Belonging Organizations & Businesses

The businesses, organizations, and community groups highlighted here are leaders in modeling and embodying belonging in our community. In partnership with the Belonging Task Force, they are shaping a Rockford where everyone who lives, works or visits feels seen, heard, valued, and welcome. By embracing differences and fostering connection, they are building a community where belonging is real for all.

• Showing up authentically and creating welcoming spaces.
• Respecting diverse experiences and identities.
• Celebrating differences and fostering equity.
• Repairing past or present harms when possible.
• Building trust and meaningful relationships.
• Acting transparently and responsibly.
• Challenging the status quo and welcoming new ideas.
• Engaging staff and community in decision making.
• Listening with empathy and turning challenges into opportunities.
• Bridging divides to strengthen our collective community.
• Growing together through shared responsibility and learning.

Join this growing list of engaged partners and commit to building belonging by reviewing the two linked documents and returning your signed Belonging Principles Agreement to NICNE at bcallahan@niu.edu.

• Birth to Five Illinois, Region 4
• Eliminate Racism 815
• Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
• Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE)
• Northern Illinois University – Rockford
• Northwest Community Center
• Rockford Area Arts Council
• Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity
• Three Ravens Pottery