Media Advisory:
February 20, 2008

Contact: Laurie R. Glenn, Tel: (773) 252-8672, ext. 301, Mobile: (773) 704-7246, lrglenn@lrglenn.com

Josina Morita, Tel: (312) 376-8235, Mobile: (773) 844-7296, jmorita@arc.org

Chicago, IL—The Applied Research Center will release a new report Thursday assessing the track record of Illinois lawmakers on bills related to racial equity.  The report, Facing Race: Illinois Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity 2007-2008, details widening racial inequities in Illinois, identifies the top 2007-2008 bills with the potential to improve racial equity, and gives letter grades to individual lawmakers based on their support for racial equity bills.  The report will also identify the top-10 legislators who support racial equity--and the bottom-10 legislators who don't.  The release will take place at dual press conferences in Chicago and Springfield.

WHAT: 

PRESS CONFERENCES in Chicago and Springfield to present findings and individual legislator grades from FACING RACE: Illinois Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity 2007-2008. Printed and electronic copies of the report will be made available.

Details Below by City:

CHICAGO, IL   
James R. Thompson Center   
100 W. Randolph Street       
Press Room, 15th Floor   
10:00am  
Josina Morita, Applied Research Center   
Rev. Patricia Watkins & Jesus Garcia, Co-founders of the United Congress of
Community and Religious Organizations   

SPRINGFIELD, IL
State Capitol
Blue Room, Mezzanine Level
1:00 PM
Terry Keleher, Applied Research Center
Senator John Cullerton (D-6)
Senator Iris Martinez (D-20)
Rev. Ron Taylor & Jhatayan Travis, Co-founders of the United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations
 
Also that evening, the United Congress and the national Equal Voice for America's Families Campaign will host a State of Unity Town Hall meeting and recognition dinner in Springfield for the six legislators whose leadership records qualified them for the racial-equity honor roll as well as the 17 legislators who received an “A”.  

The Applied Research Center (ARC) is a public policy institute advancing racial justice through research, advocacy and journalism. 

The United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) is a broad-based, multicultural and multi-religious movement for justice, equity, and human dignity.

The Equal Voice for America's Families Campaign is a year-long initiative sponsored by the Marguerite Casey Foundation to develop and advance a national agenda that puts families first.