Meet 2026 ‘Peace Portraits’ Honoree Diane Latiker

Meet Peace Portraits honoree Diane Latiker, Executive Director of Kids Off The Block (KOB). For over 20 years, Latiker has opened her home and her heart to young people on the South Side of Chicago. Through her organization, Latiker serves as a mentor for local youth escaping poverty and community violence. KOB provides an array of life-saving resources, including emergency housing, recreational outings, a safe space for creative expression, and more.

Peace Portraits, presented by the Illinois Peace Project, is a visual series dedicated to spotlighting the incredible individuals making a difference in Illinois. This year’s six honorees embody the spirit of Peace Portraits, as they work tirelessly to strengthen their communities, empower residents, inspire change, and foster peace and harmony in their communities.

Any support Latiker gives the young people in her community comes directly from their requests, and not from her own ideas of what they could need or want. Whether it’s a place to lay their head or a place to do their homework, Latiker’s mission is to go above and beyond for the young people who come to her door, providing them the exact support they need to survive and thrive.

“I know that people can change,” Latiker says. “I’ve seen young people change their mind. How they view things in life, how they went from not trusting anyone to trusting everybody. Yes, I believe people can change.”

“I’m no hero,” she says humbly. “I’m no leader. I’m a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a grandmother. I’m not a voice for everybody. I’m a senior citizen who wants to help the children in her community.”

Read Latiker’s story and check out the entire project here.