Chicago Launches First Co-Governance Framework in Partnership with Chicago United For Equity
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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Launches First Co-Governance Framework to Foster Collaborative Decision-Making

In a move towards more inclusive and equitable governance, the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) and Chicago United for Equity (CUE) have joined forces with the Co-Governance Steering Committee to launch a draft of Chicago's Co-Governance Framework. This framework includes an opportunity for public comment, in line with Mayor Brandon Johnson's commitment to collaborative governance.

Mayor Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for this initiative, stating, "Today's launch of our city's first Co-Governance Framework is a step forward in my administration's commitment to fundamentally change how government and communities work together." He acknowledged that community voices have not been given enough weight in decision-making processes and emphasized the importance of this partnership with CUE and the Steering Committee in moving beyond traditional engagement methods.

The development of this framework was a collaborative effort between the Steering Committee, OERJ, and CUE. Together, they hosted 18 community conversations involving over 200 participants from 57 neighborhoods. These conversations allowed community members to reflect on their relationships with government and share their visions for co-governance. The data collected from each conversation was then compiled and analyzed by Dr. Tiffany Ford from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, who is a research partner of CUE.

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To ensure that the final framework truly reflects the needs and desires of Chicagoans, the public is encouraged to provide feedback on the first draft by February 28th, 2025. The draft can be accessed at chi.gov/co-governance.

This initiative stems from Mayor Johnson's vision to create a more collaborative government that addresses racial, health, and economic inequities. Candace Williams, Interim Executive Director of CUE, stated that "true democracy thrives when power is shared" and emphasized that co-governance is not just a strategy, but a commitment to leveraging the power of communities and government.

The Co-Governance Steering Committee, consisting of nine diverse and community-connected individuals, played a crucial role in designing and facilitating the community conversations. According to Carla Kupe, Chief Equity Officer, "building collaborative governance structures cannot be done in isolation." She stressed the importance of involving all Chicagoans in this process to create a tool that fosters shared decision-making between government and community.

In early April of this year, OERJ and CUE, in partnership with the Co-Governance Steering Committee, will host a convening to share Chicago's final Co-Governance Framework and discuss the future of this work.

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The Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) aims to promote institutional change that leads to equitable transformation across all aspects of the City of Chicago. This includes service delivery, resource distribution, policy creation, and decision-making. OERJ works towards this goal by supporting City departments in normalizing concepts of racial equity and implementing new practices that result in fairer outcomes. More information can be found at chicago.gov/equity.

Chicago United for Equity (CUE) is a network of racial justice advocates working across various sectors to redesign civic institutions and transform Chicagoans' relationship with power. Since 2018, CUE has gained national recognition for its efforts in developing people-powered voter guides, participatory budgets, and community-led policymaking strategies. CUE equips leaders with the tools to drive transformational change and engage with impacted communities meaningfully. Learn more at chicagounitedforequity.org.

With the launch of Chicago's first Co-Governance Framework, the city takes an important step towards creating a more inclusive and collaborative government that truly represents its diverse communities. The public's feedback on the draft will play a crucial role in shaping this framework as it moves forward.

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