HP still strong

They are forever changed. One year after a gunman opened fire, killing seven people during Highland Park’s July 4th parade, those who experienced it firsthand–and others who were not at the scene, but still deeply affected by it–think about the tragedy daily.

But they are strong, leaning on their Jewish values in search of hope, and using their skills to solve the problem of gun violence. Here are some of their stories:

Comforting campers

As Director at JCC “Z” Frank Apachi Day Camp, Stacey Skolnick was thrilled to lead 100 Apachi families through her hometown on July 4, 2022. But her excitement turned to terror when she heard gunfire.

As the crowd scattered, she grabbed her twins, and reunited another child with his parents. Afterward, she spent hours calling every family that had joined her group to ensure they were safe.

In the following days, she found comfort at camp, and worked to provide the same for others. She brought her staff together to grieve, and to learn how to best support the campers. On the first Shabbat after the shooting, she welcomed 500 people to light candles.

This summer, Skolnick is continuing her mission.

“I’m focusing on the beauty of camp being a safe, loving place for our entire community,” she said.

Younger campers are partnering with older ones on tikkun olam projects, registered families are invited to free swim every weekend, and Apachi is hosting its 36th birthday celebration.

“Our Jewish values highlight community, doing good, and being an upstander. That’s where my heart and soul are living right now.”

Seeking solutions

Lindsay and Matt Meltzer have committed themselves to making the world a safer place–ever since sheltering more than 100 people in the basement of their Highland Park restaurant while police hunted for the gunman last July 4th.

The owners of Bright Bowls have each taken up their own cause following the shooting: Lindsay is focused on gun control, and Matt is researching why mass shootings occur and how to stop an assailant before it’s too late.

“I’ve been really curious about the human side,” said Matt. “A lot of people are calling out for help. How do you provide services to people who show [warning] signs?”

He’s been talking with other like-minded community members in search of a solution, while Lindsay has connected with gun control advocates and traveled to Washington, D.C. to push for an assault weapons ban.

“If my kids ever ask me what I did after the fourth of July, I want to tell them I tried to make things right,” said Lindsay.

Meanwhile at Bright Bowls, Lindsay and her staff have visited regularly with people who come in to share stories and say thanks. “We are here to help people heal,” she said.

Supporting students

As Jean Rock watched the news and saw the shocking images of Highland Park High School band members running down Central Street, she thought immediately of the students she’d counseled at the school’s Drop-In Center, staffed by JCFS Chicago.

“I felt like I was in a dream state,” she said. But reality soon set in for this JCFS Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, as former students reached out for help.

When school started the next month, the mental health needs were intense. “Kids were still so traumatized… and re-traumatized by sharing their feelings, and where they were on that day,” she stated.

Some students said that they didn’t feel safe at school and in the community. Many experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, and were disturbed by a book falling or a door slamming.

Throughout the year, she has counseled her clients to acknowledge what happened and its impact on their lives. “It’s about acceptance that ‘I am now changed,'” she said. “That doesn’t mean that ‘I can’t continue and regain some strength,’ but ‘I have to grieve, and manage my pain, in a way that makes me feel functional.'”

Advocating for action

Stefanie Pervos Bregman saw ambulances and firetrucks racing through neighboring Deerfield to downtown Highland Park that July 4th morning. She knew dozens of families who were at the parade, and immediately received text messages from friends about the chaos and tragedy. The next day, she vowed to do what she could to ensure something like this never happened again.

“Knowing that it can hit that close to home and knowing that I have kids that are school age, I just couldn’t sit still anymore,” she said.

One year later, Bregman is a Co-Lead of the Glenview/Northbrook Moms Demand Action group, a national movement focused on improving laws to protect Americans from gun violence.

Along with her fellow volunteers, Bregman represents the group at community events, hosts presentations about safe gun storage, and communicates with legislators to push for change. This past spring, she gathered with hundreds of Illinois moms on the steps of the State Capitol to call for common-sense gun laws.

While Bregman brings her skill set as JUF’s Senior Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications, she also says she’s learning as she goes. “Sometimes it’s just about showing up and raising awareness.”

Julie Mangurten Weinberg is a Northbrook-based freelance journalist with more than 20 years of experience in broadcast, print, and digital media.