Drewone Goldsmith is a man experienced in fighting fires due to his extensive career as a firefighter, and now it is time to let him fight the fires of oppression as an alderman. The alderman position isn’t the most powerful, or the most illustrious, but it is impactful nonetheless. Goldsmith understands this. He has a deep understanding and connection to the community of North Lawndale due to his lifelong experience as an organizer and community volunteer.
Third Generation Lawndalian
He is a third generation Lawndalian, which many of the candidates can’t exactly say for themselves. This rich and deep love for the community is inextricably tied to this long-staying family relationship with the North Lawndale neighborhood. No matter what, Goldsmith is a member of the North Lawndale community. He always expresses a deep passion to bring positive change to the community he grew up in. What that looks like is very complex but can be put simply.
Goldsmith is the biggest advocate of solutions that the community can do without relying on anyone else for assistance. One of these solutions includes cleaning up the community. The community of North Lawndale is fundamentally unclean. It has rats, and garbage all over the streets. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
His solution is to organize the community as an alderman to clean up the community. This hands-on perspective is what separates him from all of the other candidates. Goldsmith has seen this community degrade into its current state.
His Vision
He has the vision and the drive for community work at levels unseen in a very long time. Goldsmith has a better understanding of how North Lawndale should be than most. He and his family have been here for generations and have some of the deepest bonds with the community possible.
Along with having high loyalty to the community of North Lawndale, he served as a marine for six years. This experience helped mold his perspective on what it means to truly serve something. Goldsmith isn’t like all the other politicians who say that they “serve” their community. He understands the true meaning of the word serve. Goldsmith shows this in his action of serving the community every day.
A God-Fearing Christian
Goldsmith is a God-fearing Christian and a man of immense drive and will. He is a man of conviction, passion, and immense faith. He has experience in both serving a greater purpose and leading from a leadership position. This unique combination of traits and skills brew a stew for success that all of North Lawndale could feast on for generations. The community needs someone with a drive and a passion like Goldsmith’s.
He also has some interesting policy choices. However, his primary drive for being an alderman is based on two things. Those two things would be his love for the community, and his will to fix the problems in the community. These two things are all anyone really needs to enact change in their environment. However, what separates Goldsmith, is that he has decades’ worth of experience executing the complex task of leadership.
A Better Leader For a Better Lawndale
Part of the growing plight of North Lawndale is that there simply aren’t enough leaders.
Leaders change the spaces they are in; real leaders organize people and galvanize people. Goldsmith is one of these kinds of leaders. He has the vision for a better North Lawndale and will stop at nothing to see it through. Becoming an alderman is simply one step on this journey.
Even if he doesn’t acquire the position and its power, he won’t give up on his mission and his people. He feels a personal responsibility to dedicate his life to the liberation of North Lawndale. Goldsmith needs the support of his people.
Like Goldsmith, the community of North Lawndale needs something as well. North Lawndale needs change.
Written by Kenneth Mazerat
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Interview: Drewone Goldsmith- February 2
Contact information:
Phone: 872-201-9694
Images courtesy of Drewone Goldsmith
