The Democratic Party of Evanston has endorsed mayoral candidate Daniel Biss, city clerk candidate Stephanie Mendoza and 1st Ward aldermanic candidate Clare Kelly for the 2021 municipal elections. The organization also endorsed Ald. Cicely Fleming (9th), who is running unopposed for reelection.
Throughout January, the DPOE shared candidate endorsement videos on their social media pages. Now, the organization is focusing its efforts on getting out the vote, board president Rachel Ruttenberg said.
But the endorsement process came with controversy, as residents questioned the party’s membership requirements concerns Ruttenberg said bubble up annually.
To participate in the DPOE’s endorsement session, individuals must pay a one-year $40 membership fee, a two-year $75 membership fee, or complete volunteer hours for the organization. Some say the requirements perpetuate classism and ableism by shutting out community members unable to afford the fees or volunteer.
The city of Evanston will name a part of Church St. after Evanston historian Dino Robinson for his work preserving the North Shore’s Black history.
The section of Church St. between Hartrey Ave. and Grey Ave. will be designated as “Morris ‘Dino’ Robinson, Jr. Way,” after Robinson.
Robinson, a lifelong Evanston resident, established the Shorefront Legacy Center in 1995, the North Shore’s only community archive for Black history. The center has since accumulated 350 linear feet of records documenting Black history in the area, Ald. Robin Rue Simmons (5th) said.
Robinson’s work providing historical documentation of the city’s discriminatory policies and practices has helped further Evanston’s reparations program, aldermen said at Monday’s City Council meeting. Robinson also helped create the Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Evanston, a team of Black residents who will expand reparations work to include education, health and wellness and cultural suppo
Student group NUCNC meets publicly with central administration to address unmet demands and District 219 community members demand reforms to address racism. The Weekly: Week One Recap breaks down The Daily’s top headlines with the reporters and editors who covered those stories.
ALEX CHUN: From The Daily Northwestern, I’m Alex Chun.
JORDAN MANGI: And I’m Jordan Mangi. This is The Weekly: a podcast that breaks down our top headlines each week.
ALEX CHUN: Here’s what’s been happening in the headlines. On campus, Northwestern has opened more dorms and on-campus housing this winter quarter.
JORDAN MANGI: With the return of most freshmen and sophomores, the University has also announced that Compass group is rehiring 97 percent of workers laid off last spring.
Black and brown parents pressure D219 board to address racism
January 13, 2021
Black and brown parents from Niles Township High Schools District 219 demanded the superintendent and school board members address racism in the district and implement policy changes to create more equitable institutions at a Tuesday press conference outside the district’s administrative building.
Michael Nabors, president of Evanston’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, spoke at the meeting, alongside current students and parents, and former faculty members.
Nabors said concerned parents and educators in the district contacted the Evanston NAACP branch two months ago expressing concerns and frustrations about the “ill treatment of Black and brown people in District 219.”