Community Relations Commission

COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WHEATON CITY HALL, 303 W WESLEY STREET, WHEATON, ILLINOIS 60187 Wednesday, December 3, 2025 7:00 to 8:30 pm Gamon Room, Wheaton City Hall i. Call to Order - 7:13 PM ll. Roll Call — In Person: Dave Sohmer, Shauna Thorson, Andrea Clayton, Andrew McGady, Sharon Holtrop Absent: Michael Hodel, Kathy Bushong, Tim March Guests: Denny Prude (Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans - MSHV) & Darcy Joyner (College of Dupage Student observing our meeting) III. Approvai of Minutes Approval of minutes from October 1, 2025 regular commission meeting. Motion to approve: Sharon Holtrop; Second by: Shauna Thorson. Unanimousiy approved. IV. Community Organization Focus: Midwest Sheiter for Homeless Veterans - Denny Prude shared his personal story about getting involved with MSHV and briefed the Commission on its history. It was founded in 2007 in Wheaton. The home is on West Street in Wheaton. lt is a transitional home for men - six spaces available. They have seven programs offered. There are multiple transitional housing complexes in the area. There are case management and employment services offered as well. MSHV services thirteen counties with the Freedom Commissary. SSVF — supportive services for veteran families - is their biggest program. A new housing unit (twenty units) to be built in Wheaton on VWlow and Main Streets. The CRC has an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the fundraising efforts for the new building. Currently, the CRC has a DWA Christmas tree with gift ideas for MSHV for the public to donate gifts. (Q) - How can the public drop off gifts? (A) - There is a metal box inside the door. There is an option to call and make an appointment to drop items. V. Old Business a. Wheaton Block Party event i. Discuss and decide date for 2026 - tentative date - Saturday, September 19th, 2026. David to reserve date with the Wheaton Park District. b. Wheaton Gives Back i. Report — Kathy Bushong - delay discussion to January for Kathy to share. c. Discuss Annual Report discussion/feedback i. Annual Report was submitted to City Council based on commissioner feedback. Good questions and feedback from City Council. “Autism d. Certified City or/and Autism Friendly City” i. Shauna, Andrew and Sharon will do research on this topic over the holidays. Vl. New Business a. DWA Christmas Tree Parade - Sharon put up tree with MHSV gift item ideas. b. Poinsettias for WCRC partners - distribution by CRC members.  c. PRC food pantry partnership - further discussion for future meeting. David to reach out again to PRC for partnership ideas. d. 250th Anniversary of the USA i. City wouid like to know what we are going to do for this. The big idea discussed would be for stringed flags to go between iamp posts in downtown Wheaton in May through July. Andrew will get in touch with Andrea Rosedale about the flag idea. VII. Public Comment i. Darcy asked - what is the mission of the commission? - Dave directed the group to the WCRC website and reviewed the mission ofthe Commission. Vlll. Adjournment - 8:37 PM David Sohmer Chairman, Wheaton Community Relations Commission Jan 7, 2025