley, Sergeant of Patrol/CIT and Event Coordinator, Naperville Fire Department , and also the staff and residents of 360 Youth Services. Remember, change begins with ordinary people and it can begin with you, too.
 
 
Regina Brent, Founder & President 
Unity Partnership, NFP
 

​Regina Brent is a native of Chicago born and raised on the south side and a sibling of 16 children. She attended DuSable High School and has a degree in General Studies from the College of DuPage. She has one son who served in the US Navy for 14 years; two grandchildren, one of which attends Law School and the other a high school student.
 
Regina Brent is a 2014 retiree from the Illinois Attorney General's office. She served four Attorney Generals for 30 years as an Advocate and Supervisor for the Consumer Fraud Bureau; She had previously served for 14 years in various positions under the leadership of four Mayors of the City of Chicago. Regina have resided in DuPage County since the year 2000. She is a Committeewoman for the Naperville township and Founder & President of Unity Partnership, NFP.
 
“I can remember the first time I became an activist….it was June of 1971. I was 17 years old living in the Chicago Housing Authority project where the elevators continued to be inoperable due to lack of maintenance.  The elderly and pregnant women had to carry groceries up 16 flights of stairs in order to feed their families. The women who were the head of their households became fed up, turned our notebook paper into petitions and led us teenagers in a march straight to the office not far from our home, but to no avail. We figured out screeching wheels get the oil if you go to the corporate office. Most of them were hard working women without degrees but managed to coordinate a successful picket outside the Chicago Housing Authority’s downtown office in order to demand better services and we won.
 
Winning against all odds instilled an abundance of faith in me.  We had championed a system we felt was not only unjust but untouchable. However, we persevered until we were satisfied with the results and resolutions for all parties concerned because we realized change begins with ordinary people. Years later, I had no idea a vision would lead me to try and bring peace among law enforcement and the community.
 
After witnessing so many unfortunate incidents between police and civilians all across America, I’m proud to serve as president of an organization whose members are bridge builders that want to establish trust and relationships needed on both sides. We created this organization to eradicate the myths and stereotypes about one another. Also, Unity Partnership along with the police departments work diligently together to help us reach our goals and to fulfill our mission statement.  We want to elevate the morale and lessen the tension between law enforcement and our residents who live, serve and protect us in our community. We must all come together and work together right now.”