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Wednesday, October 30, 2013
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Tolerance and diversity Author discusses religious understanding with local leaders
Another look at ‘NB&T Square’ Developer hopes to revisit stalled plans By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI jduchnowski@shawmedia.com
Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Eboo Patel, the author of “Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation,” speaks Tuesday to a group leaders from faith-based organizations in the DeKalb area at the Newman Catholic Student Center at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. By FELIX SARVER fsarver@shawmedia.com
D
eKALB – Joseph Mitchell has watched the DeKalb area become more diverse since the early 1980s. Mitchell, co-pastor of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of DeKalb, said when he moved to DeKalb with his family in 1981, there were no black churches. He said there now are probably four black churches in the area. He said he also noticed a mosque being built in DeKalb, which is another sign of the growing diversity of the city. When it comes to crossing boundaries between faiths, the question for him is valuing religion or relationships. “What’s more important? Is it more important that you stand on your religion or more important you engage in relationships with other human beings?” Mitchell said. This was one of the many questions discussed by religious, community and university leaders Tuesday at the Newman Catholic Student Center. Among them was Eboo Patel, founder and president of Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core, who visited with the DeKalb community before delivering a speech at Northern Illinois University. His book “Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation” was chosen by NIU’s First- and Second-Year Experience office to be the Common Reading Experi-
Eboo Patel (right) speaks to Barney Schroeder of DeKalb during a reception Tuesday at the Newman Catholic Student Center. Patel’s book was chosen by NIU’s First- and Second-Year Experience office to be the Common Reading Experience book for the current academic year. ence book for the current academic year. Colleges and universities use common reading experiences to provide incoming students a common academic experience and to explore universal themes such as gender, race or civic responsibility, according to the office’s website. “Acts of Faith” touches on Patel’s life experience as well as his mission to
promote religious pluralism and youth engagement. “This is a component of diversity we don’t talk about very much at state university campuses, but it’s important to many of our students,” said Denise Rode, NIU director of First- and Second-Year
See DIVERSITY, page A5
DeKALB – ShoDeen Construction President Dave Patzelt is ready to restart discussions with city leaders about what he should do with a key DeKalb property. The parcel, which currently holds vacant buildings and signs promising future development, sits on the south side of Lincoln Highway between First and Pearl streets. It’s in the heart of the “Communiversity Commons” area city leaders want to develop as a bridge between downtown DeKalb and Northern Illinois University. After DeKalb City Council members approved ShoDeen’s plan for a 1,592-home subdivision on the city’s northwest side Monday, Patzelt and DeKalb city staff said they are ready to talk about the downtown property again. When first proposed in 2008, the plan for the property was dubbed the “NB&T Square” and called for six mixed-use commercial buildings to be anchored by the new bank building. However, NB&T’s 8,000-square-foot building is the only development that has come to fruition there. Patzelt might present a variety of concepts for the space to plan commissioners, council members and other advisers in December or January, interim City Manager Rudy Espiritu said. “We’re seeking direction from the City Council as to what, ideally, they want on that property,” Espiritu said. Past discussions about the property, which is seven acres
About the site The property on the south side of Lincoln Highway between First and Pearl streets was originally expected to include six mixed-use commercial buildings and a new NB&T bank building. But only the bank construction has been completed.
Online The Daily Chronicle Government Center is your one-stop website for all things government in DeKalb County, Springfield and Washington, D.C. Visit Daily-Chronicle.com/government.
See SQUARE, page A5
Ill. set to issue licenses to illegal immigrants By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
AP file photo
Secretary of State Jesse White looks on during Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the Budget address March 6 in Springfield. White announced Tuesday that immigrants living in Illinois who entered the U.S. illegally may begin applying for state driver’s licenses in December.
CHICAGO – Immigrants living in Illinois who entered the U.S. illegally may begin applying for a state driver’s license in December under a new state law supporters say will save motorists money and make roadways safer. Secretary of State Jesse White said Tuesday a pilot program will begin at four state driver services facilities and a rollout at 21 other locations is scheduled for January. The Secretary of State’s Office expects some 250,000 people
could apply in the first two years. Supporters of the law say many of those people already are driving and that by offering the so-called “temporary visitor” license, the state can ensure more motorists have passed vision, written and driving tests. They also will be required to obtain auto insurance. “I told many of the people that were opposed to this bill: ‘If you’re going to have some illegal, undocumented driver out there driving and then run into you, don’t you think it would be nice if they had insurance? Wouldn’t that be something you would prefer?’ ” said Senate President
Voice your opinion Should Illinois be issuing licenses to people who are not legal residents? Vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com.
John Cullerton, the bill’s lead sponsor. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation allowing the licenses in January, after the Legislature approved it with bipartisan support. Quinn, White and Cullerton all are Chicago Democrats. At the time, Illinois was the fourth state and the most populous to pass such a law. Since
then, seven others – including California – have approved similar measures, according to a report issued this month by the National Immigration Law Center. The licenses are valid for three years and may be used only for driving. They cannot be used as identification for activities like boarding a plane, voting or buying a firearm. Unlike a standard driver’s license, which has a red stripe across the top and may be renewed every four years, the temporary visitor licenses have a purple stripe. License holders must reapply as a new applicant after three years.
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