The village of Oak Park is going through a process to become a “certified welcoming” municipality for residents and immigrants, taking part in a program officials hope will also have an economical and cultural benefit, and raise the town’s profile.
At a recent Village Board meeting, trustees heard a presentation from Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Danielle Walker, who outlined steps she and her team have taken since March when they were notified that the village was selected by Welcoming America to participate in the nonprofit certification group’s tailored program.
According to the organization’s website, Welcoming America, which started in 2009, helps provide communities with “the roadmap they need to create welcoming policies and share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can thrive.”
The organization explains that becoming certified welcoming is a designation for cities and counties that have “created policies and programs reflecting their values and commitment to immigrant inclusion.”
Walker told trustees that her team and the village received a scholarship to participate in the program – which usually costs $9,000.
In 2017, the Village Board voted to have Oak Park be a sanctuary city – adopting the “Welcoming Village Ordinance” – a move many area municipalities have taken, including the neighboring city of Chicago, to help protect undocumented immigrants from authorities.
But being a certified welcoming community is a bit different and won’t impact the ordinance, officials pointed out. The certification is intended to provide the framework for being intentional in applying existing village policies.
Trustees at times became heated during the May 21 board meeting while discussing the program, with references made multiple times to how the village readily came to the aid last fall of undocumented immigrants bused to the area from Texas after crossing the border into the U.S.
Some expressed concerns about the welcoming certification program and about protecting the village from possible liabilities. Others countered, stating that the village could continue to set its own policies and go only as far as comfortable with the Certified Welcoming program.
Multiple trustees and speakers from the general public spoke about their experiences as a first-generation immigrant, being the offspring of immigrants and even being a descendant of slaves.
That dialogue highlighted why the intentional and specific use of language is important throughout the process, Walker and others said.
The welcoming program certifies municipalities with stars.
“So, as we move through the process, my office will get a better gauge of where we may be potentially landing within a star-designation, but it also provides an opportunity and more desire to build upon this for years to come,” Walker said.
The process of earning stars or certifications will become more visible toward the end of August when the village may see an audit and interview process, officials explained.
Walker told trustees that with guidance from staff of the nonprofit organization, the effort to become certified is manageable and will not burden her team.
Tom Ackerman is a freelancer.
