About Us
| What is LCU | What we do | Who we are |
What is Lake County United?
Lake County United is an independent, non-partisan organization of churches, synagogues, mosques, civic and non-profit institutions from across Lake County that have joined together across religious, geographic, racial, and economic lines to fight for the common good on issues of shared concern. Founded in 2003, Lake County United is an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the oldest and largest network of community organizations in the U.S.
What does Lake County United do?
Builds Relationships
Lake County United puts a priority on organizing by building relationships and bringing together the broad diversity of Lake County. Lake County United leaders include Christians, Muslims, Jews, and seculars; blacks, whites, and Latinos; and people from every economic class. Out of this deliberate, painstaking work of building relationships, Lake County United is helping to create a vibrant and inclusive political culture in Lake County.
Wins Victories with Impact
Since 2003, Lake County United has made a significant positive impact on the lives of families in its member institutions and thousands of others across Lake County. Examples include:
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Education –
launched Waukegan to College, an innovative college readiness program assisting more than 30 mostly immigrant students and their families to achieve the American Dream of educational advancement and upward mobility.
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Aging with Dignity –
reversed talk of shutting downWinchester House, Lake County’s nursing home for anyone regardless of means; instead, the County will break ground on a $31 million new, state-of-the-art facility in 2011.
Develops Leaders
Lake County United works with people form all walks of life to give them the opportunity to lead in their own congregations and communities as well as across the metro Chicago region. Through regular training and a steady routine of preparation, action, and evaluation, people from all walks of life are able to develop the skills and habits of strong leaders and to use them effectively.
Renews Congregations & Institutions
Whenever clergy and lay leaders are seeking to strengthen their institutions, Lake County United offers training and support on how to use organizing tools and techniques in revitalizing and renewing leadership teams and a clear sense of mission and direction.With the IAF, Lake County recently published Effective Organizing for Congregational Renewal highlighting several local examples of this work.
Who is Lake County United?
Lake County United’s membership includes roughly 35 dues-paying churches, synagogues, mosques and other non-profit institutions from across Lake County. Add your congregation or non-profit to our membership list.
For more information contact:
Lake County United
P.O. Box 726
Libertyville, IL 60048
or call Matt McDermott, Lead Organizer, at 847-266-9803
