Evanston plans event to select descendants for reparations funds

The Evanston Reparations Committee has announced the selection event for reparations for the descendants of those who experienced racially discriminatory housing practices in Evanston over the decades. The selection process to determine the funding disbursement order will be held in the Evanston Township High School auditorium on Jan. 11 starting at 5:30 p.m. Letters will be sent to those who are eligible for the event informing them they will be given a selection number after the event that gives their place in line for funding. Advertisement “We’re very excited about this,” Reparations Committee Chair Robin Rue Simmons said during the Dec. 7 meeting. “Please spread the word because there is a large descendant community that’s been waiting.” The committee expects to be able to disburse payment to at least 80 direct descendants in 2024, according to the letter, and those selected will be contacted in March to decide how they would like to spend the money. A majority of those in the ancestor group have been awarded funds from the city’s cannabis dispensary tax revenues, with 26 of 140 ancestors, those who were 18 and older at the time and directly experienced racist housing policies in Evanston from 1919 to...