Harvey has never had Indian representation in government. The Vohra family is trying to change that.

When Noor Mohammed Vohra arrived to town in the early 1970s, he saw the potential in Harvey’s up-and-coming businesses. He couldn’t have anticipated that in 50 years, his family would be the first Indian and Muslim American candidates running for Harvey’s local government.

“At that time, it was booming,” Noor Mohammed’s granddaughter, Husnaa Vhora said. “This was the beacon of light in the south suburbs [when] he moved here.” Decades later, hundreds of immediate and distant relatives reside in the same place. A tight knit community formed, most emblematic on 152nd and Broadway downtown.

In 2000, Harvey’s Asian demographic was less than 0.5 percent of the city’s population, according to federal census data. As of 2020 figures, it’s 1.9 percent. But as the Indian population nearly quadrupled, it took over 50 years for the first Indian candidates in the town’s history to run for office.

Four members of the Vohra family in Harvey are running for various positions this year. Yarif Vhora is running for 2nd Ward alderman. Samir Vohra, Yarif’s brother in law, is running for Thornton Township High School District 205’s school board. Sadiya Vohra, married to Samir, is running for Harvey School District 152’s school board. Mannan Vohra, Sadiya’s brother, is running for 4th Ward alderman.

Currently, there are approximately 700 members of the Vhora family that reside in Harvey and neighboring suburbs, according to Firoz Vohra, Yarif’s brother-in-law.

Those that are old enough to remember and reflect on Harvey’s past reminisce about the town’s bustling nature, visiting shops at the now closed Dixie Square Mall, and spending time in the downtown area.

Firoz drives around town looking at the now dilapidated buildings, boarded up windows and pothole-filled streets. But that doesn’t discourage him; instead, he sees the potential Harvey has to return to the thriving place it once was.

“It's a community where families exist,” Firoz said. “I don't think it can be [emphasized] how important it is to have that improvement on every level.”

Complaints long ignored

The COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point for the Vohras. St agnant growth. High property taxes. Crime and public safety. Later that year, a drive-by shooting left bullet holes on the side of Yarif’s home.

“I am fed up with the promises made by our elected officials, and they have failed us time and again,” Yarif said. “Representation is important and overdue.” Among his top priorities are enhancing public safety, fixing aging infrastructure and improving communication between City Hall and Harvey residents.

Yarif sparked a wave of fellow family members running for election. Once they heard about his effort, husband and wife Samir and Sadiya decided to follow suit.

Sadiya is a Thornton Township High School alumna, mother of three, and a paraprofessional for Harvey School District 152. “I have seen the struggle teachers, students and parents are currently going through.” Sadiya said. “Lack of accountability, lack of transparency, and mismanagement of funds are few of the main reasons I decided to run for this position.”

A District 152 school worker placed unauthorized orders for $1.5 million worth of chicken wings at the height of the pandemic. The Vohras said the oversight never should have slipped through the cracks.

Samir, a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner, is running for Harvey’s Thornton Township High Schools District 205.“Lack of safety, security, low academic scores [and] mental health issues among students are some of the top concerns that motivated me to run for this position,” Samir said.

A pandemic-induced mental health crisis is fueling fighting within District 205 schools. In response to safety concerns including increased fighting among students, administrators launched the Safe Schools Initiative. But despite the new precautions, including forthcoming gated entry on campuses, fighting continues.

Students’ graduation rates lag those of the state. District 205’s graduation rate is 64 percent, as of last year—far below the statewide rate of 86 percent, according to state data.

“My priorities include ensuring all students have access to an enriched learning environment to maximize their potential and succeed, preventing teacher turnover to retain high quality teachers, and ensuring a safe teaching and learning environment for all children,” Samir added.

The Vohra family’s election journey hasn’t been easy. During a January meeting with the Cook County Electoral Board, over two thirds of candidates faced objections, including Samir and Sadiya, the Chicago Tribune reported. In Sadiya’s case, that marked the third objection against candidates for District 152. The board eventually overruled objections against Samir and Sadiya along with 12 others.

Less than 24 hours before the deadline to register for this year’s general and primary elections, Mannan decided to join his family members with his own campaign for 4th Ward alderman. With Firoz’s help, Mannan gained enough signatures in time to qualify as a candidate. They concentrated efforts on the oft overlooked Greenview Manor Homes nestled west of Dixie Highway.

“I want to make sure residents are aware of what is happening in their ward and how it will affect them,” Mannan said. “Previous aldermen over the last four years have never responded to my questions or concerns.”

Mannan and his fellow family members recognize how pivotal their earning a spot in local government is. “[Not only am I] representing the Indian community of Harvey but the Indian community in the United States,” Mannan said. “This will motivate individuals from other backgrounds to take positions in office, as well.”

Cultivating a community

Born at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital just a couple blocks away from her home, Husnaa is an advocate for her hometown, and for issues facing Indians in America and abroad.

Husnaa and her father Firoz live under the same roof along with other family members. And their neighbors aren't strangers. The entire block is primarily made up of both immediate and distant families. Many of them are Harvey natives, raised in the community amid a xenophobic endemic that seeks to portray them as outsiders.

Husnaa says that Harvey is unique not only because of the sheer concentration of Indians but also due to the group’s concerted efforts to give back to their community. They helped revitalize sections of town by building new homes, rehabilitating old ones, and transforming vacant lots.

The block downtown from 151st to 152nd Street off of the Broadway intersection is named in honor of Noor Mohammed, a testament to his impact on the community. In 2006, former mayor Eric J. Kellogg declared August Indian Heritage Month to recognize the family’s rehabilitation efforts in and around the downtown area.

“[The candidates] have families,” Husnaa said. “They have spouses. They have full time jobs. They're people who were heavily involved in the community, have their roots here, have their families here, and we can make this change.”

Husnaa wants to see more Indian and Muslim American candidates running for office.“We have such a highly populated community of Indians [and] Indian Americans, and there's no one to hear our concerns,” Husnaa said.

For some, feelings of being ignored would come as a shock. Among some spaces, there’s a perception that Harvey’s Indian community has immense power and privilege, shaping city affairs “just because we have a nice block,” Husnaa said. “But we work hard. We maintain our own community, and nothing is handed to us,” she said. “The city does us no favors.”

Indian representation in government

The Vohra family relies on their own network to facilitate all four political campaigns. Firoz said they don’t have the resources to hire an expensive campaign manager. His car is filled to the brim with yard signs, stakes and mallets for his fellow relatives.

Efforts abound to help more racially diverse candidates elected to government, such as Jetpac. Its public service fellowship teaches individuals nationwide about how to navigate political terrain amid rising Islamophobia. Others like Asian American Advocacy Fund, a nonprofit concerned with empowering the Asian American electorate, have helped catapult political newcomers like Nabeela Syed.

Muslim representation in the United States government is on the rise. Time Magazine reports that nearly 150 Muslim Americans ran for office in 2022, resulting in a record number of wins.

In 2022, Syed was elected to the state House, the youngest to do so at 23 years old. Syed’s the first Muslim woman to win a seat in the General Assembly. Over 50 Indian Americans currently serve in state legislatures nationwide and Congress.

Vice President Kamala Harris made history as the first Indian American Vice President.

Black and Brown coalition-building

Husnaa said that electing the family will benefit more than just the Indian community because many of the issues facing Harvey’s Indian population also affect its Black, Latino and other marginalized residents. The community is 65 percent Black and 28 percent Latino, according to federal census data.

Regardless of race, the community doesn't feel like they have someone to voice their concerns to, she added.“That's what it comes down to—having the candidates that will take care of everyone, not just certain groups,” Husnaa said.

There are local examples of what’s possible when Black and Brown people collaborate. The Inner-City Muslim Network (IMAN) and the Resident Association of Greater Englewood (RAGE) are Chicago-based organizations that address structural and systemic injustices through holistic, community centered approaches.

Last year, the respective Brown and Black-led groups celebrated the opening of a fresh food market. It's part of a broader plan to revitalize the 63rd Street corridor, including the reopening of a long-shuttered train station.

The Vohra’s also want to give back to Black Americans who made it possible for Indian, Muslim, and Latino communities to call Harvey home.

Harvey’s Muslim community including the Vohra’s created the Center for Islamic Teachings and Community Development (CITCD), which serves people across the south suburbs. The CITCD has a community center, learning academy, and offers free funeral services for Muslims. The nonprofit donated thousands of KN-95 masks and hand sanitizers to residents. They also regularly provide meals, groceries and other resources, including awarding over $15,000 in scholarships reserved for Black students.

“[The family’s] experiences as immigrants and their commitment to service make them uniquely qualified to serve the needs of the community,” Firoz said. “The Vohra family’s story is a shining example of what can be achieved when people from different backgrounds come together.”

Husnaa said that win or lose, s he believes that her family is paving the way for future generations in Harvey—for both Indian and non-Indian residents.