While watching their children Aniya and Ammar play at Scoville Park on Oct. 23, new Oak Park residents Cheryl and Branden McLeod, both 36, answered a few questions for the Oak Leaves.
Q: Where are you from?
BM: Maryland.
Q: What brought you to the area?
BM: A job at the University of Illinois-Chicago. I’m a professor with the Jane Addams College of Social Work. I’m especially interested in criminal justice reform. And fatherhood.
Q: How did you choose Oak Park?
CM: We did a lot of research on neighborhoods and schools.
BM: We fell in love with Oak Park.
Q: Any favorite spots to eat yet?
CM: I like Maya Del Sol.
BM: We’ve been trying places here and there. Buzz Cafe, Avenue Ale House.
Q: Organization whose mission you identify with?
BM: Out For Justice, which focuses on criminal justice reform, in Baltimore. I was on the board before we left.
CM: I’m the dean of students at a high school in Chicago, so finding alternatives to punitive discipline, like restorative justice, restorative discipline.
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Q: Hidden gem of Oak Park or River Forest?
CM: We live in the Oak Park Arts District. I think a hidden gem is all the little artist spots along Harrison. If you don’t live over there, you might not know.
Q: Travel destination of choice?
CM: We love Puerto Rico. We’ve been a few times, but the kids haven’t been. St. Lucia. On our bucket list, maybe Dubai, or Egypt. Or India. [Daughter Aniya] wants to go to India.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.