First Responder Wellness Conference
College of DuPage

Members of Unity Partnership attended the First Responder Wellness Conference to get a better understanding of what it’s like to serve on the force and to become familiar with the coping mechanisms officers use in daily life while dealing with an often toxic work environment. Kent Williams from Breach Point Consulting calls it, “The Caustic Risks of Performing Well in Law Enforcement.”    As the promotional materials state, his training is “based upon the principles of Servant Leadership, and how simple shifts in organizational perspective can profoundly reduce the stress, frustration and open anger expressed throughout the typical law enforcement agency. “ There are tools law enforcement officers can utilize to prevent failed careers, marriages and relationships.   “His work on the predictable transitional issues confronting the police officer’s family has led to numerous speaking engagements designed to keep the family of a police officer emotionally and spiritually healthy.”   The benefit of such training is that it allows officers a better perspective on their situation, which can improve their outlook and interactions with others.    Everyday life can be stressful for anyone no matter their career, education or status...people can suffer from many frustrations.  I came away with the hope that these tools might help officers not only in their relationships at work and with family, but in dealing with civilians as well.    I also left the workshop with a new outlook on how challenging police work can be. We, as a society, put a lot on officers’ plates.  It is a unique and very demanding career, one I appreciate, but would not want to take on.
Regina Brent
Unity Partnership
President and Founder

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
 

Unity Partnership is delighted to have been asked to participate in this year’s Cantigny Community Trees Display in the McCormick House.  Seven nonprofit organizations are chosen each year.   Each organization receives a $2,500.00 donation.  Several members of Unity Partnership met Wednesday to decorate the tree.   We had great fun adorning the tree with symbols that we felt  illustrated our multicultural makeup and our organizational mission of bridging the gap between the police and the community.   The trees will be on display until December 30th.   Please come and check out the tree and show your support for our efforts by signing a gift tag.  We’ll add your tag and an ornament (we have both on hand for you)  to the tree making you a part of our community too!.  Visitors can also vote for their favorite tree.  The organization’s tree that gets the most votes receives another $2,500.00.  Cast a vote for Unity Partnership!    For more information about the event, here’s an article from the Chicago Tribune Beacon News which includes a beautiful glimpse of our tree. (Beacon-News Article)

​On Thursday, November 9th, from 7:00-9:00 pm, at the Lisle Village Hall, Unity Partnership hosted its third workshop on Traffic Stops.  Paul Scott, a member of the Law Enforcement Committee, introduced the program and the Police Chief of Lisle, David Anderson facilitated. The session was well attended and was also live streamed.  Chief Anderson explained protocol and explored the challenges of traffic stops from both the civilian and police perspective.  Video segments demonstrated routine stops and an investigative stop, i.e., a driver stopped because her car matches the description of a car involved in a retail theft.  The video segments and the presentation prompted lively discussion and questions, and participants also recounted some of their own past experiences with police. Following the session, participants graciously provided written feedback about what they had learned about best practices as a driver when being stopped, and about the complaint process. Sample comments included, “a complaint about the reason for the ticket is different from a complaint about the behavior of the ticketing officer,” and “the police department welcomes a complaint.” We also asked participants about specific topics that they would like to see addressed in future sessions.   While there are several, one in particular stood out: improving police and civilian engagement.  Our goal is to promote that engagement by continued outreach and training.  Please plan to join us for our next workshop to ensure that your voice is heard.     

Please join us at our second annual Backyard Party.

​The Chicago Urban League hosted the fifth annual Citywide Job Fair on June 20, 2018. Chief Robert Marshall and Commander Michaus Williams of the Naperville Police Department sponsored a booth with Unity Partnership. The department reached out to the Chicago community to recruit minority applicants in order to promote greater diversity. Last year there were 70 employers and more than 8,000 job seekers at the fair.  This year the attendance was even larger.
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Sargent Michael Son and Regina Brent manned the table and greeted several job seekers from all over the Chicago area.  Sergeant Son warmly welcomed each potential applicant and patiently explained the qualifications and the application process for both sworn and non-sworn law enforcement positions.  He was a great representative of the department and his efforts were much appreciated.  It was a good day!

​ILACP Law Enforcement & Unity Partnership, NFP 
host a private luncheonTuesday, January 16, 2018 
12:30 PM
At
The Craftsman Restaurant in Naperville, IL 60563 
In honor of The 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday
Featuring Guest Speaker

• Mrs. Naomi Ruth Barber King

Please view our latest flyer here.

Description here

Dallas Memorial

Backyard party 

Shop with a cop

Texas Roadhouse

This was an evening of fun and laughter as  our surrounding DuPage and Kane counties police officers and youth squared off in a game of bowling against their neighboring departments. The purpose of this event was to familiarize our young people with law-enforcement off-site and to establish a friendship based on the point of humanity. We wanted to build trust between one another for the safety of our communities. Many of our youth have not had non-service contact with police officers who serve and protect in their neighborhoods. It was a great opportunity to develop relationships as public servants and citizens to ensure a continuance of accountability and safety for our communities in DuPage County.

​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.”