• The Justice & Peace Commission of the Chicago Province of the Society of the Divine Word is honored to present the 2005 BridgeBuilder Award to Gail Schechter of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs of Chicago, IL. This recognition is for Gail Schechter’s tireless work and energetic vision in bringing together diverse groups and individuals in the common search for dialogue and unity. Gail has sought the goal of creating welcoming communities in many ways, and principally in the quest to create inclusive and fair housing in Chicago’s northern suburbs.

• The BridgeBuilder Award recognizes the outstanding service of individuals who have built bridges of dialogue, cooperation and understanding among diverse groups and communities in Chicago’s northern suburbs. This award is presented to a person who has have given time and effort - not in just talking about unity - but in doing the deeds and actions that bring people together.

• We recognize that today we live in an enormously diverse world that continues to get smaller. The BridgeBuilder Award honors people who are engaged in the task of creating bridges of communication and hope and who provide our young people with an example of a contemporary “hero” who is taking a stand, making a difference and building bridges for a better world.

• Gail Schechter is the Executive Director of the Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs. This center is the area's premier advocate for fair and open housing at work in 16 northern Chicago suburbs in th emission of fighting for a fostering open communities of welcome. The Center's membership embraces scores of local residents and over 60 local civic organizations and congregations. The Society of the Divine Word is an international Catholic religious order working on six continents to create communities of love and hope.

• Gail Schechter will be presented with the BridgeBuilder Award at a Dinner during the Northbrook JustStories Storytelling Festival on April 30, 2005.

Information :
www.racebridges.net/bridgebuilder
www.interfaithhousingcenter.org

View a slideshow of the BridgeBuilder Award Dinner

Read about the last year's award winner!