5th Ward Ald. Robin Rue Simmons invites community members to provide their perspective on what local reparations in the 5th Ward should look like if a proposal to establish a rehabilitative reparation fund is created. Ald. Rue Simmons will host two community meetings:
Thursday, July 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center
1823 Church St.
Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m. to noon
Morton Civic Center, Room 2402
2100 Ridge Ave.
Ald. Rue Simmons is proposing to create a fund that would be used to compensate for individual and communal damage left by historical racism and discrimination. This is not a settlement but an opportunity to mitigate some historical damages. The results from these meetings will be used to support the creation of the policy and establish guidelines for the use of potential funds.
The Equity & Empowerment Commission is working on a long-term truth and reconciliation initiative that will acknowledge and tell the truth about past wrongs created by individual and institutional racism and address the present consequences. However, at this meeting, Ald. Rue Simmons is seeking “solutions only” for the use of rehabilitative reparation funds.
