The Power of Community, Part 2

Written by: Shameco Moore

June 29, 2025

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In my last blog, I shared the beginning of my journey with my new employer – Give Something Back. Now I want to share more information about where we are now and how our community engagement has grown.

When I say that we have “partners” that means that they:

1) know our mission and goals

2) we know their mission and community-based goals

3) both organizations have found a place of alignment.

Years before starting with Give Something Back, I learned a great lesson.

I was speaking to a potential partner and explaining everything the organization I worked for at the time could do for them. When I finished, he said, “Yes, all this sounds great. I know we will have an amazing partnership.” And I said, “Sir, I outlined all that we could do for you, but a partnership is two-sided. What do you plan on doing for us?” And I guess he was surprised by that question. But that conversation left an impression on me. Going forward, I would always go into meetings not just with a request, but also with an idea of how we could benefit the potential partner. At Give Back I always look for ways of alignment with partners that would prove mutually beneficial.

I started my position with Give Something Back with that in mind. To date, we have the following organizations as partners:

▪ Aurora Regional Economic Alliance

▪ Bolingbrook Police Department

▪ Boys & Girls Club of Joliet

▪ BUILD (Chicago)

▪ Chicago Bulls

▪ Citgo

▪ Easter Seals

▪ Illinois Tollway

▪ IMPACT-CCRN

▪ Joliet Junior College

▪ Kiwanis Club of Joliet*

▪ Lockport Police Department

▪ Macy’s*

▪ Midland Bank*

▪ Nicor Gas

▪ Pace Bus

▪ Romeoville Police Department

▪ School District 335U

▪ School District 204

▪ School District 205

▪ ServPro*

▪ State Farm – Howard Wright*

▪ State Farm – Susie Sheehan*

▪ St. Joseph Medical Center

▪ Tomorrow Startz Today

▪ United Way of Will County

▪ Will County Center for Economic Development

▪ Wintrust Bank*

▪ YMCA of Joliet

*Also a program sponsor

By creating effective partnerships with the organizations listed above, Give Something Back has made an even stronger impact in the communities we serve. Many of the organizations listed above attended our community engagement luncheon in May of 2023 (1st Annual) and 2024 (2nd Annual). During the luncheon we provided our partners time to network, and we showed our appreciation through awards/certificates. In May 2025, we altered our format and welcomed keynote speaker, Adrienne S. of the Chicago Bulls. Additionally, our founder Bob Carr provided remarks. There were three awards, and fourteen certificates passed out.