CHICAGO – Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Office of Equity and Racial Justice and the Aldermanic Black Caucus, launched the public application process for Chicago's Reparations Task Force. Created by Executive Order 2024-1 and launched on Juneteenth 2024, this task force will support a historic effort to develop Chicago's first comprehensive reparations study, a critical step forward in acknowledging, addressing, and repairing generations of harm experienced by Black communities.   

“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 Mayor Brandon Johnson. “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 will be accepted through May 20th, 2025. Interested individuals are invited to apply here.   

The Reparations Task Force will have 40 members – 25 appointed through a nomination process by the Mayor's Office and the Aldermanic Black Caucus, and 15 through this public application process.   

All nominees and applicants will complete a short application to ensure a diverse and inclusive representation.   

“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,” said Carla Kupe, Chief Equity Officer. “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.”  

This task force is funded through Mayor Johnson’s $500,000 investment towards studying reparations and restoration, which was committed to the City’s 2024 fiscal year budget. The members will be compensated for their contributions and will serve for one year following the first meeting to produce Chicago’s Reparations Study next summer.    

“From Alderman Dorothy Tillman’s groundbreaking efforts in 2002 to my own advocacy, in close partnership with the Conrad Worrill Community Reparations Commission, Chicago has led the nation in advancing justice and equity. 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. 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,” said Chairwoman of the Aldermanic Black Caucus, Stephanie Coleman, 16th Ward.  

The institution and legacy of slavery, Jim Crow Laws, and other discriminatory policies and practices have contributed to systemic racial inequities in education, employment, wealth-building, housing, safety, and more.    

“As a descendant of chattel slavery, it is a profound honor to lead this vital work. 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," said Alderman Desmon Yancy, 5th Ward. "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."   

The Chicago Reparations Study will analyze the harmful policies that have negatively impacted Black Chicagoans and their ancestors to identify appropriate remedies.  

Key Responsibilities of the Task Force:   

• Define what Black reparations means in the specific context of Chicago;  

• Identify key areas of harm for redress (e.g., housing, policing, incarceration, education, health, and economic development);  

• Contribute to and amplify public testimonials and personal narratives to include within the report;     

• Review policies and practices that have led to structural inequities;   

• Help develop recommendations and remedies for reparative action;  

• Attend community engagement sessions and public hearings;   

• Attend 90-minute Task Force monthly meetings1  

• Review relevant materials to inform decision-making and recommendations;  
• Support the development of Chicago’s Reparations Study.  

Submit your applications here to Reparations Task Force today! If you have any questions, please reach out to equity.opportunities@cityofchicago.org.    

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About the Office of Equity and Racial Justice  

The Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) seeks to advance institutional change that results in an equitable transformation of how we do business across the City of Chicago enterprise. This includes the City’s service delivery, resource distribution, policy creation and decision-making. OERJ will do this by supporting City departments in normalizing concepts of racial equity, organizing staff to work together for transformational change, and operationalizing new practices, policies and procedures that result in more fair and just outcomes.