While the range of life-altering challenges 2020 has presented is unprecedented in our lifetime, we believe this year has also manifested enormous opportunities to dismantle structures of inequity and advance lasting systemic change. The urgency and possibility of this moment are shaping BPI’s work and focusing what we stand for as an organization.

As we look ahead to 2021, here are a few highlights of BPI in 2020.
Change Is Now!
BPI hosted Change Is Now, a showcase-style event, featuring national and local change leaders, each providing their vision for opportunities for change, now. You can still view our program and connect with the extraordinary voices for change who participated.
BPI Is Growing

2020 has been a year of growth at BPI. In addition to the return of Cara Hendrickson in February as BPI's new Executive Director, Kimberly Campbell joined BPI as our new full-time Communications Director in July. Other newly created positions include: Laura Taglia as Director of Finance and Operations and Shareese Pryor as Senior Staff Counsel and Director of Justice Reform. Upon completing her Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellowship, Marsheda Ewulomi transitioned to a new permanent staff position as Staff Counsel. Amy Thompson joined BPI in September as our new Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellow. 

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

BPI has moved forward in partnership with the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA) in development of a plan for a new community oversight entity for the Chicago Police Department, with positive momentum fueled by this year’s urgent calls to meaningfully address police accountability. BPI has also drafted recommendations to strengthen Illinois' police officer certification system and testified before an Illinois Senate committee to explain how these reforms would improve accountability, public trust, and public safety.
JUSTICE REFORM

BPI has continued to work in coalition with a wide variety of stakeholders to advance our decarceration and supportive reentry work, including a focus on support for higher education in prison. In collaboration with community groups, we designed and executed a campaign of action to identify connections between prisons and community divestment and develop a collective vision for community-driven public health and safety.  
HOUSING

BPI’s housing advocacy pressed forward on multiple fronts through our participation in working groups for new CHA mixed-income development and our oversight of system-wide implementation of the Gautreaux Settlement Agreement. 

Development has moved forward: 398 new CHA family units and 275 additional new affordable family units were completed in seven separate mixed-income developments since 2019.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

BPI is deeply engaged with the Altgeld-Riverdale Early Learning Coalition, which has served as a strong, unified community force for change to meet the needs of young children in the community. The Coalition, along with our community partners, distributed emergency support to nearly 200 families in need.      
Thank You!

We're deeply grateful to have you with us—taking a stand, partnering in our work, and joining us as we bring down racial and economic injustice.

Please consider a year-end contribution to BPI's work ahead in 2021—much remains to be done!