OPRF Community Foundation Marks Release Of Community Voices Report

Press release from The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation:

July 28, 2022

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation today announced the release of Community Voices, a report sharing the results of its recent community needs assessment for the west Cook County region and presenting a framework for future efforts toward racial equity. The report is available online at oprfcf.org/community-voices, and the Foundation will host a series of events to share insights from the report and engage with the community.

“Two years in the making, this report reveals the most pressing needs in our area, what the data tells us, and how the power of our community will guide our future to a racially just society.” said Foundation President and CEO Tony Martinez, Jr. “We believe the Community Voices Report will be of great value not just for the Foundation and nonprofit sector, but for local government, schools and the community at large.”

The Community Voices events will be facilitated by Foundation staff and The Nova Collective, a local Black-owned, woman-owned consulting firm specializing in transforming organizational cultures around diversity, equity and inclusion issues. Sessions will be held online or in person on the following dates:

· Wednesday, August 3 at 6 p.m. VIRTUAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eNjqOs6e0w

· Saturday, September 17 at 9am at Proviso East High School, 807 S. 1st Ave. in Maywood

· Saturday. September 24 at 10am at the Oak Park Public Library - Main Branch, 834 Lake St. in Oak Park

· Tuesday, September 27 at 6pm VIRTUAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdkrZOQpoe0

At each of these events, The Nova Collective will share highlights from focus group conversations with 100 neighbors, partners and stakeholders describing the priority areas identified in the community needs assessment. Foundation staff will present compelling data that underscores how racial inequality is the root cause of challenges in the west Cook County region.

There will also be a panel discussion with focus group participants to gain perspective and discuss next steps, and the audience will get involved through a Q&A and other activities to build understanding and solidarity.

For more details and to RSVP, please visit oprfcf.org/community-voices, email communityvoices@oprfcf.org, or call 708-848-1560.

This press release was produced by The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. The views expressed here are the author's own.