title
REPORT
Department: Office of the General Superintendent
Request: Receive and File
Report Title: Annual Report from the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”) REDI Committee
Report Period: 2021
Summary: The Forest Preserves of Cook County is committed to advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion through organizational culture and policy change. This 2021 report-a second annual REDI report-serves as a tool to hold the Forest Preserves accountable to that commitment while striving to make everyone feel welcome in the Forest Preserves.
The REDI Committee was formed in November 2018 and consists of employees from across the Forest Preserves. The REDI Committee focuses on restructuring internal processes to reflect values of equity and inclusion, while educating fellow co-workers, visitors, partners, and volunteers on how to practice racial equity. The work of the REDI Committee is guided through a partnership with the Department of Public Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the REDI Committee welcomed and trained a new group of members. Members of the REDI Committee receive in-depth training on how to operationalize racial equity and build skills in project management, process analysis, peer engagement, and meeting facilitation. REDI continued to advance projects in the areas of Community Engagement, Training and Human Resources.
The annual report is a compilation of all REDI efforts throughout the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
end