Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Human and Community Development Committee met April 9.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Committee Members Present: Dasha Arias, Sheri Cohen, Leslie Edstrom, Kendra Freeman, Jackie Forbes, Joan Fox, Jacky Grimshaw, Hanna Kite, Greg Polman, Raj Shah, Dominic Tocci, William Towns (*indicates via phone)
Others Present: Alicia Bunton, Ebony Scott
Staff Present: Jane Grover, Kelwin Harris, Erin Kenney, Aseal Tineh
1.0 Call to Order and Introductions
Sheri Cohen, committee co-chair, called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.
2.0 Agenda Changes and Announcements
Sheri Cohen provided a report-back of the Coordinating Committee meeting. Sheri reviewed the new committee structure and highlighted opportunities for the Human and Community Development Committee to provide feedback to and exchange ideas with the Coordinating Committee. The Coordinating Committee meets monthly.
3.0 Approval of Minutes – February 5, 2019
Kelwin Harris requested a correction of the adjournment time “12:00 p.m.” on page 3 of the draft minutes. A motion to approve the minutes of the April 9, 2019 meeting, as corrected, was made, seconded, and carried.
4.0 Google Community Partnerships
Dasha Arias, Google and Ebony Scott, Family Independence Initiative (FII)
Dasha Arias welcome the committee to Google and provided some background information on Google and its practices with engaging community partners. Ebony Scott introduced the Family Independence Initiative (FII) – a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance in the form of grants to families over a two year period and gives them great freedom as to how they use the funds. Ebony provided information on the organization’s founding, mission, and initiatives. Ebony Scott also shared information about FII’s partnership with Google. Google is helping FII expand its staff capacity, launch new sites, and improve its tech platforms and data collection.
Erin Kenney asked how many families are engaged in FII’s program. Kendra Freeman asked how FII defines family. Greg Polman inquired how FII engages participants who may not have access to computers or the internet. Jane Grover asked how FII addresses mitigating the administrative burden for families. William Towns asked about the effectiveness of the program across housing types. Kelwin inquired about the origin story of FII’s partnership with Google. Leslie Edstrom asked whether the program included suburban participants. Dominic Tocci mentioned that suburban partners would be interested in this work. Dominic also asked about FII’s funding. Greg Polman asked whether FII follows up with its participants after the two year program is complete. Sheri Cohen added that some prospective participants may have a fear of sharing personal information and inquired as to how FII overcomes that potential barrier. William Towns asked about the average age of families.
5.0 CMAP Corporate Engagement Strategy
Jane Grover, CMAP Staff
Jane Grover provided an update on CMAP’s initiative to engage the region’s corporate sector in ON TO 2050.
6.0 Disinvestment Policy Analysis: Weak Market Areas and the Use of Incentives to Promote Reinvestment in Disinvested Areas
Erin Kenney, CMAP Staff
Erin Kenney shared an overview of ongoing research on disinvested areas, focused on the private sector’s role in reinvestment and how incentives are used in disinvested communities. William Towns commented about opportunity zones in disadvantaged areas and in better advantaged areas. Greg Polman asked for more information regarding Transit Facility Improvement Areas.
7.0 Committee Mission and Vision
Kelwin Harris, CMAP Staff and Committee
Kelwin Harris provided a summary of the prior meeting’s committee mission and vision
discussion. Committee members discussed draft mission and vision statements submitted my committee members. Sheri Cohen asked committee members whether there was concern about using the terms resident and citizen. Committee members agreed that an alternative phrase could be used, such as individuals and families who live in the Chicago region. Leslie Edstrom shared that the brief statement drafted by some committee members was intended to be a brief pitch. Dominic Tocci suggested that the name Human and Community Development did not fully capture all elements of the committee’s work. Sheri Cohen posed to the group whether the mission and vision should reflect who the committee is or what the committee does. William Towns recommended including the term human capital development in the mission and vision. Other committee members echoed support of the term. Kelwin Harris mentioned that the mission and vision could be expanded to include other aspects of CMAP’s work, including policy and programming. Raj Shah suggested the mission and vision is meant to broadly allow the committee to support CMAP initiatives. William Towns raised a question about the term equity and what that looks like across the region. Kelwin Harris suggested including prioritized investment in the mission and vision statement.
8.0 Public Comment
There were no public comments.
9.0 Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on June 4th 2019 at 10am.
10.0 Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/0/HCDminutes_4-9-2019+%282%29.pdf/87a1dcf8-fedf-7f2f-c7ab-c37421d9c8fb
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