Access Living

Hundreds of children, including those with disabilities, fall victim to bullies each school year. It is a goal of Access Living to prevent bullying, and to insure the inclusion of disability language and issues in all anti-bullying efforts carried out by the city of Chicago. In November 2010, Access Living joined together with Community Renewal Society, Enlace Chicago,Organization of the NorthEast, Blocks Together, Trinity United Church of Christ, Southwest Youth Collaborative and POWER-PAC to form the High HOPES (Healing Over the Punishment of Expulsions and Suspensions) Campaign. This coalition seeks to have Chicago Public Schools (CPS) implement what is called the Restorative Justice program.
Currently, the school system utilizes a "zero-tolerance" policy, where students are automatically suspended, or even expelled, as punishment for bullying behavior. However, this practice often exacerbates the problem. The Restorative Justice program uses counseling and support to get bullies to talk about their behavior and their motivations, giving restorative justice practitioners a chance to address the root problem and provide guidance rather than harsh sanctions.
For the past two years, Advanced Youth Leadership Power (AYLP) has represented Access Living in the High HOPES coalition. In early May, after meeting with the coalition, and after hearing from an AYLP spokesperson, the Chicago City Council Commission on Education and Public Safety passed a resolution calling on CPS to adopt the recommendations of the coalition. On Wednesday, May 23, 17 AYLP leaders and several other High HOPES advocates testified at a Chicago School Board meeting. Speaking on their behalf, AYLP member Brittany King demanded the board support the implementation of Restorative Justice. After Brittany spoke, the group linked arms in solidarity and vowed not to leave until CPS committed to working on Restorative Justice issues. Not only was their issue recognized by the board, but CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard recounted a story of his own personal struggle with bullying in school. The members of the board acknowledged the mission of High HOPES and AYLP as a positive direction for CPS.
Following up on the board meeting, on Saturday, June 2, a High HOPES summit on Restorative Justice in the Chicago Public Schools was held at St. Agatha Catholic Church. Community leaders, students of color, youth with disabilities, parents, and teachers, as well as aldermen and the Chicago Teachers Union called on Mayor Emanuel and CPS to publically pledge their support for Restorative Justice. Dissatisfied with the Mayor's commitment, the group marched to the Emanuel's house with the demand. Ultimately, they handed the demands and a collection of support letters to a police officer assigned to the house. Moving forward, the coalition is calling for all supporters to flood the Mayor's office with phone calls, asking him to urge CPS Leaders to meet with High HOPES.

Through their continued efforts, the group hopes to achieve three goals: lower suspension rates from ten days to five, place Restorative Justice Practitioners in all public schools, and increase the program's financial resources. "If nothing else," says Candace Coleman, Access Living's Youth Community Development Organizer and leader of AYLP, "I feel like we're getting their attention." Even if the coalition doesn't see immediate change, "we won't stop," she says.

High HOPES continues to push its agenda of Restorative Justice. On Monday, June 25, the coalition will hold a follow up rally at the Thompson Center at 100 West Randolph. The Rally will begin at noon.