1008 - What’s in a Name?
Jeff Nehila, Executive Director, Deerfield Park District
The racial tensions in America in 2020 were not limited to big cities. In the sleepy little north shore suburb community of Deerfield, a movement to rename a park due to allegations of racial injustice garnered local and regional support. Learn how the Deerfield Park District addressed hundreds of requests and demands to rename a park. The park was named after a park board president who led the park district in 1959 during a highly debated acquisition of property for parkland that was initially planned for an integrated residential subdivision.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about creating a citizen advisory committee to help develop recommendations on addressing a highly contested issue.
- Understand how educating and informing persons who are willing to listen and learn may be overshadowed by persons who are adamant in setting a course for reparation and justice.
- Learn that solutions do not always end in harmonious outcomes. Despite numerous actions and remedies initiated or completed in response to a societal debate, an additional set of issues may arise.