Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Announces Event Lineup for Inaugural Cook County Racial Equity Week
CHICAGO—Furthering her administration’s commitment to promoting equity, today Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the event lineup for Cook County’s inaugural Racial Equity Week–September 16 - 20, 2019.
During this week of learning, listening, and engagement, Cook County will hold a series of events to hear from residents and community partners and educate the public about racial equity, why it matters and how everyone can work together to close the gap.
“Incorporating racial equity into everything we do here at Cook County is critically important to ensuring that the services we provide are inclusive, culturally competent, and that communities and residents have a voice in government decision-making,” said Toni Preckwinkle.
In November 2018, President Preckwinkle released the Policy Roadmap: Five-Year Strategic Plan for Offices Under the President in November 2018, she made equity one of the foundational values of her administration. Because of her commitment to racial equity, this past spring Offices Under the President officially joined the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), an organization that forms a national network of local and regional governments to advance racial equity.
Additionally, President Preckwinkle has convened a Racial Equity Leadership Council (RELC) to advance the work in her administration. The Council is composed of a core team of equity champions throughout Offices Under the President. The core team chairs several working groups focused on policies, training, engagement, and operations. Working groups are open to all, including staff throughout Cook County Government and valued community partners.
“Floating Museum is honored to participate in Cook County’s inaugural Racial Equity Week and speak with Board President Toni Preckwinkle at EXPO Chicago. As curators, designers and artists we strive to be intentional about where we install our work, what our work represents, and who we engage in the process. The goal has always been to build with our partners and not for our partners,” said Faheem Majeed, Co-Director of the Floating Museum.
Confirmed events during Racial Equity Week are as follows:
- Monday, Sept. 16: President Preckwinkle will deliver a City Club Address on the importance of approaching government work with a racial equity lens and highlight key projects promoting equity in her administration. The address is titled “Advancing Racial Equity: Closing the Gap Through Policy and Practice.”
- Wednesday, Sept. 18: President Preckwinkle will host a Forum at the Museum of Mexican Art with Commissioner Alma Anaya (7th District) residents and community partners to envision how Cook County can achieve racial equity and how government can provide the framework to achieve that vision.
- Thursday, Sept. 19: President Preckwinkle will host a Showcase to celebrate the work of Offices Under the President fellows who recently completed the Chicago United for Equity 2019 Fellowship Program.
- Friday, Sept. 20: President Preckwinkle will moderate a discussion on the intersection of public policy and public art in advancing racial equity with artists Faheem Majeed and Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford of the Floating Museum collective at EXPO Chicago on Friday, September 20 at Navy Pier in view of their large-scale sculpture, Founders Inflatable. Learn more about their work here: (https://floatingmuseum.org)
For continuous updates regarding Racial Equity Week and added events throughout the week please visit: https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/racial-equity.