To the Editor:

Summer in Chicagoland is a season of block parties, baseball games, and time spent with family and neighbors. But for too many families, it is also a season marked by anxiety as gun violence rises in our communities.

Growing up on Chicago’s West Side, I saw firsthand how violence can shape neighborhoods and limit opportunities for young people. Those experiences taught me that building safer communities requires more than responding to violence—it requires creating opportunities for young people to feel engaged and valued. 

As Clerk of Cook County, I work to connect residents to our democracy and create opportunities for civic participation because stronger, safer communities are built when young people feel seen, heard, and connected to something bigger than themselves.

This year, the Clerk’s Office launched Defenders of DA’mocracy, a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Chicago Bears that placed Early Voting sites inside 24 suburban high schools and trained more than 125 students to serve as Election Judges. More than 1,100 ballots were cast, but the greatest success was seeing students recognize that they have a voice and a role in shaping their communities.

As we observe National Gun Violence Awareness Month, let us remember that safer communities are also more connected communities. By listening to young people, investing in civic engagement, and creating opportunities for them to participate, we can help build a future where every child feels they belong and has hope for what lies ahead.

Monica Gordon
Clerk of Cook County