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FirstRepair headquarters at 1900 Asbury Ave. The Evanston-based nonprofit is hosting a national reparations symposium this week.
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From California to Oklahoma and everywhere in between, advocates are coming together this week in Evanston for the fourth annual National Symposium for State and Local Reparations.
The conference kicks off Wednesday and goes through Friday at the Hilton Orrington in downtown Evanston.
This year’s theme is “Solutions Only,” which came from “moving beyond apology into policy,” said Robin Rue Simmons, chair of the Evanston Reparations Committee.
Rue Simmons pioneered Evanston’s reparations effort when she was the Fifth Ward council member. She later founded FirstRepair, a reparations advocacy nonprofit headquartered in Evanston that is co-hosting the symposium.
“We will focus on advancing the conversation of reparations, moving beyond the case,” Rue Simmons said. “Through journalism, even through art, from oral history … we can move beyond establishing the case for reparations and into the practice of reparations.”
FirstRepair’s mission is to help other municipalities develop their own reparations policies, at least partially informed by Rue Simmons’ experience in Evanston.
The reparations movement has faced some pushback. A group of white plaintiffs is suing over Evanston’s program. When asked about a federal reparations program back in 2019, Donald Trump said he didn’t “see it happening.” In 2023, Trump instead referenced “restitution” for people allegedly harmed by “equity” policies.
At November’s Reparations Committee meeting, Rue Simmons emphasized the significance of local community efforts toward reparations for Black communities harmed by redlining, predatory lending, slavery and segregation.
“We need to prepare for what a Trump administration could mean for the ability for us to govern as a home rule municipality,” she said in November. “It is certainly disheartening, but not exactly surprising. We do this work because there have been centuries of harm against Black communities and other marginalized communities.”
Unveiling of National Resource Center
Evanston’s Shorefront Legacy Center will dedicate FirstRepair as the National Resource Center for State and Local Reparations in a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the FirstRepair headquarters, 1900 Asbury Ave.
The center will “connect to other leaders through resource and referral, and house scholarly, historical, and cultural learning and research, and serve as a hub for providing support and technical assistance to localities implementing reparations and foster collaboration among reparations leaders nationwide,” according to FirstRepair.
FirstRepair dedicated a new mural by artist Damon Reed on the building exterior in July.
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The official ribbon cutting at the unveiling of the mural at FirstRepair. Left to right: Kamm Howard, Dr. Daniels, Damon Lamar Reed (artist), Crawford Richmond, Bailee Rue, Karson Rue, Robin Rue Simmons, Buford Fennell, Kierra Abrams, Elisa Walker, Victoria Shire.
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Local voices for local change
On top of national change makers, Evanston city staff will share how art and culture fit into reparations policy in the session “Implementing Municipal Reparations & Arts, Culture, and Narrative (Live Reparations Toolkit)” on Thursday.
Assistant to the City Manager Tasheik Kerr and Evanston Public Library Family Engagement Coordinator Carmen Francellno will provide their insights as panelists.
The Reparations Committee will sponsor a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Second Baptist Church, 1717 Benson Ave., to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the passing of Evanston’s reparations program. Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste will lead the conversation with Evanston residents Karli Butler and Nikko Ross, alongside special guests from Oklahoma, California and Maryland.
Keynote speaker
This year’s keynote speaker is Joy Angela DeGruy, author of the book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing. Her work focuses on studying racism, trauma and slavery from a social research lens. She will speak Thursday.
DeGruy’s book was a point of inspiration for Rue Simmons’ reparations efforts.
“Dr. Joy will leave this symposium in a space of healing and justice and understanding that will strengthen us as a collective movement and better inform our allies as well,” Rue Simmons said. “I believe the outcomes of Dr. Joy’s keynote will be very timely as we go into a new era of this nation’s leadership, and as we go into our holiday season and enjoy our families and community.”
Registration for the town hall is available here.