Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) never thought she would be on City Council.
But when she received the call that her daughter had been shot, the trajectory of her life changed. Fueled by a passion to make a difference in her community, she applied to replace the 2nd Ward’s resigning alderperson.
Harris shared her story with members of Northwestern’s Grounding for Public Service Club on Tuesday as a way to connect students with the Evanston community.
The event spanned topics from the history of Black migration into Evanston, notable leaders like former Evanston mayor Lorraine Morton, and how students themselves could understand their community to make a difference.
“You all can do it, for sure,” Harris said. “You being here means you have some interest in doing it, and that’s important.”
As a fifth-generation Evanston resident, her journey in Evanston politics began at the age of 52. Harris said she was shocked by the issues she witnessed “behind the curtain” — issues she wished she had known about earlier.
But by taking the time to learn about their city, she said students will begin to understand the nuances of their community early on and use their knowledge to produce more effective change.
For SESP sophomore Chase Bell, Harris’ climb to her role in the city and her experience as the “new kid” in politics resonated with him as a new GPS member.
“We won’t know everything,” Bell said. “I’ve learned to embrace that and enjoy learning.”
While new students adjust to NU, Weinberg senior and returning club member Ayesha Mohammed said it is also important to recognize the opportunities that wait outside of campus.
She said learning from people like Harris at GPS events has helped her lay the foundation for this connection.
“You’re gonna be here for four years,” Mohammed said. “It’s important to know what’s happening around you.”
NU’s Associate Director of Leadership Development and Community Engagement, Val Buchanan, founded GPS in 2021. Stories like Harris’ encourage students to make the informed changes their community needs, Buchanan said.
“Even though so many overwhelming things are happening in the world, you can surround yourself with people with hearts like that and with motivations like that to make a difference,” she said.
Harris advised students to “keep our heads” when responding to local and national events.
“We have to realize we have to get in power to make decisions and make change,” Harris said.
Email: [email protected]
Bluesky: @lucaskubovchik.bsky.social
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