MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Reparations Task Force is now accepting applications from Chicago residents, advancing the administration’s goal of addressing generations of systemic harm inflicted on Black communities.
The Task Force is designed to produce a comprehensive reparations study that city leaders say is a foundational step toward acknowledging historical injustices and crafting tangible solutions. Johnson established the Task Force by executive order on Juneteenth 2024, not 2004 as previously stated. It will include 40 members—25 appointed through nominations by the Mayor’s Office and the City Council’s Aldermanic Black Caucus, and 15 selected through the public application process.
All applicants and nominees must complete a short application to ensure a group that reflects the city’s racial, geographic, generational, and experiential diversity.
“This Reparations Task Force represents a pivotal moment in our city’s history and my administration’s ongoing pursuit to repair the generations of harm our people have endured,” said Johnson in a previously issued statement. “By bringing together diverse voices and expertise from across our communities, we are doing more than just studying the past—we are creating Chicago’s first comprehensive roadmap for reparations that will build a more equitable future that centers justice for all.”
Applications are due by May 20, 2025.
Carla Kupe, the City of Chicago’s Chief Equity Officer, stated: “We all envision a Chicago where every person’s dignity is honored and protected, and where everyone has what they need to thrive. To realize this vision, the City has a responsibility to acknowledge and address historic and present-day racial inequities. This work is not only essential for Black communities—it is foundational to Chicago’s future. When Black Chicagoans access opportunity and reclaim agency over their lives, the impact resonates across our entire city. Together, we move closer to a Chicago that is more just, more equitable, and more prosperous for us all.”
The Task Force is funded through a $500,000 allocation in the city’s 2024 fiscal year budget, specifically earmarked for reparations and restoration efforts. Members will be compensated for their work and will serve one-year terms beginning with the Task Force’s first meeting. The final Chicago Reparations Study is expected in summer 2026.
“We stand on the shoulders of pioneers and community leaders who instilled in me that acknowledging our past is essential to building a more just future,” said Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16th), Chairwoman of the Aldermanic Black Caucus. “With the creation of the Reparation Task Force, I am proud that we are showing our commitment to investing in the documentation and reparation of harm. Together, we are not just making history, we are correcting it.”
The legacy of slavery, Jim Crow laws, redlining, disinvestment, and other racist policies has fueled systemic inequities in education, employment, housing, health care, safety, and generational wealth-building for Black Chicagoans. The Reparations Task Force seeks to confront these disparities head-on.
“As a descendant of chattel slavery, it is a profound honor to lead this vital work,” said Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th). “Uplifting the voices and needs of our community is the foundation of my commitment to public service. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in the Aldermanic Black Caucus to embody our shared dedication to justice, equity, and progress through this work. The Reparations Task Force and Study is more than a policy initiative — it is a moral obligation. It’s about righting historic wrongs, honoring our ancestors, and building a future rooted in dignity and fairness for all.”
According to the Mayor’s Office, the Chicago Reparations Study will analyze the harms created by local, state, and federal policies and develop recommendations for repair.
The Task Force’s responsibilities include:
• Defining what reparations for Black Chicagoans should mean in the city’s specific context
• Identifying key areas of harm requiring redress, including housing, policing, incarceration, education, health care, and economic development
• Contributing to and amplifying public testimonials and personal narratives for inclusion in the report
• Reviewing policies and practices that have contributed to structural inequities
• Developing recommendations for reparative action
• Participating in community engagement sessions and public hearings
• Attending monthly 90-minute Task Force meetings
• Reviewing relevant materials to guide informed recommendations
• Supporting the full development and release of the Chicago Reparations Study
Questions about the Reparations Task Force or the application process can be directed to [email protected].