"Open Hearts, Open Doors: Fair Housing in the Northern Suburbs"

Speaker: Gail Schechter, Executive Director of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs

March 5, 2004

Ms. Schechter has many years of experience in fair housing advocacy, tenant organizing and public policy development, having served at the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs since 1993. She received the "Champion of the Public Interest" award by Business and Professional People for the Public Interest in 2001. More recently, she received an award from the Evanston/North Shore NAACP in November, 2003.

Ms. Schechter organized three major north suburban regional forums on affordable housing since 2000. Leading the first successful challenge to a municipality under the new state Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district, Ms. Schechter was recognized for her work organizing residents of three Morton Grove motels against displacement under the new TIF laws. Ms. Schechter has also founded several grassroots fair and affordable housing coalitions.

Temple Jeremiah is pleased to be one of the founding members of the Interfaith Housing Center.