Event Wrap-Up: Building Public Trust by Empowering Community Voices

On Tuesday, ICPR cohosted a forum with the Chicago Urban League titled: “Building Public Trust by Empowering Community Voices.” The event was moderated by independent journalist Robin Robinson, who led a panel discussion on the work of local community advocates in Chicago neighborhoods and how trust can be built between local residents and the Chicago Police Department.

Robin pointed out that many residents, particularly young people, feel a sense of distrust with Police. WVON’s Dometi Pongo agreed with this sentiment, saying that most young community members feel that there is a lack of respect between officers and residents. He said, “It’s all about creating a culture of respect. Until we see that happen, relations will not improve.”

Panelists discussed the importance of training Chicago Police Officers to handle cases involving residents affected by mental illness. Former CPD Officer Richard Wooten noted that “every officer should have an understanding of different types of mental illnesses” and how those affected may react in an encounter with police. Alexa James of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Chicago is an expert in the field of mental health, and explained that “there is still a huge stigma with mental illness” in many communities, which leads to a lack of understanding.

Katya Nuques of Enlace Chicago noted that residents in the Little Village community feel they“do not yet have a voice in the way solutions and policies are shaped,”which makes even well-intentioned policies less effective in the community. Panelists cited the Laquan McDonald case as an example of many of the systemic issues at hand. Shari Runner, President of the Chicago Urban League, noted that “Laquan was failed by a lot more than just the police,” and explained that many residents lack the resources they need to succeed from an early age.

CPD Deputy Chief of Community Policing Eric Washington noted that CPD is making an effort “to make sure all officers are doing a good job working with the community.” However, Washington maintained that CPD requires “support from the community” in establishing stronger relationships with local residents. Rufus Williams of BBF Family Services listed some of the programs his organization has used to encourage this type of support, saying, “we had officers come over and play games with our young people to get to know them better. We are also planning a youth baseball league with police officers as coaches. We are trying to do our part to bridge this gap of trust.”

We would like to extend a special thanks to the Chicago Urban League, all of our attendees, panelists, and Robin for moderating. If you missed the forum, Click Here to view tweets and coverage of the event online.

View full event wrap-up online