A new mayoral administration gives Chicago a critical opportunity to bridge the gap between communities most harmed by inequity and a government with a long history of neglect.
We believe that the way our government has functioned in the past is insufficient for the type of tide change that we deserve as residents of the beautiful city we call home. That change begins with building a new expectation of how government and community engage with one another; a relationship grounded in mutual respect, honesty, transparency, and the type of collaboration that only moves at the speed of trust.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has the vision for this kind of government; a Chicago for the people that’s centered around the Black and Brown neighborhoods of this city that have long been told their voices do not matter. If we want to make this vision a reality, we have to get real about the inherent challenges of the work. What will it take to generate the political will and people power necessary to combat centuries of systemic racism and injustice and sow the seeds for a new future?
Exploring Co-Governance in Chicago & Beyond is an opportunity to convene for something much larger and more impactful than policy change. Together, we can build an expectation that our collective work—as community leaders, public servants, and neighbors—is how we find effective solutions to the problems we face in Chicago. Shared responsibility creates change for us all.
Chicago United for Equity, the Office for Equity & Racial Justice, Local Progress, and Partners for Dignity & Rights invite you to a frank conversation about what our communities expect, what is reasonable to expect, and the challenges sure to come as we create this new way of co-governance.
Are you a city government employee or community member interested in attending this event on September 25? Contact Rachel Pate, Director of Civic Programming, to register.
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