We believe that instead of investing in more incarceration, Illinois should invest in research-backed rehabilitation and reentry support.

The Credit for Change campaign would restore day for day sentence credits for good behavior, giving everyone in the Illinois Department of Corrections an opportunity to change and a real path to return to their communities sooner.

Andrea highlighted how long prison sentences don’t create safety, but meaningful opportunities for change do.

Wednesday morning, Staff Counsel Andrea Dantus spoke on behalf of the Credit for Change campaign with No New Prisons Illinois to make one thing clear: Illinois does not need to spend $900 million on new prisons, instead we need to safely bring people home.

#ImpactForEquity #CriminalJusticeReform

Thank you to Representative Tracy Katz Muhl for their thoughtful leadership and partnership on this critical bill and to our partners for their support throughout the campaign!

Big day for us in Springfield!

Our bill to update and strengthen the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (HB 5198) passed out of the House yesterday with 74 votes in favor, 37 opposed, and one voting present.

On to the Senate!

#ImpactForEquity #HousingJustice #AffordableHousing

Limited tickets available for Impact for Equity’s annual celebration, “Raise the Good, Together”!

Tickets are available at bit.ly/IFE_2026annu...
Unable to attend? Consider making a gift at impactforequity.org/ways-to-give/
Let’s come together to celebrate the impact we’re making!
#ImpactForEquity

While this ineffective and discriminatory practice goes on, the harm to Chicagoans continues to mount.

Chicago cannot wait any longer to fix CPD’s traffic stops practice—change is needed now!

The report shows that while stops have declined, serious concerns remain about the minor stops CPD is prioritizing, how Black and Latiné drivers are being disproportionately targeted, and the lack of traffic and community safety outcomes from that practice.

Today, Impact for Equity and the Free2Move Coalition released Chicago 2025 Traffic Stops Report, a new report examining CPD’s 2025 traffic stop data and spotlighting racial disparities, poor outcomes, and continued data reporting failures.

📑Read the full report: lnkd.in/gzuT7Wmu

#ImpactForEquity

📣 If you are interested in sharing your perspective on this important issue attend the city council meeting, sign up for public comment, and/or reach out to your alderperson.

The ordinance successfully passed through committee and will be up for a vote at the City Council meeting on Wednesday April 15th.

We believe this reallocation of investigative power is responsive to community input, will lead to fairer outcomes, and ultimately begin to build more trust in the police accountability system.

The Chicago Tribune quotes Loren “An officer who affiliates with groups that champion hate, bias and fascism cannot be trusted to perform the most critical element of this job.”  Read the full article: lnkd.in/gyXizxAz

Yesterday, Director Loren Jones spoke on a panel at the City Council Committee in support of an ordinance that would transfer the power to investigate officer affiliations with hate and extremist groups from CPD to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

#ImpactForEquity #CombattingInjustice

A Hyde Park native and champion for dismantling systemic inequities, Graham’s impact spans public policy, housing, community development, and mentorship across Chicago and beyond.

As an equity partner at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP, he represents a diverse range of clients while contributing to numerous nonprofit boards.

From serving in key roles in Chicago’s municipal government to leading the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation as Chair, he works to advance equity and opportunity for all.

Graham Grady has built a distinguished career at the intersection of civic leadership, public service, and law.

Picture of Graham Grady

We are happy to honor Graham Grady with the 2026 Spirit of Equity Award at our annual event!

Join us on April 23: bit.ly/IFE_2026annu...

Can’t make it to "Raise The Good, Together"? Make a gift at bit.ly/IFE_2026Hono...

Learn more about Graham Grady below.
#ImpactForEquity #Chicago

For each bill, the tracker includes the name, number, and sponsor, in addition to a summary of the legislation, the latest action on the bill (e.g. referred to committee), and upcoming actions when applicable (e.g. scheduled committee hearing).

In our tracker, you can filter by category (affordable housing, building conditions, Housing + Criminal Legal System, property taxes, public housing, and zoning), stage of legislation (e.g. in committee, passed into law, etc.), and our stance on the bill (endorsed, sponsored, watching, opposed).

Did you know Impact for Equity has a state bill tracker?

This session we’re tracking 138 housing-related bills in front of the Illinois General Assembly.

Check out our state bill tracker: tr.ee/WGIOFs9zFx

#ImpactForEquity

Quote “Illinois is the last state in the country to respond to [the issue of homeowners’ lost equity]...But we can still be a leader in this space by pursuing reform that is more comprehensive and all encompassing and protective of homeowners than some of the other states have been.”

Polikoff-Gautreaux Fellow from our Housing program, Mallory Verez, was recently quoted in the Investigative Project on Race and Equity’s article addressing steps Illinois lawmakers can take to reform the state’s tax sale laws. Read the full article: lnkd.in/gfaTYvQX

#ImpactforEquity #chicagohousing

A Senior Fellow at NORC at the University of Chicago, Brian also previously led Civic Consulting Alliance, forging cross-sector partnerships that shaped many of Chicago’s most impactful public and civic efforts.

Under his leadership, members are transforming business practices to expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and invest in Chicago’s South and West sides.

Brian Fabes is Managing Director of the Corporate Coalition, a network of 50+ companies working to reduce economic and racial inequities across the Chicago region.

We are happy to recognize Brian Fabes as our 2026 Champion of the Public Interest at our annual event!

Join us April 23: bit.ly/IFE_2026annu...

Can’t make it to "Raise The Good, Together"? Make a gift at bit.ly/IFE_2026Hono...

Learn more about Brian Fabes below
#ImpactForEquity #Chicago

Guide for Chicago Housing Advocates | Impact for Equity This Guide is part of Impact for Equity’s housing ecosystem work, the goal of which is to strengthen the ability of Chicagoans individually and in organizations to advocate for and implement ambitious...

You can access a digital version of our Guide for Chicago Housing Advocates at chihousingguide.org.

If you have feedback on what you’d like to see in future iterations of the Guide, you can email us at housingguide@impactforequity!

Thank you to everyone who attended the launch of our first ever Guide for Chicago Housing Advocates! It was great to see so many people from our city’s housing ecosystem come by to chat and pick up a print copy of the Guide!

#ImpactForEquity #Advocacy #Advocate #ChicagoHousing #IllinoisHousing