Four years as an Oak Park Village Trustee taught me that public service is about more than facts and good intentions. From navigating difficult trade-offs to learning from critics and balancing public responsibility with family life, I discovered that governing challenges not just your judgment, but your values and sense of self.

As Oak Park prepares to vote on a divisive advisory referendum, I reflect on the importance of community belonging through my experience as an Indian American immigrant. Whatever our views on international conflicts, our neighbors should not feel excluded or unsafe because of their identity or the actions of foreign governments.

Democracy gives voters the power to choose their elected representatives. But should that power end on Election Day? A right of recall could provide an extraordinary safeguard when representative democracy falls short, while keeping the ultimate decision where it belongs: with the voters.

Takeout 25 began with a simple idea: spend $25 a week on takeout at local restaurants. What followed taught me something much bigger about community—why small actions matter, why participation needs to be simple, and how trust, positivity and relationships can turn individual choices into collective impact.

Drawing on experiences from Kozhikode, India, and 20 years in Oak Park, this article makes the case for thoughtful, incremental change—testing solutions, measuring results, and finding common ground rather than choosing sides.