Overall Research Project Description Modern-day examples of reparations are appearing all over the country. States and cities are not waiting for the federal government and have decided to enact their own programs to address past harm. For instance, California, Ashville, North Carolina, and Evanston, Illinois are all entities that have discussed and planned for reparations within the last year. Evanston Illinois is a unique case as it is considered the first reparations program for African Americans within the United States and also plans to use Cannabis sales to fund the program. However, having the first reparations program isn’t easy. The city has had to grapple with differing political opinions, budget complications, and disgruntled residents.
This project seeks to understand the consensus building and development of the Evanston reparations program, The Restorative Housing Program, and the budget constraints surrounding the allocated 10,000,000 in cannabis sales to the reparations fund. By interviewing 30 residents and analyzing the minutes of the Reparations Committee meetings, this project seeks to understand the resident's viewpoints and the processes of the Reparations Committee.