2021 is the year inspiring us to rebuild and persevere. With a dedication to justice reform, police accountability, access to housing, and early childhood education, BPI continues to be innovative and advocate for racial and economic equity. Please read more about our work below, and follow us on social media @BPIChicago to participate in the conversation.
SUPPORTING RE-ENTRY HOUSING

BPI has published a reentry housing report, Unlocking Reentry Housing: Keys to Building Collaborative Tenant-Based Voucher Programs. This report showcases the findings and recommendations from a pilot program that connected actors in the housing and criminal legal systems with service providers to expand access to reentry housing and reduce barriers experienced by returning residents.

BPI has been invited to join the Mayor's newly formed Working Group on Returning Residents, which will develop re-entry recommendations for the City of Chicago. Our participation in this working group will continue our efforts to identify successful national models for reentry housing vital to developing effective programs at the state and local levels in Illinois.

BPI SUPPORTS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

In February, Governor JB Pritzker signed omnibus criminal justice reform legislation that will significantly change the criminal legal system and the treatment of system-involved individuals in Illinois. BPI and other organizations, coalitions, and individuals working to transform the criminal legal system contributed to this law.

BPI issued a statement supporting the new law and the work ahead.
BPI PARTNERS WITH CHICAGO COALITIONS TO CREATE A JOINT ORDINANCE

For years, our Police Accountability team has worked in partnership with GAPA (the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability) to develop an ordinance that will transform policing in Chicago. Now, GAPA has joined forces with supporters of the CPAC (Civilian Police Accountability Council) ordinance. BPI is working with the combined coalitions to create a joint ordinance, Empowering Communities for Public Safety.

This ordinance empowers communities and establishes a community commission committed to increasing public safety. By its two-tiered structure of accountability and oversight, the joint ordinance would create the most progressive and democratic civilian oversight system of police in the United States.
BPI SUBMITS COMMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT (CRA)

Last month, BPI submitted comments in support of rules regarding the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Aligning with our objectives to increase affordable housing availability and revitalize communities, BPI suggested that the CRA 's new rules should address persistent inequalities in the financial industry that affect people and communities of color. Learn more about the CRA rulemaking and read BPI's comments.
BPI SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF IDA B. WELLS MONUMENT

BPI is part of the committee behind, and the fiscal sponsor for, the development of a monument in honor of renowned journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells. To be installed this year in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, the monument will stand in the center of Oakwood Shores, the new mixed-income community on the former site of the Ida B. Wells public housing development.
BPI REDUCES THE OPPORTUNITY GAP THROUGH
PRE-K ENROLLMENT

The 2020/2021 school year has been unprecedented in many ways, including its impact on young children across Chicago. Pre-K enrollment decreased dramatically this year as programs closed and families worried about safely sending their children back to school. As a result, many children in the Altgeld-Riverdale community and across the City will be starting Kindergarten this fall with no prior exposure to formal early learning experiences. With 80% of brain development complete by age 3, this means lost opportunities for many children.

To reduce the opportunity gap, the Altgeld-Riverdale Early Learning Coalition, along with three other Chicago community collaborations, will use a newly awarded grant to increase enrollment in Pre-K classes in the Altgeld-Riverdale community this Spring and Summer. This grant will be critical to ensuring that Pre-K enrollment numbers rise for the 2021/2022 school year.
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