PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Carolyn Bird Salazar, Chair, kcdw@kcdwomen.com
Kane County Democratic Women Hosts an Educational Presentation on
“Young Americans and the High Costs to Rent or Own”
ST. CHARLES, September 2, 2025 – The Kane County Democratic Women (KCDW) will host a presentation on “Young Americans and the High Costs to Rent or Own” on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Batavia Public Library, 10 South Batavia Ave., Batavia, IL. The purpose of the presentation is to bring the community together to discuss the affordability crisis facing anyone who is trying to purchase or rent a home and possible solutions to this crisis. It is especially difficult for young people to “get their own place” when they are struggling to save up a rental security deposit or a house downpayment and also repaying student loans. Many young people in their twenties and thirties believe that the American dream of homeownership may be out of reach for them.
Dr. Thomas Skuzinski, an associate professor in the Department of Public Education at Northern Illinois University, will help us understand the housing issues and the role that urban and regional planning can play in solving the housing crisis. He directs the Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy at NIU, which provides opportunities for students to work with community organizations in northern Illinois. His areas of expertise include land use and environmental law, local governmental law, regional and metropolitan governance, and planning (especially land use, affordable housing, and transportation). Dr. Skuzinski holds both doctoral and master’s degrees in urban and regional planning from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University College of Law. Before coming to NIU, he was an assistant professor at Virginia Tech and also served as Director of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree and Associate Director of Education with the Virginia Center for Housing Research.
Following the presentation, there will be time for questions from the audience. The presentation is free and open to the public.
ABOUT THE KANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: The mission of the KCDW is to harness the political power of Democratic women to create positive social change through engagement, education, and empowerment. Meetings are open to the public and are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings alternate between Oak Street Restaurant in Aurora and Carmina’s Restaurant in Elgin. For more information, contact Carolyn Bird Salazar, Chair, at kcdw@kcdwomen.com