Batavia Community Diversity Initiative Receives ‘Healing Illinois’ Grant
Batavia Nonprofit Organization One of 179 Groups Recognized by $4.5 Million Initiative Aimed at Advancing Racial Healing in the State of Illinois
BATAVIA -- On Tuesday, the Batavia Community Diversity Initiative (CDI) announced it was awarded a grant from the Healing Illinois initiative, a collaboration between the Illinois Department of Human Services and The Chicago Community Trust.
Healing Illinois was launched in October with a mission to help spur community-centric, inclusive spaces for Illinois residents to talk, learn and grow. The racial healing initiative also lists the following overarching goals:
to build and advance knowledge and understanding of racial healing and racial equity in communities across the state;
to increase trust and relationship building among the residents of Illinois; and
to provide opportunities for communities and individuals to begin to heal from the harms caused by racism.
The Batavia CDI was chosen as one of 179 grant recipients out of a pool of more than 500 grant applications received by the initiative. Additionally, it is one of just seven recipients based out of Kane County. With the new funding, the Batavia CDI plans:
to educate ourselves as communicators and advocates, and educate elected officials in racial equity and social justice;
to seed healing dialogue through book clubs offered by our Freedom Library initiative, as well as through affinity groups, healing circles and On The Table sessions;
to build on our city’s African American and abolitionist history to engage our community with a Black history-focused walking tour and video series; and
to partner with elected officials, civic and public institutions to close opportunity gaps, celebrate diversity and build belonging.
Batavia resident Chris Lowe, the Batavia CDI’s president and Exec Team leader, shared the news of the grant award and introduced the group to the Batavia City Council on Monday alongside Kathleen Meeks, who serves as the Education Committee Team Leader on the organization’s Leadership Council.
The Batavia Community Diversity Initiative is an organization dedicated to serving Batavia by cultivating and strengthening the community’s commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging. The group’s hope is to help build a stronger, more robust and welcoming community by encouraging all citizens to maximize their potential.
The awarding of the grant will expedite the organization’s work toward this mission, Meeks explained.
“This organization exists because we understand that community is a verb. So receiving this grant means we can work on our initiatives that much sooner,” Meeks said. “We affirm that all who experience oppression or marginalization in our community matter. So it is our responsibility to take intentional steps to ensure they are being supported.”
The Batavia CDI formed virtually over the summer of 2020 in conversation with the racial justice protest movement that inspired demonstrations throughout the country, including here in Batavia, following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn. The organization formally launched last month.
“When we just say we embrace equality and diversity, but do nothing to examine how we are achieving this or not, then we are complicit in allowing for disparities to potentially occur and continue. And in the vein of reconciliation that this grant speaks to, it's about all of us,” Meeks continued. “Reconciliation is not about blame, but acknowledgement. And when we can acknowledge that some in our community do not have the same lived experiences or opportunities as others, then we can take the steps to change this. In turn, this creates a stronger community for everyone.”
Learn more about the group and get involved at www.BataviaCDI.org.
For additional information, follow the Batavia CDI on Facebook and Instagram.