U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORY

STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES - ILLINOIS

Alton
Bloomington
Calumet
Chicago
Country Club Hills
Danville
Elgin
Evanston
Glenwood
Hazel Crest
Matteson
Oak Park
Park Forest
Peoria
Springfield
University Park
Urbana

ALTON HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
P.O. Box 526
Alton, IL 62002

Ruth A. Pippins, Chairman
Tel: (618) 463-3541
Fax: (618) 463-0972
TDD: (618) 463-0025

The Commission provides communication between city government and citizens promoting harmony in all ways possible. The agency seeks to encourage wise adjustments to social problems and to promote equality, opportunity, and justice. The Commission investigates and suggests resolutions with regard to complaints of unfair discrimination.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Alton
Type(s) of publications: Local informational handouts

BLOOMINGTON HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
109 E. Olive Street
Bloomington, IL 61701

Barbara J. Adkins, Community Relations Coordinator
Tel: (309) 434-2218
Fax: (309) 434-2802
TDD: (309) 829-5115

The Commission investigates and mediates discrimination complaints in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations on the basis of sex, race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, color, ancestry, or disability. It provides educational services such as seminars and essay contests and materials such as brochures and coloring books.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Bloomington
Type(s) of publications: Quarterly and annual reports

CALUMET PARK COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE
12409 Throop Street
Calumet Park, IL 60643

Maggie Riglin, Director
Tel: (708) 389-9928
Fax: (708) 389-9928
TDD: None

The Office promotes the value of living in an integrated community. To further this goal, it is involved in both educational and enforcement activities.

Geographic area(s) served: Calumet Park
Type(s) of publications: None

CHICAGO COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS
Fair Housing Office
510 N. Peshtigo Court
Chicago, IL 60611

Willie Granderson, Director of Fair Housing
Tel: (312) 744-4111
Fax: (312) 744-1081
TDD: (312) 744-1088

The Commission is very active in fair housing and cultural awareness programs. It has an adjudication division and a community relations and education division. The Chicago ordinance covers, in addition to the federally protected classes, age, sexual orientation, marital status, military discharge, and source of income. The Commission investigates complaints, works toward conciliation, and holds public hearings.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Chicago
Type(s) of publications: None

COOK COUNTY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
69 W. Washington
Chicago, IL 60602

Jennifer D. Vidis, Executive Director
Tel: (312) 443-3456
Fax: (312) 443-6050
TDD: (312) 629-6929

The Commission enforces the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance by investigating, conciliating, and adjudicating complaints of employment, public accommodation, housing, and credit discrimination based on race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, or housing status.

Geographic area(s) served: Cook County
Type(s) of publications: None

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 10-100
Chicago, IL 60601

Rose Mary Bombela, Director
Tel: (312) 814-6200
Fax: (312) 814-6251
TDD: (312) 263-1579

The Illinois Department of Human Rights enforces the Human Rights Act. The act prohibits discrimination in Illinois in employment, financial credit, public accommodations, and real-estate transactions on the basis of race, sex, national origin, ancestry, military status, age, marital status, unfavorable military discharge, physical or mental handicaps, or sexual harassment in higher education.

Geographic area(s) served: State of Illinois
Type(s) of publications: Annual report and brochures

ILLINOIS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 5-100
Chicago, IL 60601

Gail Bradshaw, Executive Director
Manuel Barbosa, Chairperson
Tel: (312) 814-6269
Fax: (312) 814-6271
TDD: (312) 814-4790

The Illinois Human Rights Commission adjudicates complaints of violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act and, if a violation is determined to have occurred, determines a fair remedy for the victim of the violation.

Geographic area(s) served: State of Illinois
Type(s) of publications: Quarterly newsletter and annual report

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS COMMUNITY RELATIONS
4200 W. 182rd Street
Country Club Hills, IL 60478

Sharon Caddigan, Director
Tel: (708) 798-2616
Fax: (708) 798-7352
TDD: None

Country Club Hills believes that an integrated, diverse community is crucial to its overall health, and promotes itself to the public and regional officials in this way.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Country Club Hills
Type(s) of publications: None

DANVILLE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION
17 W. Main Street
Danville, IL 61832

Sandra Houston, Director
Tel: (217) 431-2200
Fax: (217) 431-2237
TDD: None

The Commission is currently updating its human resources ordinance. The current ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, city services and programs, law enforcement and public accommodations on the basis of ancestry, age, or marital status, in addition to the federally protected classes.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Danville
Type(s) of publications: None

ELGIN HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION
150 Dexter Court
Elgin, IL 60120

Olufemi Folarin, Director
Tel: (847) 931-5618
Fax: (847) 931-6075
TDD: (847) 931-5616

The Commission is charged with enforcing, and educating the public about, the city's fair housing ordinance, which covers creed and sex in addition to the federally protected classes.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Elgin
Type(s) of publications: None

EVANSTON HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
2100 Ridge Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201

Paula A. Haynes, Executive Director
Tel: (847) 866-2920
Fax: (847) 475-7259
TDD: None

The Evanston ordinance forbids discrimination in housing on the basis of sexual orientation, age, or marital status in addition to the federally protected classes. Protection against unwanted real estate solicitations is also guaranteed.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Evanston
Type(s) of publications: None

GLENWOOD COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS
13 S. Rebecca Street
Glenwood, IL 60425

Aisha Drisi, Community Relations Contact
Tel: (708) 758-5155
Fax: (708) 758-4896
TDD: None

The Commission advocates fair housing and racial integration of the community. It also investigates complaints and holds adjudicative hearings.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Glenwood
Type(s) of publications: None

HAZEL CREST COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE
3000 W. 170th Place
Hazel Crest, IL 60429

Robyn Bair, Assistant City Manager
Tel: (708) 335-9609
Fax: (708) 335-9622
TDD: None

The Community Relations Office tries to preserve the current balance and promotes the benefits of integrated living. The Office accepts and investigates complaints of housing discrimination.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Hazel Crest
Type(s) of publications: None

MATTESON COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION
3625 W. 215th Street
Matteson, IL 60443

Robin Kelly, Director
Tel: (708) 748-1821
Fax: (708) 748-5196
TDD: None

The Commission enforces the fair housing ordinance in the racially integrated city. The ordinance urges a unitary housing market and affirmative marketing. Complaints of housing discrimination are received and processed by the Commission.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Matteson
Type(s) of publications: None

OAK PARK COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIVISION
1 Village Hall Plaza
Oak Park, IL 60302

Sherlynn D. Reid, Director
Tel: (708) 383-6400
Fax: (708) 383-6692
TDD: None

The city government is committed to racial diversity and passed its human rights and fair housing ordinance in 1968. The ordinance, in addition to the federally protected classes, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, age, matriculation (student status), ancestry, or creed.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Oak Park
Type(s) of publications: None

PARK FOREST OFFICE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS
200 Forest Boulevard
Park Forest, IL 60466

Barbara Moore, Director
Tel: (708) 748-1112
Fax: (708) 335-9622
TDD: None

The city is committed to racial integration, is approximately 35 percent minority, and has no racially identifiable communities.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Park Forest
Type(s) of publications: None

PEORIA EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICE
City Hall, Room 108
419 Fulton Street
Peoria, IL 61602

Kimberly King, Equal Opportunity Director
Tel: (309) 494-8530
Fax: (309) 494-8559
TDD: (309) 494-8532

The Equal Opportunity Office is responsible for the enforcement of the city's municipal code pertaining to fair practices in employment, housing, public accommodations, and contract compliance. The office Director is also the city's ADA coordinator, who oversees the city's efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 with respect to all city-sponsored programs, activities, and services.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Peoria
Type(s) of publications: None

SPRINGFIELD DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RELATIONS
108 Municipal Center E.
800 E. Monroe
Springfield, IL 62701

Michael Pittman, Director
Tel: (217) 789-2271
Fax: (217) 789-2268
TDD: None

The Department enforces the fair housing ordinance, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of ancestry or marital status in addition to the federally protected classes.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Springfield
Type(s) of publications: None

VILLAGE OF UNIVERSITY PARK
698 Burnham Drive
University Park, IL 60466

Barbara McKinley-Lewis, Director of Community Relations
Tel: (708) 534-4811
Fax: (708) 534-3430
TDD: None

The fair housing ordinance, adopted in 1983, prohibits discrimination on the basis of marital status and age in addition to the federally protected classes. Through the Community Relations Commission, the Department is authorized to process and conciliate complaints of discrimination. Education and outreach are conducted through the bimonthly community newsletter.

Geographic area(s) served: University Park
Type(s) of publications: Bimonthly community newsletter

URBANA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
400 S. Vine Street
Urbana, IL 61801

Frank Nesbitt, Officer
Tel: (217) 384-2466
Fax: (217) 384-2426
TDD: None

The Committee's mandate is to protect all the federally protected classes except that of disability, and adds age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual preference, matriculation (student status), political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, and source of income. The Committee processes complaints of discrimination and conducts investigations.

Geographic area(s) served: City of Urbana
Type(s) of publications: None