Vernice Johnson-Warren will be the first to tell you that building a stronger community starts with a simple idea: show up.

Johnson-Warren has spent years investing in Park Forest — organizing events, mentoring youth, and leading initiatives — driven more by necessity than recognition.

“I’m 100% committed to the community that I live in,” she said.

That commitment has taken many forms. As a longtime member, former vice chair, and chair of the Park Forest Youth Commission, Johnson-Warren has helped shape programs that reach hundreds of young people each year. Her work has also earned her a place in the Park Forest Hall of Fame.

Her dedication, however, began long before she held any formal title.

Johnson-Warren grew up in the south suburbs beginning in the 1970s and graduated from Rich Central High School in 1985. Shortly afterward, she moved to Texas, returning to the south suburbs in 1994.

“I didn’t see that same community — neighbors talking to neighbors,” she said of her time in Texas. “Coming back to Illinois was one of the best decisions for our family.”

After returning, she made community involvement a priority, particularly when it came to supporting children.

Not long after settling back in the area, Johnson-Warren took on a leadership role at Talala Elementary School, guiding the Parent-Teacher Organization through a significant transformation. She helped turn the group into a nonprofit capable of securing grants for school improvements. Under her leadership, the organization funded field trips, upgraded facilities and replaced outdated playground equipment. She served as PTO president from 2006 to 2015.

Even as she made an impact at Talala, her broader focus remained on creating opportunities for youth throughout the community.

Through the Youth Commission, Johnson-Warren worked to expand events such as Youth Day, bringing in local school bands and securing business sponsorships to stretch limited funding.

“We were able to do more with less,” she said.

She also helped revive large-scale events such as the community carnival, which drew hundreds of families and generated funding for scholarships, including support for students already attending college.

Johnson-Warren said her mission is to help young people feel connected to their community.

“If kids don’t see anything here for them, they’re not going to stay connected,” she said.

That philosophy led to one of her most impactful initiatives — a haunted house in the village’s downtown. The event, a collaboration between the Park Forest Youth Commission and Haunts Against Hunger, drew thousands of visitors during its five-year run from 2015 to 2019 and collected thousands of nonperishable food items for local families in need.

After serving on the Youth Commission from 2007 to 2024, Johnson-Warren said one of the biggest challenges facing communities today is a decline in volunteerism.

“People want the events,” she said. “But not everybody wants to help create them.”

She believes reversing that trend starts with changing how residents think about their role in the community.

“If you like something, be a part of it,” she said. “If you want it better, help make it better.”

Johnson-Warren also emphasized the importance of leading by example, especially for young people.

“When children see a parent who is a doer and not a sitter, they become doers,” she said.

Since returning to Park Forest, that mindset has guided her as she balances a full-time career, family life, and continued community involvement.

While she holds a doctoral degree and has a background in business and health care, Johnson-Warren said her work in Park Forest is ultimately about something simpler: connection.

“I just want people to know there are resources here,” she said. “There are opportunities here.”

As Park Forest continues to evolve, Johnson-Warren said she hopes more residents — especially younger generations — will step forward to help shape its future.

“It’s your community,” she said. “You have to give back to it.”