The Color of Law: Impacts on Chicago

The Color of Law: Impacts on Chicago

The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein explores the enduring effects of historical government policies that fostered national housing discrimination. These de facto and de jure housing-related practices contributed to generational inequalities across the U.S. The Chicago region is referenced specifically among the issues laid bare in the book.

How has the Chicago region addressed the long-term impacts these discriminatory practices have had on Chicago area residents? 

Join our panel for a thought-provoking exploration of innovative programs and policies now being used to remedy the effects of the issues explored in the Color of Law.

Moderator

Joy Aruguete - Moderator

CEO, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp.

Ms. Aruguete has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation for 25 years. She leads this 53-year-old award-winning nonprofit community development corporation whose works has included: the development of 2,060 housing units, including 154 single family homes, with an additional 207 units under construction 731 apartments under development; resident-involved property management of 1,094 rental housing units; management of over 90,000 square ft. of commercial space across eight sites; the performance of minor repairs in over 700 households; the development of hundreds of jobs for community residents; and the development of hundreds of community leaders.

Panelists

Charles Barlow - Panelist

Executive Director, Boston Libary Consortium

Charlie Barlow is the Executive Director of the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), a consortium of 19 public and private academic research universities, liberal arts colleges, special research libraries, and state libraries in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Prior to the BLC, he served as the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Programs at the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. Charlie is an alumnus of UChicago, Cambridge, and Cornell, and previously held academic and administrative appointments at UChicago and Roosevelt University where he led applied research programs focused on housing and economic mobility, racial equity, health justice, and youth development. He currently serves on the boards of directors for the Association for Institutional Research in the Upper Midwest, Friends of the Parks, Housing Choice Partners, the Open Education Network, and the National Public Housing Museum.

Mary Howard, Ph.D. - Panelist

Chief Resident Services Officer, Chicago Housing Authority

Mary Howard is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a Ph.D. in Psychology. She currently serves as the Chief Resident Services Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority. Since joining CHA, Ms. Howard and her team have strengthened CHA's programming to include evidenced-based models leading to over 15,000 paid adult and youth work experiences. She has designed and implemented research-based programming that fosters economic independence and enhances residents' housing stability and quality of life. Ms. Howard has more than 30 years of experience in the nonprofit and housing service industry, including management, program design, evaluation, coaching, and training.

Kimberly Richardson - Panelist

Deputy City Manager, City of Evanston

Kimberly Richardson is the Deputy City Manager for the City of Evanston, IL. As an Executive Leadership member, she oversees the Fire Department, Health and Human Services Department, Administrative Services Department, Office of Sustainability, Office of Racial Equity, and Division of Administrative Hearings. Ms. Richardson has spent nearly 20 years in municipal government, serving as Assistant Village Manager in Flossmoor, IL, and Assistant Public Works Director in Riverside, IL, before joining Evanston in 2016. She holds both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Public Administration.

Ms. Richardson is a board member of the Illinois City/County Management Association (ILCMA) and League of Women in Government and an active member of the International City/County Management Association's (ICMA) and National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA).

Format

Our monthly program format will be Zoom Meetings to provide more opportunity to see fellow members and connect directly. Attendees are invited to participate on-camera. Chat and Direct Message will also be available throughout the event. We look forward to seeing you.

11:50 a.m. - Login for Virtual Networking

12:00 p.m. - Program

1:00 p.m. - Post-Event Virtual Networking

1:20 p.m. - Event Ends