DuPage County state’s attorney given victims’ rights award
Marsy’s Law for Illinois has presented DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin with the Champion of Victims’ Rights award for his commitment to empowering crime victims.
The organization acknowledged Berlin’s work in strengthening and refining components of the Marsy’s Law language, which was approved by Illinois voters in 2014 and added to the Illinois Constitution.
It also praised the state’s attorney’s office for being strong advocates for victims’ rights, protecting domestic violence victims and educating crime victims about their right to obtain restitution for the crimes committed against them.
“Bob Berlin was instrumental to ensuring the language in the Illinois version of Marsy’s Law made sense for our state and would result in the best possible outcomes for crime victims and those who work with them,” Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, state director for Marsy’s Law for Illinois, said in a news release.
“He and his office have continued to take a trauma-informed approach to helping victims navigate the criminal justice system including his latest innovation of adding a facility dog to his office.”
Sewa Diwali’s donation of 4,016 pounds of nonperishable food and a $3,116 monetary donation to Naperville’s Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry was lauded in a proclamation issued by the Naperville City Council. (Sewa Diwali)
Sewa Diwali donates food, cash to Loaves & Fishes
Sewa Diwali has donated 4,016 pounds of nonperishable food and $3,116 in cash to Naperville’s Loaves & Fishes Community Services, which operates a food pantry in Naperville.
With the nonprofit’s purchasing power, every donated dollar equals about seven pounds of food, which helps the pantry during a time of high need, organizers said.
Sewa Diwali is a nationwide volunteer-led initiative that unites Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist and civic organizations in the spirit of sewa, or selfless service, during the Diwali season. Each year, thousands of volunteers organize large-scale food drives to deliver Diwali’s message of light, compassion and community service, a news release said.
More than 60 Indian American community organizations across the western suburbs are contributing about 20,000 pounds of food this year, the news release said.
The Naperville City Council officially recognized Sewa Diwali with a proclamation on Nov. 4 acknowledging the commitment to bringing communities together through acts of service.
“Sewa Diwali is an event where many community organizations come together to collect food, inspired by the spirit of the Diwali festival,” said Mahesh Chintakunta, volunteer with the local chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, in the release. “Diwali is the Festival of Lights, celebrating the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Through Sewa Diwali, we share that joy with our community by serving those in need.”
Fry Family YMCA to host interfaith breakfast on Dec. 5
Fry Family YMCA will host the Naperville Mayor’s Interfaith Community Breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at its 2120 W. 95th St. location.
The event helps unite neighbors in celebrating the city’s vibrant diversity through inspiring speakers, shared values and breakfast, a YMCA news release said.
The keynote speaker will be Trisha Prabhu, founder of ReThink, which aims to end online hate, the release said. She will share information about building a more inclusive and empathetic world.
For sponsorships and registration, go to www.ymcachicago.org/news-events.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/25/naperville-berlin-award-diwali-food-ymca/
