December 2018
Proposed Settlement in Landmark Gautreaux Housing Discrimination Case
 
BPI and CHA reached a momentous agreement in the nearly 53-year-old Gautreaux desegregation case—one of the longest-running federal court cases in United States history. Alex Polikoff and Julie Brown, representing the Gautreaux plaintiffs, and lawyers for the Chicago Housing Authority filed a motion in federal court on December 21 asking the Court to approve a Settlement Agreement .

The Agreement sets a date certain (July 31, 2024) for the Gautreaux case to end—provided CHA fulfills its obligations to the Gautreaux plaintiffs. These obligations, spelled out in detail and with timelines in the Agreement, provide substantial benefits to the plaintiff class.

Visit our website to view the press release, and be sure to read the Chicago Tribune editorial , " Race, poverty and fair housing: Chicago's landmark Gautreaux case winds down . "
Congratulations Are in Order!
We're pleased to share a number of recent accolades received by BPI staff members Adam Gross, Alexander Polikoff, and Emily Powers. Join us in recognizing their tremendous contributions to the public interest in justice reform, housing, and early education .
Adam Gross received the Distinguished PILI Intern Alumni Award at the Public Interest Law Initiative Annual Awards Luncheon on December 5. Adam was honored for his outstanding contributions to public interest law. PILI’s Annual Awards Luncheon brought together 500 members of the Illinois legal community to celebrate the very best aspects of the legal profession: the generosity, expertise and commitment of countless lawyers, law students, legal professionals, law firms and corporations.

Pictured (l-r): Rebecca Gross, Mollie Gross, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award), Adam Gross, Mia Barricini, and Naomi Gross.

P hoto by Bill Richert for PILI.
On October 16, the  Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research  honored BPI's  Alex Polikoff  as the “Father of Mobility" for his decades of work to advance mobility as a means of expanding housing opportunity for low-income families.
Emily Powers was selected to participate in the prestigious Barbara Bowman Leadership Fellows program. Named after one of the Erikson Institute’s co-founders, this program is designed to enrich the perspective and enhance the capacity of diverse child advocates who are committed to racial equity and want to influence early childhood policy. The program equips these leaders with content knowledge, tools for assessing public policy levers, and hands-on practice to make a positive difference in early childhood policy.
BPI Welcomes Three New Directors to the Board
Join BPI in welcoming these dynamic leaders to our Board of Directors (l-r): Jadine Chou , Chief Safety and Security Officer at Chicago Public Schools; Bob Raidt , Executive Vice President, Group Account Director at The Leo Burnett Group; and Sarah Walker Pauls, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase. Visit our blog to learn more about each of these accomplished individuals and their commitment to BPI's mission.
BPI and Roosevelt University Policy Research Collaborative Launch Reentry Housing Report
In partnership with the Roosevelt University Policy Research Collaborative (PRC), BPI held a release event this fall to launch our new report: No Place to Call Home: Navigating Reentry Housing in Chicago .

The research team recruited 81 returning citizens to participate in a voluntary study on the many formidable barriers to reentry housing and to explore policy solutions to overcome these challenges. The study culminated in a report that amplifies the voices of reentering citizens. At the launch event, a panel of experts and audience members shared their perspectives and lived experiences battling the barriers to reentry housing, including ways to advocate for change.
 
We invite you to learn more about the report and panel discussion on our blog .
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