President’s Message

It has been my profound honor to serve as President of United Congregations of Metro-East for the past four years. When I reflect on this journey, I am filled with gratitude, pride, and a deep sense of purpose. UCM has grown in extraordinary ways—ways that reflect not only our organizational strength, but the collective power of the people and communities we serve.

During my tenure, I have watched UCM evolve into a thriving institution with a full-time staff of 14 dedicated employees. Today, our team benefits from comprehensive fringe benefits, a fully developed development division, a narrative team, and strengthened HR and accounting systems. After 25 years, we purchased a building to house UCM's work.  These are not just administrative achievements—they are signs of a maturing organization built to last, built to lead, and built to serve.

I have also had the privilege of standing alongside our organizers as they empowered residents to fight for better living conditions in communities burdened by unsafe and substandard housing. Their victories were not accidental; they were the result of organized people, organized faith, and organized power working together to demand dignity.

I was honored to lead UCM during the passage of the Illinois Safety Act, ensuring our organization had a seat at the table in critical statewide discussions. Being present in those rooms—lifting up the voices of our communities—was a defining moment for UCM and for me personally.

When devastating floods struck the Metro-East, UCM stepped forward without hesitation. I helped coordinate the distribution of funds, food, and clothing to families who lost so much. In moments of crisis, our mission becomes even clearer: we show up, we serve, and we stand with our neighbors.

Civic engagement has always been a cornerstone of our work, and I was proud to help organize voter registration and Get Out the Vote efforts across the region. Democracy is strongest when every voice is heard, and UCM continues to play a vital role in ensuring that happens.

Through all of this, I have been blessed to work with an exceptional executive director—a visionary leader who understands the assignment of the times we are living in. Our organizers, board members, clergy, and community partners continue to inspire me with their dedication and courage.

Thank you for the privilege to serve as President of UCM. I will continue to support the mission, the new leadership team, and the communities we are called to uplift. Together, we will keep building power, advancing justice, and transforming the Metro-East for generations to come.

Peace and Blessings, 

Donna Brooks-Sanders, President 

United Congregations of Metro-East