Morton Grove's Hidden Gem: The Only Museum in the World Dedicated to Servant Leadership

MORTON GROVE, IL — Tucked away in a former church on Shermer Road, a small but remarkable museum is quietly making its mark on the northwest suburbs. Journal & Topics Media Group The International Servant Leaders Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to celebrating servant leadership on a global scale. dehfoundation

Founded by longtime Glenview couple Dr. Hamid Akbari and Azar Khounani, the museum opened in November 2023 inside the converted former St. Luke's United Church of Christ at 9233 Shermer Road in Morton Grove. Journal & Topics Media Group Both Iranian-American co-founders came to the United States from Iran in the late 1970s as the Islamic Revolution was taking place, bringing with them a deep commitment to education, community, and the values of servant leadership.

💬 "To become a servant leader is: to serve first and become a leader second." — A quote displayed at the museum entrance

The Vision Behind the Museum

The museum is operated by the Dehkhoda Educational Foundation — an organization named in honor of Ali Akbar Dehkhoda, a pioneering Iranian scholar, reformer, and advocate for truth and progress. The museum serves as a place of reflection, education, and inspiration, highlighting the lives of servant leaders who have made a profound impact through courage, compassion, and selfless service. dehfoundation

Akbari spent his career in academia, including a long tenure at Northeastern Illinois University as a professor and administrator. Khounani has worked in early childhood education and also runs the Kids Academy Learning Center located in the same building as the museum.

Akbari says some declare themselves leaders, while others strive to serve their communities — and through that service, become recognized as leaders. Journal & Topics Media Group

✨ HIGHLIGHT: The International Servant Leaders Museum is one of Morton Grove's newest cultural destinations — and the only museum of its kind anywhere in the world.

Step Inside: What Visitors Will Find

Walking into the main hall, visitors are greeted by a series of quotes on signs hanging from the ceiling from servant leaders including Jane Addams, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa, among others. Journal & Topics Media Group

The collection spans the abolitionist and pre-Civil War era to the present, featuring signed photographs, paintings, posters, books, and newspaper pages. Journal & Topics Media Group Exhibits explore the principles of servant leadership — including empathy, listening, healing, compassion, and community building — through a rich collection of artifacts that bring each leader's story to life. Tripadvisor

✨ HIGHLIGHT: The collection includes a copy of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, a signed letter from Eleanor Roosevelt, and a signed photograph of Princess Diana.

Surprising Artifacts You Won't Expect

Among the more surprising items are signed photographs from the cast of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," including a photo from a May 1969 episode in which Fred Rogers invites Officer Clemmons, a Black police officer on the show, to join him putting his feet in a wading pool — a meaningful act given the national racial tensions of that time. Journal & Topics Media Group

Other notable pieces include a signed photograph of Nelson Mandela and a photograph of Frederick Douglass, the famed abolitionist. Most items originally came from the private collection of Akbari and Khounani, with additional pieces acquired through donations since the museum opened. Journal & Topics Media Group

✨ HIGHLIGHT: A signed Rosa Parks poster, photos from the Civil Rights movement, and artifacts from contemporary leaders like Greta Thunberg and Bishop Desmond Tutu round out a collection that truly spans generations.

Don't Miss: The 3rd Annual Event — May 8 & 9, 2026

Mark your calendars for one of the most meaningful community events of the spring. The White Rose & The Beloved Community is the International Servant Leaders Museum's 3rd Annual Event, co-sponsored by Northeastern Illinois University College of Arts and Sciences as part of its Spring 2026 Human Rights Series.

Held over two evenings on May 8–9, 2026, the event brings together exhibition, reflection, poetry, and music to honor lives of courage and conscience.

Sophie Scholl — the young German student who defied the Nazi regime as part of the White Rose resistance movement, and paid for that courage with her life — is one of three remarkable figures being honored.

(Photo — Sophie Scholl and the White Rose resistance movement)

Audrey Hepburn — beloved actress and tireless UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador who devoted her later years to humanitarian work for the world's most vulnerable children — is another.

The third honoree, Mirza Jahangir Khan Sur-e-Esrafil, was a pioneering Iranian journalist and constitutionalist who gave his life in the fight for freedom of the press and democratic rights in early 20th century Iran.

Through storytelling, artistic expression, and shared experience, the program creates a space for remembrance, inspiration, and collective commitment to building a more compassionate and just world. The event is co-sponsored by Northeastern Illinois University College of Arts and Sciences as part of its Spring 2026 Human Rights Series.

✨ HIGHLIGHT: Whether you're a longtime supporter or discovering the museum for the first time, The White Rose & The Beloved Community is a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and be moved — right here in the northwest suburbs. Don't miss it — May 8 & 9, 2026.

A Place for Learning, Growing, and Reflecting

The museum offers field trips for schools and youth groups, private tours for organizations and families, leadership training and team-building workshops, and special community events throughout the year. dehfoundation

An audio tour is available using just a phone and a pair of headphones — and can be enjoyed in person or remotely as part of a virtual experience for those unable to visit in person. dehfoundation

💬 "I had no idea it was there. It's great to be reminded of those people who stood up against bigotry and hate. It had a great message of unity and diversity." — Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton, after a recent visit

Plan Your Visit

📍 Address: 9233 Shermer Road, Morton Grove, IL 60053 📞 Phone: (224) 432-0354 🌐 Website: dehfoundation.org

Tours are available by appointment. Field trips, leadership workshops, and a virtual tour are also offered. The museum is a member of both the Glenview and Niles Chambers of Commerce.