Richard Westbrook is a paraprofessional in the Special Education Department with deep roots in the community who enjoys giving back to students and being a role model.

Westbrook was actually born in Maywood and has lived in this community for all of his life. He played on East’s 1974 state championship basketball team.

Westbrook says he loves his community. He also notes that his community is much different from when he grew up. “When I was a kid, everyone in the community just about knew each other. So it was more like an extended family. The part I miss the most is the closeness where everybody lends a helping hand, everybody helped each other. Now you don’t even know your next-door neighbor.”

“I started coming to Proviso East when I was ten years old to watch my brothers play basketball, when Fred Hampton was engaging with the leaders of the community to get our swimming pool for the community. I’ve been coming to this school for over fifty years.”

Westbrook said, “This generation that is coming up is worrying me. From tragic events to just everyday things, this generation is not like my generation because back in the day parents were dying first and now parents are burying their children.”