• History
• Homes
• Government
• Industry
• Retail
• Healthcare
• Education
• Recreation
• Culture
• Worship
• Skokie 2000 Census Fact Sheet*

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History
French explorers were the first visitors to the area. They came in 1763 and found a tribe of Pottawattami Indians. The explorers moved on and the first settlement was not established until 1834 when immigrants from Germany and Luxembourg purchased the area for $1.25 an acre. The large brick home of founding father Henry Harms, a Prussian immigrant, can be seen today just west of downtown on Oakton Street.

Known as Niles Center for 52 years, Skokie was incorporated in 1888 as a thriving community with many homes, places of worship, schools and shops. In the early 1900s, the village was known for its vegetable farms, greenhouses and saloons.

Population increases were modest during the early 1900s. Land annexations nearly increased the village to its present 10.2 square miles. By 1920, subdivisions spurred by construction of the Chicago and North Shore Railway (electric) to Waukegan (presently Skokie Swift connection) and construction of the Chicago and North Western Railway tracks further expanded the village population.

By the 1950s, Skokie hosted three interchanges of the Edens Expressway, Chicagoland's first Expressway, with the village's population skyrocketing to 59,364 by 1960. The village became an attractive new home for companies leaving nearby Chicago. Careful city planning has led to productive growth of the village's 63,348 residents.

To request information about dining, lodging and transportation services in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Homes
Skokie residents enjoy a quality, upscale housing stock supported by outstanding village services that include sidewalk snow plowing, garbage pick up twice weekly, a comprehensive recycling program and a prudent fiscal policy that has seen no increase in the municipal property tax rate since 1990.

Housing styles typically are ranch, two-story, split-level or Georgian. Prices range from $135,000 to $1.3 million with a median home value of $249,196.

Townhouses and condominiums are becoming more popular, too, particularly with the construction of new condominiums downtown. Such residences cost between $66,000 and $324,000 with a median value of $150,409.

Skokie's impressive economic breadth has resulted in very reasonable residential property taxes compared to neighboring communities.

A progressive park district maintains numerous parks and provides countless recreational opportunities and special events throughout the village. With a median age of 42, many of the activities occurring throughout the village are geared toward families and youth.

A variety of public transportation options make getting around Skokie and traveling elsewhere fairly easy. The residential and commercial infrastructure is supported by abundant supplies of water, electricity, natural gas and telecommunication services as well as municipal fire, police and public works departments are second to none.

To request information about residential/commercial real estate in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Government
Since 1957, Skokie has had a council-manager form of government. The Village of Skokie is a home-rule unit governed by a mayor and six-member Board of Trustees who are elected at-large. The board meets twice a month to set policies that are enforced by the village manager and staff of almost 500 employees.

New residents can meet village officials at special gatherings designed to familiarize new residents with village officials and services. Some special services offered to citizens include garbage pick up twice weekly, sidewalk snow plowing, recycling programs for residents and businesses, "one-stop" business permitting and other economic development tools. Not only has the village refused to increase its municipal property tax levy since 1990, it also levies no taxes on natural gas and electric.

There also are no head taxes, sewer taxes or impact fees. An annual survey of the tax burden required of the municipal governments of Skokie and neighboring communities regularly finds Skokie listed as among the least costly. The 2001 survey, which includes such costs as property and utility taxes, listed Skokie tenth out of twelve communities.

The village government's high standards can be seen by the recognition given to its various areas of operations. Skokie is now the only community in the United States to have accredited Police, Fire and Public Works Departments. The Police Department received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 1988. In 1995, the Fire Department achieved a Class One Rating from the Insurance Service Office, and, in 2001, earned accreditation from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

In addition to welcoming new residents during the new resident coffees, the village encourages citizens to participate in government by serving on any of 14 advisory commissions, staffed by more than 250 residents. Village government also works hand in hand with other governmental bodies, such as the Skokie Park District and Skokie Public Library, as they all work to serve the residents' needs.

To request information about community services in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Industry
Direct access to interstate highways, extensive and efficient public transportation and a close proximity to Chicago and O'Hare airport put businesses in touch with the deep labor pools, suppliers and nationwide markets they need. As a result, Skokie ranks 7th in the state for wholesale trade, 11th for retail trade, and 12th for selected service receipts, according to the state sales tax receipts and the Census of Business. With more than 200 manufacturing firms, Skokie also ranks 7th in the number of manufacturing businesses. Only Chicago ranks higher when looking at these four categories.
 

Additionally, Skokie ranks 12th for manufacturing employment, with its firms employing more than 9,000 people. Officials strive to protect the balance between the industrial, retail and service sectors.

Village and Chamber of Commerce officials leave little to chance, conducting regular retention visits to businesses throughout the community.

Continuing a history of careful planning, the village is in the midst of extensive infrastructure improvements, aggressively updating the infrastructure in commercial areas to keep in line with the times. The village helps development efforts by offering such tools as tax increment financing, industrial development bonds, façade improvement grants, land underwriting and design assistance. It also offers businesses a break, in the form of no local taxes on natural gas and electricity. The village has no head taxes, sewer taxes or impact fees and it has not increased its property tax levy since 1990.

Skokie is proud to have among its industrial family:

Block Steel Corp.
Central Sheet Metal Products Inc.
General Automation, Inc.
Harry J. Bosworth Co.
Georgia Nut Co.
Kafko International Ltd.
M & S Technologies, Inc.
The Maya Romanoff Company
Mayfair Games, Inc.
NAPCO
Octura Models, Inc.
Rauland-Borg Corporation
Standard Grinding & Mfg. Co.
Welch Vacuum, Thomas Industries, Inc.
W.H. Salisbury
Wolfe Metals Co.


To request information about commercial/industrial real estate and property management in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Retail
Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard, Village Crossing Shopping Center, Skokie Fashion Square, and Dempster Street draws shoppers from near and far. Recent economic development efforts have resulted in two new hotels, an 18-screen theater/retail complex, major fitness centers and new retail and residential developments. On-going work on a long-term redevelopment plan for downtown Skokie continues to rejuvenate the area, which already had been a strong retail force. The strategy includes a façade improvement program, new design standards that highlight historical features and an increase in permitted uses. New condominiums have proven an attractive addition, adding to the large numbers of people already seen walking about town to restaurants, shops, parks and other destinations.

Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard, a 1.8 million-square-foot outdoor mall, hosts five anchor department stores: Lord & Taylor, Marshall Field & Company, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom's and Bloomingdales, more than 140 specialty stores, restaurants, a food court and two movie theater complexes. Known for its picturesque setting, Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard has enhanced the natural outdoor beauty with the addition of gardens, fountains and seating areas with interactive ambiance.

More than 800,000 square feet of shopping convenience awaits shoppers at Village Crossing Shopping Center. Formerly the site of AT&T Information Systems, this retail complex represents a recent commercial development in which manufacturing and office space was converted into a retail hub for Skokie and the Village of Niles. Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, CompUSA, and OfficeMax anchor this shopping area of more than 60 shops, restaurants, and services.

With disposable incomes in Skokie and the surrounding area being the highest in the state, Skokie has proven to be a strong market for retailers and the shoppers they attract.

A look at the community's workforce shows executives and professionals making up 37.2 percent of the workforce, which is considerably higher than the state average. Administrative and clerical employees make up 18.8 percent of the workforce with sales employees making up 18 percent.

More than 2 million square feet of office space in Skokie is filled with the employees of the village's large corporations as well as medical personnel, mortgage brokers, law firms and other professionals, all of whom are vital to the Skokie economy.

To request information about shopping centers and financial institutions in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Healthcare
Skokie Hospital is committed to providing state-of-the-art patient centered care to the people Skokie and the surrounding communities. Through its affiliation with NorthShore University HealthSystem- one of the premier academic healthcare institutions in the nation - Skokie Hospital ensures that the latest medical research and clinical techniques are available in a community that is close to home.

The 630 physicians, psychiatrists and dental surgeons who make up the hospital's medical staff use state-of-the-art technology in modern facilities. Patients can count on the finest services in cardiology, medical/surgical services, cancer care, orthopedic, obstetric, women's health, on-site fertility program, psychiatric services and geriatric medicine. Rush North Shore was one of the first on the north shore to provide minimally invasive surgical procedures such as laparoscopic appendectomies, gall bladder removals, and hernia repairs. It also offers a complete program in cardiac care including open-heart surgery. The Emergency Department operates as a Level II Trauma Center.

This teaching hospital has a state-of-the-art Breast Imaging Center and a complete MRI and CAT Center. Its latest addition includes a new surgical pavilion with 8 state-of-the-art surgical suites; technologically advanced Medical Intensive Care and Surgical Intensive Care units; a first floor ambulatory surgery unit located next to Registration and Pre-Surgical Service; and a seven-room Special Diagnostic and Treatment unit.

Since 1978 the medical center has worked through its community, worksite and promotion programs to help the community address a variety of illnesses. Its programs and services include the Worksite Wellness Program, Women's Health Program, Pain Center, Alzheimer's Program, Diabetes Education Program, Cardiac Rehab and many support groups.

Skokie Hospital's standard of excellence is substantiated by its Joint Commission on Accreditation with Commendation rating, the Joint Commission's highest level of accreditation. Here, people are first. Preventative care and maintaining good health through wellness are as important as making you well. Skokie Hospital is located at the corner of Golf and Gross Point Roads in Skokie.

Dentistry, counseling, mental health and other services are available within the confines of the community. Social service agencies and support groups complement the medical services available in the Skokie area.

The Village of Skokie's Office of Human Services offers an impressive array of services to help and support families, senior citizens and residents who have disabilities.

Services include short-term counseling, lending closets, transportation, Meals-on-Wheels, financial assistance, and referrals for a variety of needs as well as other services.

The Village of Skokie's fully certified Health Department offers residents everything from loaner infant car seats and cholesterol screenings to smoking cessation help and carbon monoxide tests. Its broad range of services include animal control, a variety of clinics and services including body composition analysis, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, family planning, hearing, immunizations, lipid profile, nutrition, STD and T.B. Its nursing staff also provides health assessment/teaching visits, travel health information, communicable disease investigation/follow-up, health counseling/referral, and school health services.

To request information about health services in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Education
PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Niles Township High School District 219
The high school district takes the approach that a quality education comes from the entire school community, which includes school staff, parents, students, the broader community and businesses. Education is a collaborative experience, this philosophy holds, so students can learn from each other, their parents and the community around them.

While at school, however, they learn from a talented teaching staff, more than 70 percent of whom hold advanced degrees. Niles North was rated an Outstanding American High School by U.S. News and World Report as well as one of the 100 High Schools that Work by Newsweek Magazine. Niles West was voted a "What Parents Want" school by the Illinois State Board of Education. Both schools have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for excellence in education.

The district, which enrolls almost 4,500 students, graduates 97 percent of its class, with 97.5 percent of these graduates continuing their education.

Seventy-two percent of these graduates will go on to a 4-year institution. The average composite ACT score for district students is 22.6. Around 55 different languages are spoken by the ethnically diverse student body at the Niles Township high schools. This diversity is celebrated and considered a strength.

The district offers notable fine arts, applied science and technology programs. The schools offer 194 courses in 14 subject areas, including 13 advanced placement courses in seven subject areas. Students are encouraged to participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities. In 2003 a $130 million building project involving both schools should be complete.

Evanston Township High School District 202
The Evanston district, grades 9 through 12, is under the supervision of the Evanston School Board. Students living in the northeastern portion of Skokie attend Evanston High School.

District 65
This district, while located within the confines of Skokie, is under the supervision of the Evanston School Board.

Skokie School District 68
The vision of Skokie School District 68 is to provide the 1,800 students with the comprehensive education necessary for living an enriched and productive life in a rapidly changing world.

The district has four schools serving children grades K-8 and a tuition-based Early Child Care program for 3 and 4-year-olds. Before school and after school childcare are available for children through fifth grade. A self-supporting summer school is offered for five weeks in June and July. Other special programs include technology, English as a second language, academic tutoring and full continuum of special education services.

Skokie School District 69
Some of the strengths of Skokie School District 69, with enrollment of 1,400 students in the old downtown area and Morton Grove, involve the district's special programs and extracurricular activities. Teachers are deeply involved in after school programs at each school. Parent volunteers are common in the schools.

The district strives to maximize the positive effects of the rich diversity of cultures and ethnic background of its student body, the different perspectives and traditions students bring to school with them. This celebration of diversity makes the school stronger as a community.

A full-day program provides many kindergarten students with their first formal educational experience. First and second grade students focus on language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health classes. Art, music and physical education complement this curriculum. Third grade instruction includes the traditional curriculum with art, music, physical education and computers. Fourth and fifth graders experience learning based upon student performance levels. In addition to core curriculum, students may participate in band, orchestra or wind and string instruction. Fifth graders take part in the district's outdoor education program.

The departmentalized classes at Lincoln Junior High School help bridge self-contained classrooms with the high school structure. Double periods of language arts meet daily and are complemented by industrial arts, home economics, computers, music, art, drama, health, speech, Spanish, consumer economics, choir, human relations and music history. Options vary according to grade level. Band, orchestra and chorus as well as intramural and interscholastic sports and curriculum related activities are available.

Fairview School District 72
Fairview's educational program begins with an all day kindergarten program.

The curriculum focuses on building a solid education foundation in basic skills enhanced by fine and performing arts. It is designed to develop the individual strengths, talents and self esteem of the students. The Reading Recovery! And Basic Skills program provide early interventions for students. The district also offers a full range of flexible special education and English as a Second Language services.

Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills complement K-5 language arts programs. The middle school language arts program is literature based.

The district's new math program promotes advanced thinking and basic skills. The science curriculum emphasizes responsibility to society and environment, understanding and applying scientific process and research skills, and observing and recording data through experimentation. Middle school students enjoy state-of-the-art laboratories to facilitate their study of earth, life and physical sciences.

Gifted programs have an emphasis on language arts and mathematics. The district offers outstanding facilities for technology, fine and performing arts and home economics. An impressive auditorium, multimedia center and gymnasium provide the 600-pupil student body and the community with unique opportunities. The Fairview PTA provides parents with quality programs and resources.

Located in the southwest corner of Skokie, District 72's kindergarten through eighth grade attendance features an award-winning $13.36 million building program of additions and full remodeling.

East Prairie School District 73
The mission of the East Prairie School District is to educate and provide all students with challenging experiences to become self-motivated learners. East Prairie's vision statement calls on the district to create a learning organization that promotes experimentation, invention and personal growth so that all learners will be successful in a global society.

The school district's curriculum targets the basics: language arts, math, social studies and science. It also focuses on fine arts and technology. The district offers before and after school childcare programs run by the Skokie Park District.

In the younger grades, the reading program includes a literature-based approach that integrates phonics and literature instruction. At the junior high level, the language arts curriculum is more literature-based and also teaches reading, listening and speaking skills. Pre-algebra and algebra are offered to seventh and eighth graders. Advanced students can take honors algebra and geometry at Niles North High School. Students work in classroom science labs in the younger grades. The junior high general science curriculum integrates physical science, life science and biology.

Instruction for gifted students, identified beginning in third grade, includes a differentiated curriculum in the regular classroom and pullout activities. Special education programming is provided in the building for students who have learning or behavioral disorders and speech and hearing problems. The Niles Township Special Education Cooperative also provides services.

Technology is a strong focus at East Prairie School. Students learn in fully networked classrooms and use an all-purpose computer lab. A state-of-the-art applied technology lab recently opened. The district has its own LAN and WAN connections.

Students participate in a number of extracurricular activities, clubs and competitions, such as science fairs, Math Olympiads, mock elections, Young Authors and computer club. The district has had Golden Apple nominees for excellence in teaching.

More than 70 percent if the district's certified staff has advanced degrees.

Skokie School District 73 ½
Skokie School District 73 ½ serves around 1,100 students in three well-maintained buildings. Approximately 70 percent of its students attend classes together from preschool or kindergarten through eighth grade and they are accustomed to our unique school community of diverse cultures.

The school district's small but progressive community has always supported its schools, which are known for their extensive parental involvement.

Referendums have been passed and our PTA and Educational Foundation are among the strongest in the area.

The district provides a continuum of special education services and allocates classroom space so that students who live in the school district can be educated close to home in the district's buildings.

The district's curriculum builds a solid foundation in reading, writing, math, science and social studies skills. Music, art and physical education enhance the elementary curriculum. The district provides outdoor education to fifth through eighth graders. The middle school offers exploratory Spanish, Tech Prep, computers, experiential education and personal development/health. The instrumental music program is available for students in fourth through eighth grades. It is the best in the area, as evidenced by countless awards won over the past 20 years, including "Best Middle School Band" at the 2000 Illinois Super State Band Contest. The middle school was the first in Illinois to develop an experiential education program to teach team building, communications and leadership, with a gymnasium that has climbing walls and a high-ropes course. Because of their excellent results on the statewide testing program, McCracken School has been exempted from the Illinois' External Review Process for several years. Average class size in the district ranges from 20-27 students.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
Choices address the diverse needs of a diverse community. In Skokie, parents have a variety of educational options for their children. Diverse faiths and cultures are welcome and bonded together through the solid moral and ethical foundation of faith and academic excellence. Parochial schools in the Skokie area provide a well-rounded program of spiritual, academic and physical development through liturgy, reading, mathematics, technology, science, fine arts, physical education and sports programs. Skokie is proud to have the following parochial schools:

Solomon Schechter Day School
St. Paul Lutheran Academy
St. Peter School


COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
Oakton Community College
Oakton Community College has been serving residents in the Skokie area for nearly two decades. Dedicated in 1995, the Ray Harstein Campus - named after founding board member and long-time Skokie resident Ray A. Harstein - features a 129,000 square-foot facility with 22 general purpose rooms, computer classrooms, an open computer lab, as well as labs for science, language and machine manufacturing.

The two-story building also houses a bookstore, student lounges, cafeteria and library. An early childhood development center provides full daycare for children ages 3 to 5.

A significant percentage of the Skokie population, including many of the area's largest employers, depend on Oakton Community College to acquire the skills and training necessary for the changing workplace. Others count on Oakton for a first-rate education at a fraction of the cost of four-year colleges and universities. The college offers a full range of student services from advising and counseling to testing and registration.

In addition, the Skokie campus is a center of activity for senior adults who participate in the Emeritus Program or who volunteer their time in the literacy program, "Volunteer in Teaching Adults." The Alliance for Lifelong Learning, Oakton's continuing education program, is one of the largest in Illinois.

Other colleges and universities in Skokie include:

Everest College - Skokie Campus
National-Louis University
Zarem/Golde ORT Technical Institute

To request information about education in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Recreation
In Skokie, recreation means the Skokie Park District. With 43 parks, two aquatic centers, a new rowing facility, children's and historical museums, community theater, a beautiful fitness center, golf facilities, nature center, youth foundation, sports fields, ice skating rink, child care and other facilities, the district offers a surprising array of programming for people of all ages.

Some of Skokie Park District's more popular activities include the free summer concert series and the Skokie Festival of Cultures, a celebration of Skokie's cultural diversity. This annual festival attracts close to 30,000 people.

The park district works closely with the area school districts to provide quality after school care for younger students. It also provides outstanding daycare for children six weeks to 5 years old at the district's state licensed and nationally accredited Tot Learning Center. Its exciting Exploratorium Indoor Children's Playground for Art, Science & Imagination keeps children and their parents busy with hands on and theater activities.

The nearly 200-acre Skokie Park District got its start in 1928 with a 62-acre purchase from the Cook County Forest Preserve, creating what would become Oakton Park and the Emily Oaks Nature Center. As the village population grew over the years, so did the park district. Terminal and Central parks were early acquisitions. Shabonee, Sequoya, Gross Point, Timber Ridge and Laramie would follow. By 1955, the plan for the Devonshire Community Center with its adjacent swimming pool was underway. By 1960, the Oakton Pool and Community Center were developed to keep up with the residents' needs.

Soon, a $2 million bond issue, as part of a long-range master plan, helped bring about the development of 10 new parks and improvements to several existing parks. The district began leasing property at Little League and Hamlin parks and Madison School and developed the Skatium, an indoor ice-skating rink, and Weber Park Golf Course, a nine hole, par three golf course. Lighting for ball diamonds at Laramie Park and the Skokie Tennis Center expanded residents' recreational opportunities.

In 1979, the park district received recognition by the National Parks and Recreation Association as a Gold Medal finalist.

Expansion through the 1980s continued with the addition of the Tot Learning Center. The Emily Oaks Nature Center, multi-purpose facility for earth education, emerged as a result of an $80,000 grant. The Oakton Community Center expanded and the refurbished Oakton Pool became the Skokie Water Playground.

Recent improvements include renovations to the Oakton Center to allow for more teen and senior programming, and improvements to the Skokie Water Playground, resulting in a pool with slides, waterfalls and a zero-depth wading pool. The Devonshire Aquatic Center now has a waterslide, zero-depth wading pool, a child play area and a landscaping facelift. The Devonshire Cultural Center, considered a neighborhood jewel, offers theater, dance, art, cooking and music programs and classes. The Devonshire Playhouse provides year-round dramas, musicals and children's performances.

The Skokie Park District's Dammrich Rowing Center is the first boathouse built in the state of Illinois in over 80 years. The 20,000 square foot facility is located on 15 acres of land next to the North Shore Channel of the Chicago River.

The Skokie Park District, with financial contributions from Loyola Academy Rowing Association and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has built a year-round training facility dedicated to the sport of rowing.

The Dammrich Rowing Center features two eight-seat indoor rowing tanks, a workout room, and two storage bays.

Other treasures include the Weber Leisure Center, a state-of-the-art facility and home to the Fitness First health club, Skatium, an indoor track, gymnasium and meeting rooms that are available for rent. The Exploratorium and the Sports Park, which includes a lighted two stroke driving range, batting cages and miniature golf, have been well-received additions. The Skokie Heritage Museum teaches people of all ages about village history.

For more information about Skokie Park District facilities and programs, call 847-674-1500 ext. 0, or visit their website at www.skokieparkdistrict.org.

The Mayer Kaplan Jewish Community Center, an 85,000 square-foot, two-story building, hosts fully equipped workout and strength training rooms, an aerobics studio, adult locker rooms with saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools, children's locker rooms, a full-size gymnasium, swimming pool, and racquetball courts. Kaplan contains a theater, a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, full-service library, and rooms available for parties and meetings. The early childhood department contains specially designed nursery school classrooms and daycare rooms with direct access to outdoor playgrounds.

For more information about the Mayer Kaplan Jewish Community Center, call 847-675-2200, or visit their website at www.jccofchicago.org.

The Leaning Tower YMCA provides quality programming to meet the diverse needs of individuals and families. Membership benefits include: indoor pools, private gym, family night, outdoor running track, weight room, aerobics classes, meeting room use, Chicagoland Reciprocity, Amazing Kids, AWAY program, fitness center and fitness assessment. Additional amenities include: childcare and preschool classes, dance lessons, creative arts programs, personal grooming services and therapy to meet a variety of needs.

For more information on the Leaning Tower YMCA, call 847-647-8222.

From bicycle and walking paths to the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan and the bleachers at Wrigley Field ballpark, Skokie supports a multitude of recreational choices.

To request information on recreational activities in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Culture
Every spring since 1990 the community has come together to celebrate the village's rich ethnic diversity showcased during the nationally recognized Skokie Festival of Cultures, which annually draws nearly 30,000 people. Entertainment, educational exhibits, children's activities, food and other staples of the festival help participants learn about the different ethnic and faith communities living in Skokie as well as share and enjoy their own heritage.

Some of the cultures represented at the festival include Armenian, Assyrian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Cuban, Danish, Filipino, Finnish, Hellenic, Indian, Israeli, Japanese, Korean, Lebanese, Mexican, Pakistani, Scottish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and West Indian.

The community's cultural diversity is celebrated and explored year-round, as well, through efforts in the schools and through the community initiative Valuing Our Image Concerning Ethnicity in Skokie (VOICES). VOICES works to promote a better understanding among Skokie residents who have different cultural and religious backgrounds.

Since 1981, the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois and Holocaust Museum has documented information about the holocaust as a way of preserving the value of human life, dignity and freedom. A broad spectrum of programs, services and resources provides educators and children with information necessary to combat prejudice, and to serve the community at large by providing monthly programs.

In 1990, legislation was approved to make Illinois the first state in the entire United States to require that the holocaust be taught in public elementary and high schools and to serve as a model for other state legislatures to emulate. To implement the mandate, the Foundation presents year-round programs and publishes and distributes educational materials, including school curricula. The Speakers Bureau, of the Holocaust Survivors and Liberators, addresses audiences in schools, churches, synagogues, public and civic organizations throughout the Midwest.

The Museum features a permanent exhibition, "Voices Still Heard: Witnesses to the Holocaust," which displays the vitality of pre-war Jewish life. A chronological examination of aspects of the Nazi Holocaust 1933-1945 is portrayed through personal and historical photographs, documents, artifacts and memorabilia. The "Room of Remembrance" contains a book with the names of 3,000 holocaust victims, a memorial wall and artwork created by children of survivors.

The Foundation displays the Lachman Library and Documentation Center, an extensive loan collection of books, videos, oral testimonies, periodicals and posters on the holocaust. Among the resources are five documentary videos that the Foundation has produced, including the 1994 Chicago International Film Festival Hugo Award/1995 Midwest Emmy Award winning "Choosing One's Way."

Members of the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois address more than 25,000 individuals each year in an effort to share the word that not only is prejudice wrong, it can lead to tremendous evil.

What once was a canal bank has become a virtual museum. The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park is an open air exhibit that displays more than 60 sculptures strategically positioned among walking and biking paths.

Some pieces are permanently displayed and some sculptures are committed on a rotating basis; it does, however, represent a display that is internationally in scope.

For a taste of history, visit the Skokie Park District's Heritage Museum. Housed in Skokie's historic fire station and log cabin, this museum contains a dynamic tribute to village history. The site of workshops, exhibits and school activities for teens through senior adults. Open since 1992, this museum displays exhibits and artifacts that focus on the heritage of the village.

The state-of-the-art North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie is a bubbling cauldron of arts and entertainment for Skokie and the region. As the home of Centre East, Northlight Theatre and the Skokie Valley Symphony and two active theaters that seat nearly 1,200 people, the center is counted upon to offer entertaining and thought provoking performances for people of all ages.

Local and world famous performers, fabulous acoustics, close and plentiful free parking, all this and more have brought the 68,000 square-foot center the strong support of Skokie residents and patrons from across the region. It also provides meeting and convention accommodations for a wide variety of corporate, social and private events in conjunction with the adjacent Doubletree Executive Suites. Easily accessible from the Eden's Expressway, it is located across from Old Orchard Center. Centre East presents outstanding local and international artists in dance, drama, music and variety. It offers diverse and innovative programming to an equally diverse audience, striving, with the help of its highly respected Family Theatre and Youtheatre, to bring the performing arts to the widest audience possible. Family Theatre and Youtheatre alone serve nearly 50,000 children and adults each year. More than half of Youtheatre audiences are first time theater-goers from Chicago Public Schools.

Each fall, Centre East produces a Showcase of Performing Arts for Young People, which permits school, park, museum and library cultural arts programmers to review the best live programs for children. Participants in this workshop come from throughout northern Illinois and surrounding states. Northlight Theatre is a professional, not-for-profit theater company and it is approaching its 30th season. Drawing from the Chicago acting community, the company presents five main stage shows each year. The company works to connect with its audiences and engage them in the plays and musicals.

In addition to presenting as many as 200 performances each year, Northlight Theatre offers well attended summer camps and after school and weekend theatre classes for youth. Its classes for adults focus on playwriting. Through the Student Theatre Arts Resource program, Northlight works to attract high school students to its performances.

The 65 to 70 musicians in the Skokie Valley Symphony orchestra, founded in 1962, are volunteers. Audiences of any of their four performances each year might find themselves enjoying a ballet company or opera company along with the symphony as the Skokie Valley Symphony presents different types of orchestra programming.

The identity and vision of Ars Viva is expressed in its name, which means something old and something new, referring to tried and true older musical treasures and the fresh new works of living composers. Ars Viva's five performances each year bring together world-class musicians primarily from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Lyric Opera. Audiences delight in listening to the Ars Viva musical director talk to them about the music and its composers.

The Devonshire Cultural Center celebrated its grand opening in 1996 and is a cultural arts landmark. Amenities of the center include a culinary arts kitchen; music studio; performing arts theater, which hosts community theater and three state-of-the-art preschool rooms.

To request information about performing arts, museums, memorial monuments and sculptures in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240.

Worship
Religion plays an important role in the traditions and values that mold the families and individuals in Skokie. This community exemplifies religious diversity. An active Clergy Forum, which is open to clergy of all faiths, meets monthly during the school year. One of its projects is the annual, interfaith community Thanksgiving service, which travels around to the various houses of worship. In addition to traditional services, many congregations offer religious and day school educational opportunities as well as activities for children, youths and adults.

To request a list of places of worship in the Skokie area, please call the Skokie Chamber of Commerce office at 847-673-0240