Trailblazers: The inspiration behind the Women of Oak Brook

Local women’s group brings Oak Brook together
through connection, friendship, and service

By Anna Hughes | Photos by Victor Hilitski

Lara Suleiman and her family moved to Oak Brook over ten years ago for its great schools and diverse community. When describing the village they’d be calling home to family and friends, Suleiman often referred to it as a “little United Nations.” She wanted her children to grow up with a vast worldview in a safe community.

A decade later, Suleiman holds this belief to be true: there are great schools and a diverse community. However, over time, she noticed a loss of connections between neighbors due to generational and cultural differences. In her personal life, she focused on being a better neighbor and community advocate, which she said translated into a better living experience for her family. She didn’t stop there, though. She wanted others to have a better experience in the village, too. She’s now making that vision a reality as the president of a local group focused on building bridges and serving others: Women of Oak Brook.

Founded in April 2024, Women of Oak Brook is a membership, community-based organization fueled by friendship and a deeper desire to serve others. They hold four major social events a year with a common theme tied to their philanthropic projects, which raise money for board-selected organizations.

“It’s truly a humbling experience to lead this organization and to be driven by the positive spirit surrounding its extraordinary launch,” Suleiman said. “I pride myself in serving my community.”

Women of Oak Brook started from the ground up with their own established guidelines and bylaws. Suleiman said the foundation and the structure were based on many brainstorming sessions and community input meetings from respected leaders and women with a wealth of knowledge in service. Their goal wasn’t to replicate other great organizations but rather to provide an alternative that serves the Oak Brook community and its needs.

Now, there are 190 members ranging from their early 30s to 80s. Members must be at least 18 years old and have current or former roots in Oak Brook (residential or corporate).

“It’s beautiful to see some mother-daughter members,” Suleiman said. “People go back to their childhood ‘happy’ place. We are so thrilled to be part of that experience when we initiated this organization.”

Their organization showcases the generational love that families have for life in Oak Brook. Vice President Dr. Eleni Liossis Dimitriou is a perfect example of that. She grew up in Oak Brook and is now raising her family here. She said this is common for a lot of people who grew up here.

“That says a lot,” Dimitriou said of the returning residents. “Oak Brook is a unique village in that it has a small-town feel to it. We are a diverse community of hardworking, experienced, resilient, and caring people.”

Bringing those types of people together is their goal with Women of Oak Brook. By focusing on philanthropic goals that support local communities and organizations, they foster oppor-tunities for genuine social connections, networking, and mentorship. Dimitriou said that this is a key factor in building a community organization that is connected, open minded, and supportive of its members.

“I have always wanted to be a part of a philanthropic organization that truly helps support local needs, organizations, and communities,” Dimitriou said. “I also wanted to strengthen our community by helping people connect with each other while providing a supportive space to create positive and lasting change. As a founding member of the Women of Oak Brook, it is truly an honor to help build and support this organization while positively impacting our members and communities we serve.”

Samiyah Siddiqui Forler, Women of Oak Brook’s treasurer, sought out a group like this for that exact reason: connection and community. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she felt that these two things were put on hold for other priorities. Now, women of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life can come together and bond over service and success – both individually and as a group.

“Women of Oak Brook is [a] great way to celebrate our unique experiences and, at the same time, weave together threads that connect us all,” Siddiqui Forler said.

To welcome potential new members and promote their community outreach, Women of Oak Brook hosted an event on Sept. 27 at the Drake Hotel that they called Jazz, Joy and Friendship: A Harmony of Connections. Amidst mingling and music, the 123 attendees raised $1,800 and collected 200 pounds of food and other items for People’s Resource Center, their philanthropic partner for this event.

“Like a great Jazz piece, we have a diverse ensemble that plays upon each other’s strengths,” Siddiqui Forler said. “[These events are] a great way to foster a sense of community and culture in a way that can connect us all.”

Diversity is their strength; they have a team of varying career and cultural backgrounds, as well as vast leadership and life experience, all working in one supportive team environment.

“We have no judgment or sense of superiority,” Suleiman said. “We all are mission-driven, and it’s a beautiful phenomenon to experience.”

For more information on the Women of Oak Brook and how you can get involved, visit WomenofOakBrook.org