By Johanna Schmitt

As an organization focused on creating a better future for our neighbors and creating an ever more equitable community and city, we can’t ignore the recent Black Lives Matter protests and the voices of our neighbors—in the 40th Ward and beyond—calling for change. And we also cannot ignore the Trump Administration’s constant attacks on our immigrant and indigenous neighbors.

While undoing decades of systematic racism in Chicago will not be quick or easy, we can all be a part of positive change and help build a ward that is welcoming to everyone. 

Here are three ways that you can get started:

Support Black-Owned Businesses 

Show our neighbors of color they are important members of our community by using your dollar to support Black-owned businesses. Resources like Black People Eats and Black Owned Chicago make it easy.

You can also support black-led Chicago organizations working toward equality and inclusivity via donations or by volunteering. 

Find a Way to Get Involved 

Whether you volunteer at a local organization, help increase voter registration in critical swing states, sign a petition to hold the police accountable for brutality, write to elected officials, or join a protest - there are many ways you can help increase inclusivity, reduce racism, and build a stronger city.  

Here are some ways to get started: 

• Reach out to your alderman and the mayor to tell them you want a Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC)

• Donate or volunteer your time to a local organization (see above) or a national one like the NAACP, ACLU, Black Lives Matter, or The Bail Project

• Help register and educate voters via the 40th Ward Dems or via a national organization like Rock the Vote or the YWCA

• Find a petition you support and sign it (there are many on Change.org)

• Write your congressperson and senators about expanding voter access during COVID-19

Work to Reduce Personal Bias

There are endless lists of books, movies, and podcasts to start your journey. Find one. 

If you are a parent of a child in school, ask your teachers and administration about how Black and Indigenous history is taught in schools. Make sure students are learning an inclusive history from a diverse staff.

If you find yourself making an assumption about an individual or group of people, pause and ask yourself why. Identification of your biases comes before meaningful change.

And, keep talking! To your neighbors, to your family, to your friends. Encourage them to also take action and vote for candidates that reflect our community’s inclusive values. 

Together, we can help ensure our ward and our city are a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.