David Sidney, 25

By Elizabeth Davies

Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.

That might be a deep concept, but it’s a way of life for 25-year-old David Sidney. “We can either be proactive or we can resist change,” says Sidney, an urban planner with Gary Anderson and Associates. “If we resist it, we will miss opportunities.”

Growing up in Rockford, Sidney knew he wanted to be a leader in the world of architecture, but he didn’t think it would be in his hometown. Rockford, he thought, was too resistant to change.

But now, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in urban planning under his belt, Sidney is back in his hometown and intent on making it a better place to live.

“It’s easy to criticize, but it takes hard work to do something about it,” Sidney says. “It takes time, but you have to plant the seed. You can’t expect fruit if you don’t plant the seed.”

Jennifer McInnis, who previously worked with Sidney, has been impressed with his ability to lead through his actions.

“He is sincerely guided by his faith in God in a quiet and humble way, ”McInnis says. “He genuinely believes in this place, and the power of humankind.”

Despite his young age, Sidney already is considered one of Rockford’s top idea makers. He’s on boards for the Rockford Housing Authority and Pilgrim’s Promise Community Development. He also is the youth director at his southwest Rockford church, Pilgrim Baptist, which has motivated him to push for revitalization efforts in that part of the city.

“It is one of several gateways to Rockford,” he says. “I’d like to see preservation and new structures. I think there’s opportunity to bring in a lot.”