Andrew Tyler will be hosting a film festival again this year at Cantigny.  Andrew has brought a lot of film to DuPage County that we might otherwise not have had the privilege to view.  When Andrew is not working on this festival, among other things he's working with Unity Partnership helping to document our work with law enforcement and social justice matters around the county.
 
Here is a link to Tylermann Films and what is on deck for the weekend.   https://www.tylermanfilms.com/
 
If you can't attend in person, you can access the films online with a weekend pass.  If possible, I would recommend that you come out and enjoy Cantigny.  It is a great place to walk and relax!!
 
Cantigny festival page
Eventbrite reservations

Please join us for a discussion of the new criminal justice and police reform bill, HB3653.  Panelists will discuss how the bill came about, areas it encompasses, and its potential impact on public safety and policing. 

Since the passage of HB3653, Unity Partnership has participated in a number of meetings with various stakeholders who have shared their responses to the bill. In particular, we have heard from our law
enforcement partners who felt that they did not have sufficient input in the decision making process and are concerned about some unintended consequences of specific provisions. To facilitate meaningful engagement regarding these concerns, we requested and have been granted a meeting with Illinois State Senator Elgie Sims, who sponsored the bill.  The date of the meeting is Thursday, February 25th at 2pm.  Please  join us for this important event. 

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/99519123797?pwd=K0Mzejk1VU5sTGc5OHIwRHN2WDZuUT09
Passcode: 488121

 
 

One of our goals at UP is to promote more diversity in policing.  To that end, we are happy to announce an effort underway in Arlington Heights in conjunction with several other Northwest suburban communities to address the growing shortage of police officers.   

"Together the group will offer a Police Officer Training Workshop that aims to find new and more diverse candidates, provide clarity into the hiring process and increase awareness for the many career opportunities in law enforcement. The live virtual event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 13. 

“Policing remains a rewarding and noble calling for the right person,” said Arlington Heights Police Chief Nicholas Pecora. “An engaged police officer has the ability to positively impact the quality of life of those they encounter every day. Consider giving back. Consider a career in law enforcement.”

In recent years, the Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Palatine, and Schaumburg police departments have each experienced a drop in the number of job applicants. The challenge they face is not unique. Surveys show nearly two-thirds of departments across the U.S. have seen similar decreases. Agencies are also reporting difficulty recruiting minority, female and bilingual officers.

Representatives of the area villages’ administrations and police departments cite various factors for the decline, including a more competitive job market, disinterest in the profession, and a lack of preparation for the selection process itself.

The group formed the Northwest Suburban Law Enforcement Recruitment Taskforce and partnered with Harper’s Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Program to develop the half-day informational workshop. 

"Law Enforcement is one of the most important careers in society today. The Village wants to get candidates with diverse perspectives and backgrounds to join our team,” said Village Manager Randy Recklaus. “There has never been a more important time to find good candidates to become a Police Officer.”

In addition to networking with newly hired and veteran police officers, attendees will gain valuable insight into the various stages of the police officer selection process from subject matter experts! Sessions will cover:

• The written examination
• Physical ability (POWER) testing
• A panel discussion on the polygraph examination, psychological testing and background investigation
• Oral interviews

Attendees can also learn about the many benefits of becoming a police officer including compensation, which remains higher in the Chicago area than most other regions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan region earn an annual mean salary of $79,540.

The seven agencies hope the workshop will increase the number and diversity of their candidates and help aspiring police officers to be successful in the selection process. They’re also looking for individuals interested in exploring internships, ride-alongs, and otherwise learn more about a career in law enforcement.

The cost to attend the Workshop is $25. Visit Police Officer Training Workshop to register."

On Wednesday, House Bill 3653, an initiative of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, was approved by the Illinois General Assembly.  The bill  will result in "significant changes" to things like police training policies, police accountability, transparency in law enforcement and the rights of detainees and prisoners, according to Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr., who sponsored the bill.  Cllick here to read more about the specfic reforms. 

Please join the 17th Annual World Peace Day Interfaith Prayer Service on Sunday, January 10 from 2-3 p.m. CST.  Here is the Zoom information:

​Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91307993090?pwd=RW8xNGdrczNCVFJwZWtoa3IyQXEvQT09
Meeting ID: 913 0799 3090
Passcode: WPD2021
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 913 0799 3090
Passcode: 9603695
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acyGX5HmP7

​
 A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF TALLEY


The SARS-COV-2 virus (COVID-19) has been increasing in Maywood.  I would like to encourage you to limit your exposure to large groups and gatherings.  When necessary to go out, MASK UP!  Don't believe the hype it doesn't help.  A face shielding slows those sprays from casual talking or laughing especially when you cannot be less than six feet apart from someone.  When you come from the outside, remember to change your clothes.  It's like the days of our youth when we would come home from school and put-on play clothes.  Place them into the wash and wash your hands.  Soap breaks down the virus at 20 seconds or more.

​Last, a vaccine to fight COVID-19 has been released.  I strongly encourage everyone to take it as soon as they have an opportunity.  It does not matter which vaccine you take, when offered, take it!  The vaccine will be given in the upper muscle of your arm, and it is designed to initiate an adaptive immune response (your body learns how to fight off the virus).  Even if you receive the vaccine, you still need to practice good hygiene.  MASK UP, wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds or more (more preferred), and keep your social distance (six feet or more). 

As we say goodbye to 2020,  the Maywood Police Department wishes each one of you a happy and blessed New Year! 

 In the aftermath of the most recent spate of high profile police use of deadly force incidents, Unity Partnership has been urgently working to find ways that DuPage County community members can become better informed about and more actively involved with their police departments.   We feel that this ongoing community involvement can go a long way toward restoring trust.  UP, in conjunction with representatives from the DuPage Chiefs, has been working on a Template of recommendations which we believe will improve transparency.   One of our recommendations is the adoption of body cameras. We recognize that this is a complex issue.  While our police partners generally express support for body cameras, there are concerns about the legislation mandating them, the costs of implementation, and data storage.  On Sept 10th, members of Unity Partnership were joined by police chiefs from 12 departments:  Lisle, Glendale Heights, Roselle, Oak Brook, Bloomingdale, Woodridge, Darien, Carol Stream, Hazelcrest, Wheaton, and Lombard to discuss these issues.  Despite the challenges, a few of the departments have already adopted them and the majority of the others are in the process. We were struck by our shared recognition of the importance of body cameras in protecting both the community and the police.  We know this step is essential in ensuring transparency and appreciated the opportunity to know where the departments stand.   Unity Partnership pledged to continue to work with municipalities to underscore the importance of implementation and support efforts to fund them.

Unity Partnership is participating in a rally on October 2nd, the anniversay of the birth of the great Mahatma Gandhi.   This day is celebrated as the International Day of Nonviolence.  Regina Brent will be one of the speakers.  Please join us for this important event. 

​When Dan Cronin recently presented the Dupage County Budget, he highlighted a number of steps
the county is taking and concessions employeess have been asked to make  in order to balance the budget. He also discussed the impact of the $161 million the county received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.

The two priorities Cronin cited are public health and public safety.  As reported on Naperville News 17, 
Crime rates have been up in the county and in an effort to help combat that, DuPage is creating special crime units, as well as working with the State’s Attorney Office to prosecute criminals. “We’re not
bringing in new people to head these units,” said Cronin. “We’re taking the talented people that we have in State’s Attorney’s Office and we’re promoting from within, and we’re assigning them to these units. And yeah, they should get a pay raise and they’ll have the resources in these units to fight these more complex and more heinous crimes.”

Organizations like the Dupage County NAACP,  the College of Dupage,  and Unity Partnership were also mentioned for their efforts with police training.  While supporting officer training,  Unity Partnership is working on a number of other inititaves, including educational workshops for the community members on Traffic Stops and the Use of Force, and increasing departmental diversity in both sworn and non sworn positions.   We are also close to completing a Template of suggested reforms which was developed with input from the community and DuPage Chiefs, which we believe  will increase transparency and build trust.   These reforms include the adoption of body cameras, licensing officers, reforming the complaint process and the establishment of Civilian Collaboration Boards.  Despite the ongoing challenges of Covid 19, we continue to work on our mission to have a positive impact on the relationship between police and civlilians.  

(Lisle, IL) September 5th, 2020: Pure Alchemy will host our 2nd Community Concert with a dynamic speaker line-up that will shine a light on our plight, our shared vision and altruistic values. Pure Alchemy & Unity Partnership would like to dedicate our collaborative efforts to essential workers that have consistently shown us what courage looks like during these unforgettable times.

​The Raise Vibrations Concert will provide the opportunity for participants to get involved in crafting an ecosystem that cultivates ready-leaders, explorative minds & unorthodox initiatives giving rise to those who want to see change. As you know, there is a continuation of unrest, not only in our community, but across America. We as a people and a village must stand together to promote peace, accountability and responsibility by electing to get involved and to make change. 

With that said, our success is based on donations. Please make your donations payable to Unity Partnership, NFP on behalf of Pure Alchemy. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Address:    
PO Box 5072
Naperville, IL 60567

**CDC Guidelines will be in place** 

Our sponsors: 
Ron Wilke, Chief of Lisle Police Department
Dan Garvy, Director of Parks & Rec Lisle Park District 
Hix Bros, Naperville, IL
Charles O’Connor, Officer Chicago Police Department Inglewood 7th District  
Kendall Nesbitt, Director of Music DuPage AME Church 

Special thanks to our Previous Sponsors:
Naperville Police Department
Naperville Park District 

Respectfully,
Marquell Oliver, Founder of Pure Alchemy
https://www.thepurealchemygroup.com/

Greater visibility of minority groups within departments can improve the relationship between the police and those in the community who feel marginalized and disaffected.  Greater diversity is one measure of a larger commitment to changing attitudes and promoting trust.  See the attached for details about the Glendale Heights Police Department Testing and Application Process.  

One of our very own Unity Partnership members and film producer, Andrew Tyler will be hosting his 2nd annual film festival at Cantigny Park this year on Saturday, Aug 15th, 10:00-4:00, and Sunday Aug 16th, 11:00-8:00..  If you're looking for family fun, please come out to the Visitor Center and take a look at the fine work Andrew is creating for our
communities. The Festival will be held in the Visitor's Center, 1s151 Winfield Rd, Wheaton, IL.   Tickets: $15.00 and Parking: $5.00

Please come and join us at a musical event presented by both civilians and police to bring unity to our community.  We're sorry for the late notice.  The musicians have been practicing but got delayed due to the rules regarding COVID-19.  They have been given the approval to meet in the park and play on Saturday evening..  Unity Partnership and Pure Alchemy want to offer the change of pace we've all been waiting for and to turn the corner from protest to peace.  If you play an instrument and are interested in participating in future events, please contact Marquell Oliver, our Youth Engagement Coordinator and he will sign you up.  If you plan to attend, please come with a

mask and plan to observe social distance. We hope to see you there. Feel  free to pass this email on to those who would like to participate as well.

​All the best and see you out there!

Regina Brent, Founder & President
Unity Partnership, NFP

Listen below to the performers talk about what inspired them.

 
Today's Tribune featured an article, Solutions aim to improve policing, about an agreement that was reached in 2018 betwen the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and The NAACP to endorse the Ten Shared Principles. The document was an effort to acknowledge the historical basis for the community's distrust of police and included principles such as "rejecting discrimination and treating everyone with dignity and respect: However local activists cited in the article, including Regina Brent, President and Founder of Unity Partneship, feel it is inadeqate to address current concerns. "We do not support the Ten Shared Principles,” she said. “It says you should treat me like a citizen. It needs to go further. If it had teeth, we wouldn’t be out there marching." Instead, she said, reformers should focus on policies that can be changed immediately by any mayor or police chief who’s willing. She called for further safeguards against the police use of chokeholds like that used on George Floyd, which generally are illegal in Illinois; comprehensive use of body cameras by police, which remains rare in the suburbs; and detailed statewide data on police misconduct."   

In the first of a series of interviews with Dana Davenport and Rebecca Malotke-Meslin on Finding Common Ground, Regina Brent, Unity Parternship President and Founder, and Bob Marshall, Chief of the Naperville Police Department discuss recent protests, riots and rallies in response to the killing of George Floyd. 

In the second segment on police policies and procedures,  Chief Marshall talks about the lack of consistency in policy across departments and the challenges that creates.  Regina shares feedback thta Unity Partnership has recieved from the community regarding negative encounters with police and describes the difficulties individuals face when trying to file a complaint.  Listen as they explore these policies and procedural issues and possible remedies. 

Sophia Davila and Indya Smith-Johnson organized a peaceful rally for racial equality at the Free Speech Pavilion at the corner of Webster Street and Jackson Avenue. The rally offered an opportunity for the several hundred who attended to give voice to their concerns about policing and demands for change.  As the rally ended, some attendees asked that the police "take a knee," in solidarity. Tensions rose when the officers refused.  Regina Brent, one of the invited speakers stepped in to diffuse the situation.  She implored the crowd to keep in mind the true purpose of the event,  honoring  George Floyd, whose funeral was held earlier that day. The crowd obliged and left chanting "George Floyd, Rest in Peace."