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Skokie�s tradition of nurturing and celebrating diversity is no secret. According to the 2000 Census results, of Skokie�s 63,348 residents, over a third were born outside the United States. A recent study by the Latino Institute reported that Skokie received the highest number of new immigrants of any Chicago area suburban community.
But why? What separates Skokie from the rest of the suburbs in the eyes of the immigrant population?
Jerry Clarito is a Filipino immigrant who moved to Skokie from Chicago�s Irving Park neighborhood in 1997. Clarito said that his journey to Skokie, via Chicago, is common practice amongst the Filipino population, who are drawn first to the large metropolitan city because it offers more job opportunities. Clarito eventually wanted a better life for himself and his family, and he found that the suburbs, Skokie in particular, offered higher quality municipal services and programs from those of Chicago.
�We moved because of our high standard of education and housing, both of which Skokie provides,� Clarito said.
�And of course, because Skokie is known for its diversity, [my people�s immigration here] could be likened to a bandwagon. There are Filipinos who came here first and they had a positive experience of staying in the suburbs. Then word of mouth and strong recommendations. It is not an organized immigration.�
Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen said that he is not surprised to see his town�s name at the top of just about every report comparing suburban-Chicago ethnicity and diversity rates. Van Dusen said that many of Skokie�s immigrants tend to be well-educated professionals looking for jobs as doctors, lawyers and other skilled positions. He also highlighted Skokie�s reputation as a low-tax community, citing a history of lower property taxes than surrounding suburbs such as Evanston and Lincolnwood.
�People move to Skokie, and they move to the United States, because they want the opportunity for a better lifestyle,� Van Dusen said. �Skokie immigrants know the value of a good education, our housing situation is very good, we are well-situated transportation-wise, and we have the reputation of being hospitable and welcoming.�
What words don�t say about Skokie, however, numbers do. Clarito said that he looked at the Census when considering moving to Skokie, and what he found solidified his decision. Of Skokie�s nearly 32,000 citizens allowed to work, only 4 percent are unemployed. That�s three percentage points less than Evanston and over 6 percentage points less than Chicago. Nearby Lincolnwood and Glencoe, however, boast unemployment rates of less than 2 percent, but offer a considerably less diverse constituency.
Also of note, of Skokie�s 44,300 residents 25 years old or older, 87.4 percent of them have at least a high school diploma, compared with 87.1 percent for the entire Niles Township area. Skokie residents with at least a bachelor�s degree, at almost 42 percent, is also higher than the Niles Township average.
