We celebrate Juneteenth while remembering that the fight for racial justice is not over, and our commitment to dismantling systemic racism must remain steadfast.

The Chicago Police Department is inviting the public to join two virtual focus groups to provide feedback on its gender-based violence-related policies. CRS urges your participation as we aim to make Chicago and the world a safer space.

Starting in 2016, Community Renewal Society, in coalition with other community organizations in Chicago, worked with the Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, to put in place the current consent decree, adopted in January 2019.

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability held a meeting to draft policies for selecting the police superintendent and police board members. The new superintendent is expected to prioritize fairness, transparency and accountability to foster trust between the police and the community.

Keron Blair shares a heartfelt prayer for the new mayor of Chicago, envisioning a future where all people are safe, prosperous and treated with justice and equity while also encouraging us to hold our leaders in Chicago accountable. Read Keron's prayer here. 

What will the ECPS Ordinance do? What is the community commission on public safety? What are district councils? How does the ordinance create an opportunity for additional democratic reform?

For those of us who have been doing police accountability and police reform work for some time, the answer seems clear: policing in this country is a racist and white supremacist institution founded to perpetuate violence upon black bodies, and it continues to function that way today.

The Chicago Consent Decree Coalition released a statement on their decision to boycott the sham search warrant “Advisory Group.” Read the statement here.

Here is a letter that was sent to the City Committee on Budget and Government Operations and the Community Commission regarding the CPD budget and police accountability.

This year’s theme is Together, We Win! These questions can be used to guide conversation with your congregation after viewing the 2022 Annual Membership Assembly video. We would love to hear from you the thoughts and plans that came out of your discussion.

The Interim Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability held its first public meeting on September 29 at Malcolm X College. The over-capacity crowd of community members underscored the enthusiasm of organizers and community leaders from across the diverse makeup of the Chicago Metropolitan area.

The community members who served on the City of Chicago’s Use of Force Community Working Group released their first public report, which describes fundamental changes to Chicago Police Department (CPD) Use of Force policies and highlights ongoing deficiencies in need of immediate change.

What will the ECPS Ordinance do? What is the community commission on public safety? What are district councils? How does the ordinance create an opportunity for additional democratic reform?

The Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability will host its first public meeting, which is the culmination of a years-long effort that included tens of thousands of people in communities across the city.

In honor of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance's first anniversary on July 21, ECPS supporting organizations took action on July 21 and July 22 by participating in a Phone Zap Action to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Office where callers demanded accountability around the ECPS Interim Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022 the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Coalition was awarded The Woods Fund of Chicago Power of Community Award at the Local Initiatives Support Corp.

To stop violence, we need investments in our communities. That's why 65 organizations from across Chicago are demanding that Mayor Lightfoot focus on addressing the root causes of harm rather than increasing punishment.

You can now apply to first job openings with the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability: First Deputy Director, Deputy Director for the Commission, and Executive Administrative Assistant.

It is important to note that the call for accountability and justice is not simply about putting officers in jail. Rather, it is a demand that those who kill our loved ones be made to answer for those killings in the full view of the public. It is, as many have said, the least we should expect.

In this month of Black History, as we reflect on the accomplishments and achievements of Black people, we must remember the lives lost to systemic white violence. We must go farther than remembering, we must dedicate ourselves and our resources to building a world committed to Black living and Black thriving as opposed to Black death.