The Diversity Issues Task Force is comprised of mayors, trustees, and staff from nearly 40 communities in the Chicago region. The task force provides a forum for member communities to collaborate on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion as they pertain to local government. These discussions guide and inform Caucus initiatives to support regional progress towards a more equitable region. In the past, the task force has convened to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations, census engagement, immigrant integration, and Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) training through the National League of Cities. Please see below for recent meeting topics and materials.
The Diversity Issues Task Force meets quarterly on the second Tuesday of the second month of each quarter. The 2021 meeting schedule is listed below.
Chairs:
Mayor Rodney Craig
Village President, Village of Hanover Park
Mayor William McLeod
Mayor, Village of Hoffman Estates
Staff Contact:
Crispina Ojeda Simmons
Project Manager
cojeda@mayorscaucus.org
Diversity Issues Task Force Meetings
2024 Meeting Schedule
- June 11
- September 10
- December 3
Prior Meetings and Materials
March 19, 2024
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Supporting Illinois Residents Facing a Housing Crisis: Response System and Access
Meeting Materials:
December 19, 2023
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Diversity: Challenges & Opportunities
Meeting Materials:
November 7, 2023
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Digital Equity & Federal Funding Opportunities
Meeting Materials:
June 28, 2023
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Update on Asylum Seeker Response
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- Meeting slides
March 28, 2023
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: LORE Pilot Update
Meeting Materials:
December 13, 2022
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Presentations:
- Latino Policy Forum – Refugee services coordination
- UIC Disability Resource Center – Project Sidewalk
- CMAP Community Alliance for Regional Equity
Meeting Materials:
August 9, 2022
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Environmental Justice
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- Meeting Recording
- Diversity Issues Task Force Updates Presentation
- EJust Scalable Urban Toolkit – Presentation
- EJust Scalable Urban Toolkit – Article
- EJ in the Greenest Region Compact and Climate Action Plan
- The Climate Health Institute
May 10, 2022
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: DEI Survey Results and Operationalizing DEI Pilot Program Launch
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- Meeting Recording
- Latino Policy Forum Resources
- Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Updates
- UIC Great Cities Pilot Program
February 8, 2022
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Human Relations Commissions
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- Chicago Community Trust Grant Updates Slides
- Bystander Intervention Training 2022 Information
- Migration Policy Institute Language Access Resources:
- Language Access Presentation Slides
- A Framework for Language Access Full Report
- Town of Chapel Hill Language Access Plan (sample plan for a suburban municipality)
- Latino Policy Forum Resources and Policy Updates:
- Human Relations Commissions Resources:
November 9, 2021
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: 2020 Census Updates & Community Surveys to Assess DEI
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- MMC DITF Program Updates
- MMC DITF Census Discussion
- Latino Policy Forum – Census 2020 Presentation
- 2020 Census CQR FAQs
- Naperville Community Survey Slides
- Updated DEI Working Meeting Schedule 2021-2022
August 10, 2021
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Operationalizing DEI
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- Latino Policy Forum – Federal and State Immigration Updates
- Welcoming Centers and Rental Utility Assistance Organizations
- MMC DITF Census Discussion
- MMC DITF Program Updates
- DEI Working Group Meeting Schedule 2021-2022
- Definitions – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Local Government
- Village of Flossmoor Operationalizing DEI Presentation
- City of Evanston REDI Presentation
May 11, 2021
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Municipal DEI Efforts
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- MMC DEI Research Presentation
- Latino Policy Forum Blog Post – IDHA 2020 Emergency Rental Assistance Inequity for Latinos
- Latino Policy Forum Public Charge Rule Changes Update
- Housing Stability Service Providers
- Illinois Rental Payment Program Brochure IHDA English/Spanish
- Illinois Rental Payment Program FAQs English/Spanish
- IDHS Immigrant and Refugee Housing Assistance and Eviction Prevention NOFO
- FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance FAQs
February 9, 2021
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: 2020 Census Debrief and Next Steps
Meeting Materials:
November 10, 2020
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: Language Access Planning
Meeting Materials:
- Agenda
- MMC Diversity Issues Task Force Presentation
- Strategies for Improving Access to Asian Language Speakers Presentation
- DuPage Federation Language Access Resource Center Description
- AAPI Voter Data Illinois 2020
- Language Access Word Cloud
August 11, 2020
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Topic: COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Meeting Materials:
Citizen Commission Directory
The map and directory below provide a list of different volunteer citizen commissions, committees, and advisory boards throughout the Northeastern Illinois region.