Milestones
- See a timeline of the library’s equity and anti-racism work »
- Review the library’s Anti-Racism Strategic Plan »
- Read more: Why this work is library work and how we intend to be a library for everyone »
Materials
- Curated by library staff: Anti-Racism: A Starter’s Guide and Countering Anti-Black Sentiments
- Oak Park’s first Anti-Racism Resource Challenge »
Events and stories
We acknowledge that Oak Park is situated on the ancestral land of the Bodewamiadkiwen (Potawatomi), Myaamia (Miami), Oceti Sakowin, Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and Peoria. We honor them and thank them for their stewardship of this land. Source: https://native-land.ca/
Questions? Want to learn more? Contact Director of Equity and Anti-Racism Stephen Jackson (stephenj@oppl.org).
Community and staff input: Anti-Racism Advisory Team
We work with a cross-section of stakeholders (administrators, staff, patrons, board representation, and young adults) who work together to develop new protocols that shape the library’s strategic direction, plans, and policies. These individuals meet regularly as members of the library’s Anti-Racism Advisory Team.
- Aaron Alonzo, Manager of Public Safety, OakPark Public Library
- Chibuike Enyia, Village of Oak Park Trustee
- Christina Waters, Village of Oak Park
- Juanta Griffin, Multicultural Learning Coordinator, Oak Park Public Library
- Stephen Jackson, Director of Equity and Anti-Racism, Oak Park Public Library
- Orson Morrison, Oak Park Community Member
- Tatiana Swancy, Restorative Practices Coordinator, Oak Park Public Library
- Virginia Bloom, Oak Park Public Library Trustee
- Wendy Senger, Oak Park Township
Staff support: Black staff affinity group
The group began meeting monthly in June 2020. Its intention is to provide a safe space where members can ultimately feel comfortable convening themselves and setting their own objectives, and members include staff from the library and other Oak Park government agencies.
Collaboration: in the industry, across the community
As a member of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium, a group whose mission is to connect all who seek to document, share, understand, and preserve Black experiences, we affirm that Black lives, Black stories, and Black collections matter. Of note: “Protest in the Archives” and “Collections on Black Experiences.”
As a member of the American Library Association (ALA), we refer to resources compiled for both ALA members and the public about Black Lives Matter and related issues, sharing them for informational purposes.
Community allies include:
Priorities: Anti-racism strategic plan
