Equity and Empowerment Commission

AGENDA Equity and Empowerment Commission Thursday, July 16, 2026 Lorraine H. Morton City Hall, 909 Davis Street, Suite 240, Council Chambers 6:00 PM Public Comment Sign-Up: Register to Provide Public Comment at the Meeting (Sign-Up Link Attached) Written Public Comment: Submit Written Public Comment by Email (Email Link Attached) Virtual Attendance: Join the Meeting Online Using Zoom (Meeting Link Attached) The City of Evanston is committed to making all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Any citizen needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact 847- 866-2919 (Voice) or 847-866-5095 (TTY). Requests for access assistance must be made 48 hours (two working days) in advance. Requests received with less than 48 hours (two working days) advance notice will be attempted using best efforts, but cannot be guaranteed. Page I. ROLL CALL - II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES II.A. Approval of the June 18, 2026, Equity and Empowerment 4-5 Commission Meeting Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat Agenda III. APPROVAL OF VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION IV. PUBLIC COMMENT Page 1 of 12 V. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION V.A. Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat Agenda 6-8 N/A For Discussion Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat Agenda - Attachment - Html Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat Agenda V.B. Update on Community Outreach Assignments 9 N/A Upcoming Events/Meeting: August 4 – National Night Out, 5:00 p.m., 1454 Elmwood August 7 – First Friday, 5:00 p.m., Mason Park August 11 – Starlight Concert, 7:30 p.m. August 15 – Downtown Evanston Farmers' Market, 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. August 22 – Evanston Art and Big Fork Festival, 11:00 a.m. August 22 – Evanston Family Fun Fest, 12:00 p.m. August 23 – Evanston Art and Big Fork Festival, 11:00 a.m. August 30 – Taste of Evanston, all day For Discussion Update on Community Outreach Assignments - Attachment - Html V.C. Proposed Working Session on Equity Scorecard Survey 10 Motion to approve the proposed working session on the Equity Scorecard Survey, in place of the EEC monthly meeting, and to approve a $20 stipend for participating community representatives. For Action Proposed Working Session on Equity Scorecard Survey - Attachment - Html V.D. City Council Referral Tracker 11 N/A For Discussion City Council Referral Tracker - Attachment - Html Page 2 of 12 V.E. Feedback on GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity) 12 Online Training N/A For Discussion Feedback on GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity) Online Training - Attachment - Html VI. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION VII. COMMUNICATIONS VIII. REPORTS IX. ADJOURNMENT Mission Statement The Equity and Empowerment Commission’s (EEC) mission is to develop shared recognition and language of the history and impact of structural racism in Evanston, and develop tools and practices to achieve racial equity for all residents. Page 3 of 12  Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat AgeDraft ndandaEquity and Empowerment Com Date:Date: September 19, 2026 September 19, 2026 Time:Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Robert Location: Crown Community Center, Evanston, IL Robert Crown Community Center, Evanston, IL Retreat Outcomes Retreat Outcomes By the end of the retreat, commissioners will: By the end of the retreat, commissioners will: ●● Develop a stronger shared understanding of equity Develop a stronger shared understanding of equit ●● Build stronger relationships and trust as a commission Build sion stronger relationships and trust as a commis ●● Enhance their ability to engage and advocate for Evanston Enhanceresidents their ability vanston to engage residents and advocate for E ●● Continue advancing the mission of the Equity and Empowerment Continue advancing Commission the mission mpowerment of the Equity Commissand Facilitator Objectives Facilitator Objectives ●● Build greater collaboration, connection, and trust Build between greater Commission collaboration, betweenconnection, Commission and trust Members (Commissioner Connection & Team Building)Members (Commissioner Connection & Team Bu ●● Facilitate a strategic planning exercise focused on EEC's Facilitate duties a n trategic EEC's duties planning exercise focused o ●● Ensure EEC members have a shared understanding of equity Ensure andEEChow to members equity and have how a to shared unders operationalize it in a government setting (Review ARE Goperationalize Training, it City in a ARE government Training, City setting (Review G operations by department, and draft an Equity Scoreoperations card)card) by department, and draft an Equity Sco Topics to Cover Topics to Cover ●● Review the Equity and Empowerment Commission Ordinance Review ancethe Equity and Empowerment Comm ●● Determine what the Commission needs to be doing in order Determine to fulfill its what the duties order Commission to fulfill needs its to duties be d as established by City Ordinance as established by City Ordinance ●● Review EEC 2025/2026 accomplishments Review EEC 2025/2026 accomplishments ●● Establish objectives for 2026/2027 Establish objectives for 2026/2027 Draft Agenda Draft Agenda ●● Welcome & Grounding (10:00 – 10:30 AM) Welcome & Grounding (10:00 – 10:30 AM) ○○ Welcome Welcome ○○ Introductions (3 Personal Introductions Things & 3 Professional Things About Yo(3 urself, Personal with the Things &)3 group u ) with rself, Professional the group Things About Yo ○○ Purpose & Agenda Purpose & Agenda ○○ Review Group Norms (Expectations for collaboration, Review communication,Group ,Normscommunication, (Expectations for co and engagement) and engagement) ○○ Ice Breaker/ Teaming building activity Ice Breaker/ Teaming building activity ○○ Shared Understanding of Equity (10:30 – 11:00 AM) Shared Understanding of Equity (10:3 Break: 11:00 - 11:10 Break: 11:00 - 11:10 ●● Ordinance Review & Strategic Impact (11:10 AM - 12:Ordinance 00) 00) Review & Strategic Impact (11:1 Lunch: 12:00 – 12:30 PM Lunch: 12:00 – 12:30 PM ●● Ordinance Review & Strategic Impact (12:30 AM - 1:3Ordinance Review & Strategic Impact (12:3 0) 0) II.A. Page 4 of 12  Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat AgeDraft ndandaEquity and Empowerment Com ●● Reflection & Moving Forward (1:30 – 2:00 PM) Reflection & Moving Forward (1:30 – 2:00 PM) ○○ Review EEC 2025/2026 Accomplishments Review EEC 2025/2026 Accomplishments ○○ Insights & Key Learnings Insights & Key Learnings ○○ Intentions & Next Steps Intentions & Next Steps Prepared by: Prepared by: Josephine Bostic Josephine Bostic Chair Chair Equity and Empowerment Commission Equity and Empowerment Commission 33 II.A. Page 5 of 12  Memorandum To: Members of the Equity and Empowerment Commission From: Tasheik Kerr, Assistant to the City Manager Subject: Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat Agenda Date: July 16, 2026 Motion: N/A Commission Action: For Discussion Summary: Chair Bostic has requested the Commission review the attached proposed agenda for the upcoming EEC Retreat, scheduled for Friday, September 19, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Robert Crown Community Center, and to share any feedback, questions, or suggested revisions. Attachments: Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat Agenda V.A. Page 6 of 12  Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat AgeDraft ndandaEquity and Empowerment Com Date:Date: September 19, 2026 September 19, 2026 Time:Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Robert Location: Crown Community Center, Evanston, IL Robert Crown Community Center, Evanston, IL Retreat Outcomes Retreat Outcomes By the end of the retreat, commissioners will: By the end of the retreat, commissioners will: ●● Develop a stronger shared understanding of equity Develop a stronger shared understanding of equit ●● Build stronger relationships and trust as a commission Build sion stronger relationships and trust as a commis ●● Enhance their ability to engage and advocate for Evanston Enhanceresidents their ability vanston to engage residents and advocate for E ●● Continue advancing the mission of the Equity and Empowerment Continue advancing Commission the mission mpowerment of the Equity Commissand Facilitator Objectives Facilitator Objectives ●● Build greater collaboration, connection, and trust Build between greater Commission collaboration, betweenconnection, Commission and trust Members (Commissioner Connection & Team Building)Members (Commissioner Connection & Team Bu ●● Facilitate a strategic planning exercise focused on EEC's Facilitate duties a n trategic EEC's duties planning exercise focused o ●● Ensure EEC members have a shared understanding of equity Ensure andEEChow to members equity and have how a to shared unders operationalize it in a government setting (Review ARE Goperationalize Training, it City in a ARE government Training, City setting (Review G operations by department, and draft an Equity Scoreoperations card)card) by department, and draft an Equity Sco Topics to Cover Topics to Cover ●● Review the Equity and Empowerment Commission Ordinance Review ancethe Equity and Empowerment Comm ●● Determine what the Commission needs to be doing in order Determine to fulfill its what the duties order Commission to fulfill needs its to duties be d as established by City Ordinance as established by City Ordinance ●● Review EEC 2025/2026 accomplishments Review EEC 2025/2026 accomplishments ●● Establish objectives for 2026/2027 Establish objectives for 2026/2027 Draft Agenda Draft Agenda ●● Welcome & Grounding (10:00 – 10:30 AM) Welcome & Grounding (10:00 – 10:30 AM) ○○ Welcome Welcome ○○ Introductions (3 Personal Introductions Things & 3 Professional Things About Yo(3 urself, Personal with the Things &)3 group u ) with rself, Professional the group Things About Yo ○○ Purpose & Agenda Purpose & Agenda ○○ Review Group Norms (Expectations for collaboration, Review communication,Group ,Normscommunication, (Expectations for co and engagement) and engagement) ○○ Ice Breaker/ Teaming building activity Ice Breaker/ Teaming building activity ○○ Shared Understanding of Equity (10:30 – 11:00 AM) Shared Understanding of Equity (10:3 Break: 11:00 - 11:10 Break: 11:00 - 11:10 ●● Ordinance Review & Strategic Impact (11:10 AM - 12:Ordinance 00) 00) Review & Strategic Impact (11:1 Lunch: 12:00 – 12:30 PM Lunch: 12:00 – 12:30 PM ●● Ordinance Review & Strategic Impact (12:30 AM - 1:3Ordinance Review & Strategic Impact (12:3 0) 0) V.A. Page 7 of 12  Draft Equity and Empowerment Commission Retreat AgeDraft ndandaEquity and Empowerment Com ●● Reflection & Moving Forward (1:30 – 2:00 PM) Reflection & Moving Forward (1:30 – 2:00 PM) ○○ Review EEC 2025/2026 Accomplishments Review EEC 2025/2026 Accomplishments ○○ Insights & Key Learnings Insights & Key Learnings ○○ Intentions & Next Steps Intentions & Next Steps Prepared by: Prepared by: Josephine Bostic Josephine Bostic Chair Chair Equity and Empowerment Commission Equity and Empowerment Commission 33 V.A. Page 8 of 12  Memorandum To: Members of the Equity and Empowerment Commission From: Tasheik Kerr, Assistant to the City Manager Subject: Update on Community Outreach Assignments Date: July 16, 2026 Motion: N/A Commission Action: For Discussion Summary: Chair Bostic requests that commissioners provide updates regarding their outreach assignments to gather additional input on the Equity and Empowerment Commission's scorecard survey. V.B. Page 9 of 12  Memorandum To: Members of the Equity and Empowerment Commission From: Tasheik Kerr, Assistant to the City Manager Subject: Proposed Working Session on Equity Scorecard Survey Date: July 16, 2026 Motion: Motion to approve the proposed working session on the Equity Scorecard Survey, in place of the EEC monthly meeting, and to approve a $20 stipend for participating community representatives. Commission Action: For Action Summary: Chair Bostic proposed hosting a working session on the equity scorecard survey, in place of an EEC monthly meeting, with representatives from social justice, equity-focused, and culturally based community organizations serving historically marginalized populations, and providing them with a $20 stipend. To accomplish this, Commissioners will need to complete the assignments below. 1. Outreach & Invitations  Identify and compile a list of target organizations (social justice, equity-focused, cultural, and community groups serving historically marginalized populations)  Draft and send email invitations, and follow up with non-respondents 2. Logistics  Secure a venue (Tasheik)  Determine the date/time that maximizes attendance  Arrange food/refreshments (Tasheik) 3. Content & Facilitation  Develop the working session agenda  Prepare materials (summary of scorecard survey results/themes to date, discussion prompts)  Assign a facilitator (or co-facilitators) to run the session  Take meeting minutes during the session (Tasheik) V.C. Page 10 of 12  Memorandum To: Members of the Equity and Empowerment Commission From: Tasheik Kerr, Assistant to the City Manager Subject: City Council Referral Tracker Date: July 16, 2026 Motion: N/A Commission Action: For Discussion Summary: The Equity and Empowerment Commission will review the City Council referral tracker to ensure that equity is intentionally considered and embedded in the development, evaluation, and implementation of City policies, programs, and practices. For the July meeting, Commissioner Bostic will lead the review of City Council referrals. V.D. Page 11 of 12  Memorandum To: Members of the Equity and Empowerment Commission From: Tasheik Kerr, Assistant to the City Manager Subject: Feedback on GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity) Online Training Date: July 16, 2026 Motion: N/A Commission Action: For Discussion Summary: Chair Bostic requests Commissioners' feedback on the GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity) online training thus far. V.E. 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