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Let’s Talk About Race

Dear Friend,


Yep, you read that right. Policing and race have a long, tangled, often disheartening relationship—especially here in Chicago.


Just last week, a study was published that found Black drivers in Chicago are far more likely to be stopped by police than by automated traffic cameras, while the reverse is true for white drivers. Disparities like this lead to distrust. In 2022, a series of focus groups of young Black and Latino men conducted by the CPD Consent Decree’s Independent Monitor found “strong negative perceptions of police, a lack of trust in [officers’] ability to carry out their expected roles while respecting individuals’ rights, and a sense that officers treat people differently based on their race or the neighborhood they live in.”


None of this is new. But in a city as segregated in Chicago, it can be easy to lose sight of the experiences of those who are different from us. It can also be easy to leave our own perceptions of race unexamined.


So as we commemorate Juneteenth this month, please join us for a two-part conversation about the intersection of policing and race today.

Session 1
Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m.

Session 2

Wednesday, July 24, 6:30 p.m.


Both sessions at Third Space, 716 W. Addison St.

We’re thrilled to welcome experienced trainer and facilitator Romeo Jackson to lead this special mini-series. The first meeting will include an opportunity for personal reflections and small-group conversations. Come prepared for a participant-focused, engaging, and even vulnerable discussion.


Our second meeting will take the reflections shared at the first and broaden out the discussion to include historical and systemic perspectives on race and policing.


We hope these conversations provide a meaningful opportunity to reflect and connect. It may get a little uncomfortable, but that’s OK! We are one community, and we look forward to doing this work alongside you.


In community,


Maurilio, Jenny, and Sam

19th Police District Council


Mark Your Calendar: Pretrial Fairness Act on July 31st

In addition to our mini-series discussed above, we’ll be covering aspects of the Pretrial Fairness Act at our regular July monthly meeting. Please join us! Here are the details:

Wednesday, July 31, 6:30 p.m.
Saint Clement Church

642 W. Deming Place

See a Restorative Justice Community Court in Action on July 19

One of the goals of our Community Partnership Plan is to invite our neighbors to see a restorative justice court at work—and now is your opportunity! Cook County is home to several Restorative Justice Community Courts (RJCC), geared toward young adults ages 18-26 charged with non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes. RJCCs aim to reduce recidivism, prevent future harm, and resolve conflict through restorative conferences and peace circles. The court involves participation by victims, family members, friends, others affected by the crime, and the community.


We’ll be taking a group of neighbors to see the Avondale RJCC on Friday, July 19 from about 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please email 19thDistrictCouncil@gmail.com if you are interested in joining. Proceedings are open to the public so long as they get a little advanced notice to prepare for more people.


If you’re interested in a deeper dive, check out this report from Chicago Appleseed analyzing restorative justice courts’ practices and impact in Cook County.

One Northside Cleaning Supply & Personal Item Giveaway

Summer Opportunities for Chicago Youth