HP Community Words

   Highland Park we’re loyal ever,             (he wasn’t)   You may win and never lose             (seven lost)   Be it bright or stormy weather,             (it was a beautiful sunny day)   We will fight to the height for you             (from a rooftop)   Highland Park you’ll fail us never             (we are strong)   To your standards we’ll be true             (we stand together)   Whether up or whether down             (we will rise up)   We will smile and never frown          ...

 Most likely to. A game many of us are familiar with. A question often asked, “most likely to return to their hometown to raise their family”. Without hesitation, no matter where I am, or who I am with, my name is unanimously said and each time my reaction is the same. A proud smile. A badge of honor. At that moment I always think to myself “why would I raise my kids anywhere else”.  I wish I could say that these last few days haven’t made me second guess my answer. Even more, I wish that an atrocity like the fatal shooting that occurred in Highland Park hasn’t made me second guess my faith in humanity. My faith in our country.  I’ve found peace in knowing that while the present may not be what we hoped for, our future has the power to be just that. A place even stronger, safer and brighter than any could have imagined. I have seen my community come together to do the unimaginable. Instead of complaining about what hasn’t been done, highland park and it’s supporters will ...

  Although I am not technically a Highland Park resident, I still consider HP to be my home. I grew up in Deerfield but my father and his brothers all attended and graduated HPHS. My grandparents still live in Highland Park.  I used to love listening to the stories about my dad and his brothers as teens in the 80's running around and living carefree in their town of Highland Park. Even the oral surgeon who performed my wisdom teeth surgery last August in Highland Park (located right off Central where the horrific massacre took place) knew my dad and his brothers and described this era as "The Charlie Brown days." Meaning, this town didn't have a care in the world. Friends, Family and neighbors felt SAFE. My grandparents were not worried about their teenagers running around Highland Park with their friends because they didn't have to. No one could have ever imagined that this place we call home would become "ground zero" for another mass shooting.  I alwa...

I’ve been so haunted by the thought of the silence on central Avenue. I finally broke down on the night of July 5th. I spent July 5th out walking and drinking to clear my head. I sobbed until I fell asleep. I’m a quiet crier. The cry I had, while necessary, felt so unnatural. Unnatural because it’s not natural to have to feel this amount of sadness and despair. It might’ve been the shock in my body finally slipping away. I pretended like I was okay until I finally knew I wasn’t.  I’ll never understand. Last Thursday, I went to visit my parents and took the time to walk around downtown Highland Park. Wanted to see what had changed and what was new. My brother working at Zuzus. I went to visit the Landmark where I once managed at. My first job ever. I was flooded with memories of my time growing up in our incredible neighborhood. I’ll admit, I spent my time growing up anxiously awaiting the opportunity to leave Highland Park. Wanted to leave the bubble. We all did at some point. But ...

I was not there   My family was not there  But my community, my people, they were there  My heart was there It is shattered  I feel like there is a crying child sitting on my chest  I am grateful for the heroes and the helpers I realize that our only way forward  Our only way out Is to implement change Real change We are strong together We are HP Strong

  I moved to Israel in 2018. I left my family and friends behind and moved to a place I have always wanted to live, knowing and understanding that I would have to miss big events. Birthdays, deaths, life altering moments. I moved to a place that is known for having occasional stabbings, bombings, and acts of terror. I took this risk, my family understood the risks as well. Last year, for 10 days I ran back and forth from my apartment to the building's bomb shelter. 10 days of sleepless nights, feeling the earth shake, hearing and seeing missiles fly above my head. I still get scared when I hear a motorcycle start or something heavy fall.  I knew the risk I took when I moved here. But I never expected to get the call on the 4th of July from my father, who with my mother was running Deerfield's big celebration breakfast. Dad said "we are ok, but they shut us down early. Mom is very upset. There is an active shooting happening at the Highland Park parade. Call your friends an...

  I moved to Highland Park when I was twelve, in the summer before 7th grade. It wasn't my first move, nor would it be my last, but I was still apprehensive and unsure. Moving is difficult as a kid: you have to start from scratch every time, laying down new roots. The move to Highland Park was like no other. People were so welcoming, the community was so vibrant. The minute I got there, I belonged. And I knew that I belonged, because people made me feel it. In the halls of Edgewood and HPHS, on the soccer field and the track, along Central Ave in HP and Sheridan Rd in Highwood, I forged lifelong childhood memories that fill me with warmth. Highland Park is so special to me. It's more than just a place that welcomed me and my family. It's where I was introduced to Jewish life, hopping from bar to bat mitzvah and being invited to family Chanukah parties. This proved to be formational, as I've since converted to Judaism and thrown myself into my own Jewish community.  It...

I find myself in a land of in-between, where my heart and soul are stuck in time, grieving, while the rest of the world moves on around me. Where a scroll through social media abruptly shifts from powerful posts about gun violence to someone dancing around their kitchen, and then to a cat falling off a swing. Where people at work in meetings ask how everyone’s 4th of July weekend was- unfazed- and me being confused by the question, because how could it be good? Where people asked “Did you hear about the shooting? My husband’s friend from work’s uncle is from there” not realizing where I am from. Do I lie and say ‘fine”- wouldn’t want to be a buzzkill? Do I hit them with the reality just to remind them that it happened at all? After all, 3 days is the amount of time it takes the rest of the world to get over a mass shooting.     I find myself realizing the unique impact this has had on our lives. As someone who loves rules, black and white, a clear path, and drawn-out plays in ...

 Three missed calls and a text from Mom saying “Please call me now” at 10:42 am on July 4th as I was getting ready to meet friends. I prepared myself for bad news. I rushed to Google the unthinkable -  “Shooting Highland Park.” There was only one Tweet from an old neighbor. And then -  Dad just left he is looking for Adam, Ethan is trying to get out of Sunset. Did you hear there was a shooting in HP? Are you in Highland Park? There was a shooting  Breaking: Mass Shooting in Highland Park, IL  Are your parents at the HP parade? Are you hearing about it?  Alert: Shooting at 4th of July Parade in Highland Park  I heard 9 people were shot.  Adam is safe, Dad is coming home.  Active shooter in Highland Park.  I heard 20 people were shot.  Turn on CNN.  Ethan just got home.  Olivia are you okay? I heard there was a shooter in HP?? The shooter was on top of Uncle Dans.  Zoom in you can see bodies on the ground. Turn on Chann...

I have not been able to find words to describe the mass shooting on July 4th in my hometown of Highland Park, Illinois. So here it goes.  The 4th of July parade is something that brought me so much happiness throughout my time living in Highland Park. As my dad works for the FBHP, I remember gathering as a child with my family and friends every single year to ride on their float. I have the happiest of memories of throwing candy to people in the crowd and seeing the smiles on the entire community's faces. I then went on to work for the Park District during my summers as I got older, where I worked the carnival at Sunset Park that is held after the parade. I vividly remember all the smiles, laughs, and joy from all of the families and their children enjoying the rides, games, cookout, and, of course, the ice cream trucks.  My dad was at the parade this year, as usual. Thankfully, my family and friends are safe and OK. But, to my entire community that isn’t as lucky, I am so so...

19 years ago at 22 years old, I accepted my very first job as a 4th grade teacher at Ravinia school in Highland Park. I had dreamed of being a teacher from the time I was 5 years old. My passion for working with children only grew with age. I knew the important role a teacher could play in a child’s life. I didn’t just want to teach, I wanted to support the social emotional health of all children. I wanted to provide my students with the tools and skills to handle all life’s challenges. Teaching them the academics wasn’t my concern. I knew I could do that if I could create a safe space for each of them to be who they needed to be. Teaching each and every 9 and 10 year old to love themselves for who they are, to treat others with kindness and compassion, to navigate difficult interactions, and to just show up each day, was my mission.  Today, I look back on all of my classes, all of my students, their families, and their friends. I want to reach out to all them! I want to make sure ...

i’ve been trying to collect my thoughts into sensible words for the past 24 hours but simply can’t comprehend the tragedy that has just occurred in my hometown.   almost every day, we turn on the news to a headline about a mass shooting somewhere far away from our own homes. we are so desensitized to it that when it is not directly affecting us, we grieve for the people whose lives were affected, but then ultimately move on with our days. it wasn’t until this happened in my home, that i realized how quickly the world moves on—and frankly, how disturbing that is. is it going to take every affluent neighborhood across america to experience these atrocities for change to occur? is it going to take government officials’ very own family members to be blown up by rifles for them to change their minds about who can—NO ONE SHOULD—own explosive weapons? and how can you lead a nation with such hypocrisy as to say that you are pro-life, but turn your back when guns are the very thing takin...

Growing up as a closeted gay man in Highland Park, during a time where our community was on the cusp of acceptance of understanding cis-queer identities, my journey has been complicated with this place. What was never complicated about it, however, was the immense love people had for one another in this town. Whenever I went to Walker Brothers, I would see a smiling face of either my dad’s patient or a friend and be able to catch up or even reconnect. When I first moved out to San Francisco after college, it was a group of us from Highland Park that helped establish my foundation in the city and really make me feel at home. And most recently, this past year, I joined The Pride Fund, a queer Jewish giving circle that raises funds for causes at the intersection of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities in the Bay Area and Israel. And then later on, I learned that 5 of the 20-some members of this (let’s be honest: niche) organization as well as the chair have roots in Highland Park. This was a surp...

I was on a run this morning on the green bay trail. I started running towards town when I noticed that the people I was passing were decked out in Fourth of July gear, carrying picnic chairs and wagons with their children in it. I realized I was running towards the parade, and I was so excited. I texted my family saying “the Fourth of July parade right now!” Incase anyone would want to join me. I ran down St. John’s towards central Avenue when I heard the shots. I thought it was a sound for the beginning of the parade- and I took that as a signal it was time for me to turn around since I didn’t want to run straight into the crowd. I noticed some people were screaming- but I thought it was just out of excitement for the floats and the candy being tossed out. I continued on the Green Bay trail the opposite way. My sisters started texting in our group chat that there were gun shots at the parade- and I told them that it was probably police officers firing off rifles to commence the start ...

On July 4th, 2022 the cruelest most unimaginable event took place, in the heart of my home town. In the heart of one of the most tight-knit, strongest communities, and not to mention “safest” communities. But the world cannot simply be deemed safe when individuals are still allowed to purchase assault weapons and rifles, even after showing concerning signs of suicide and threatening to harm human life.  I see a lot of my peers from different communities continuing to live their life, so desensitized to these type of tragedies because they now occur all too often. Mine, my best friends, their parents, their parents friends, my old camp staff, my campers, the entire community is living in a nightmare. Children are orphaned. Children are terrified of going to camp, of going outside, of going to school. Do you understand this? Do you see what is happening? Read that again. This happening in highland park, IL, a community often judged by others due to our privilege. And privilege we hav...

Life isn’t normal right now. I’m incredibly lucky that my family and close friends are okay. But for all of us in/from HP, today isn’t normal. Neither was yesterday, and certainly not the day before. Tomorrow will not be, next week will not be, neither will next month or next year. We will heal and adjust to a new normal, but we will never be the same.   I’ve been on the other side of these senseless shootings too many times. Initially shocked and saddened by the horror of it all, I understand that life moves on and tomorrow’s another day. But on this side, I’m stuck. Regardless of your political affiliation or views, we should all agree that NO ONE needs an assault rifle for any reason whatsoever. A weapon of war, acquired legally in this state by a monster, terrorized my community beyond belief. Yet still, the strength with which everyone has come together these past few days has shown me that we will be okay. Certainly though, these times do not feel normal. I hope no one e...

  WE ALL   Ten years ago, I left my hometown, escaped the bubble to never return again. Yet, it is still a part of me: The manicured lawns and picturesque homes are baked into my 28-year-old identity.   Does it hit so close to home because it is my home? Or because it could have been my parents who were killed? It could have been me who was shot in front of my children.   The bubble of the illustrious HP is forever broken now. The papers will call our city affluent bucolic well-off. Maybe that matters or maybe we all are just humans who grew up in the same town.   We all savored Dairy Queen cones after a sticky summer bike ride. We all tried to evade parking tickets in the Metra station lot junior year. We all knew the feeling of sinking into the Walker Bros. corner booth. We all laid down picnic blankets on the Ravinia lawn and felt the privilege of living next to a renowned music venue, with a stage that transformed as we all strode across at high school gradu...

I feel just guilty I wasn’t there. It’s not like I would be able to have done anything to change the fact, but I feel a sense of guilt that living in another state I can’t be there for my community and my family. I’ve been in the parade numerous times and when I wasn’t we stood on that exact corner every year. I don’t know how to feel other than guilty and devastated. However, I know Highland Park will come back from this together not just in our community, but also with those who grew up there all around the world. 

  My Town.                 I’ve grown up in Mass Shooting America. We practiced active shooter drills at 5 years old because Columbine taught us our schools are not safe. I sat by my locker in high school when the news rolled in about Sandy Hook; I went to 5 th  period right after. I rolled over in my college dorm bunk to read a notification that said 50 were killed in Las Vegas. For each additional tragedy, a new location was added to the list of Something Will Change This Time. Pulse Night Club, the Batman premiere, Virginia Tech, Tree of Life Synagogue, Parkland. Just a few weeks ago, Uvalde and Buffalo. Yesterday, my town became the most recent Everytown to join the list: Highland Park. My town is not my town anymore, my town is an event.               They make jokes of suburban white America hearing loud bangs, which are obviously firewor...