Heather Hill residents were increasingly engaged with the Village of Flossmoor and with each other last year, primarily over the building of a controversial storm water detention basin in their midst, and in November they took a step to build on that effort, forming the Heather Hill Civic Association.
At the organization’s first meeting Nov. 13 about 60 residents came together at Flossmoor Public Library, but the basin wasn’t the only topic of discussion, nor was it the only purpose of the organization.
President Ashly Giddens, among the most vocal opponents of the basin, explained its role in provoking action, noting that many residents were unaware of the project until construction began and they felt excluded by the village. While Flossmoor officials have countered that the village published notices about the project, discussed it in board meetings and held events that attempted to inform the community about the project, the feeling of exclusion has persisted among residents.
“We started the association to bring the community together, because we feel as though we have not been included in the activities going on through the Village of Flossmoor,” she said. “We would have liked to have been involved in that process as equal citizens. We brought the community together to make sure that when things happen in our community in the future, that we are actually included as equal residents.”
Giddens has since announced she is running for a seat on the Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education.

Vice President Dominica McBride said the new organization has a broader purpose, too, giving the neighborhood a chance to develop “collective goals, a collective voice, collective power to be able … to make things happen that are best for our community, best for our children.”
The meeting included an opportunity for residents to meet each other through a bingo-type game that encouraged residents to roam the room, finding common experiences with other residents.
Leaders also asked residents to think about their visions for the neighborhood, writing down imagined news headlines that would characterize the Heather Hill they would like to see in the future.
“Today we are able to get some dreams and visions from the community, some goals,” McBride said. “And from here we’ll be able to construct and shape the goals that we will work on together.”
Maura Teresko, longtime resident and a member of the HHCA’s outreach committee, remembered that the neighborhood once had a homeowners association and pillars that served as a welcome to the neighborhood.
HHCA Treasurer Crystal Cleggett said those pillars represented a more unified community, one that pooled its resources to keep the neighborhood safe and beautiful. That’s something the new organization wants to support. She pointed to the active Flossmoor Hills homeowners association as an example HHCA will take inspiration from.
“I envision this community coming together,” she said. “The goal is to rebuild Heather Hill, for each neighbor to know their neighbor, communicate with their neighbor. Our goal as an association is bringing in those opportunities.”
Cleggett is running for a position on the District 161 Board of Education.

During the icebreaker activities and an open discussion time, public safety was top of mind for many residents, not just around the new basin, but around matters of crime and traffic problems.
“We want to make sure our kids are able to live in a safe environment where they can feel as an equal citizen and they have the resources they need to grow and thrive,” Giddens said.
Carolyn Rodgers said the new organization looks like it will be a way for the neighborhood to address the communication problems that lead to a feeling of exclusion among residents.
“Now they can get firsthand news and actually know what actually is going on,” she said. “There should be an association everywhere.”
Rodgers is running for a seat on the Flossmoor Board of Trustees.

Barbara Karstrom, who with Linda Rice is on the HHCA entryways and beautification committee, said the new group’s meetings will be especially important for seniors in the neighborhood.
“I think that communication is an issue because we have a lot of elderly in our community and how do we reach out to them? They’re not checking emails, they’re not necessarily on Instagram or social media,” she said. “So for us to be an inclusive neighborhood, for everyone to be able to communicate with each other, to me that’s one of the goals that I want to see out of this group.”
The HHCA’s second meeting on Dec. 11 began to put in action the organization’s mission to provide residents with more information and an opportunity to engage with local government.
District 161 Superintendent Dana Smith was the featured speaker. He provided an overview of goals, projects and issues at Heather Hill School.
Flossmoor Director of Police Services Carl Estelle provided an update on public safety issues. Mayor Michelle Nelson and Trustee Gary Daggett spoke to the group, and trustees Rosalind Mustafa and Joni Bradley-Scott attended the meeting.
Members of the board took care that no more than two of them were in the room at the same time to ensure they complied with the state Open Meetings Act.
More info:
The Chronicle’s coverage of the Heather Hill detention basin project