The Chicago Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force met on April 21, 2026, to receive presentations on domestic violence services, data, funding, and policy recommendations. The meeting included public testimony from two survivors, presentations from three organizations, and robust discussion among commissioners regarding gaps in services, particularly in the South Suburban area, and the need for sustainable funding and better data.
The Chicago Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force to Order. So good morning, everybody. Um, Amy, are there any registered public speakers? There is Sarah Brown. Are you here? Okay. Any other registered public speakers? No. Did you sign up? Okay, perfect. Then you can come to the right. Oh, that's the end of that. Members of the public who wish to testify have until twenty-four hours before the schedule started the meeting to register in order to do so. Speakers will have three minutes to address the task force and will be alerted when they have one minute time remaining, when thirty seconds remain, and when the time has expired. And this detective, the one that was giving the classes, almost we just needed one day to finish the course, and he started telling everybody that it was okay to abuse the woman to him and abuse him. And I was like listening. And I'm like, am I listening right to what this detective is telling all his students? And I raised my hand and I said, you know what? It's not okay to abuse women, children, men, or anybody. And he goes like, um, I don't know, I don't remember what he said. And then I turned back. There was a man sitting in back a minute, and I go, oh, honey, you know what? I love being beaten up, beat me up. And the man in fact me said, I don't speak English. I'm like, wait, who from this class speaks English? They only three persons spoke English. This detective is giving an English class, concealed weapon to non-speaking, they're the majority, all were his family. That is a really concern for me, especially when he starts saying that it's okay to be to feed up the woman. Um, I don't know. I did go to Tabaris' office. He's still doing the service, he's still working there, giving the concealed weapons. Is he still telling the people that it's okay to beat up woman? Thank you. Thank you. Oh, I can include your public speakers. Thank you. Thanks again for your testimony. Okay, thank you all for your willingness to serve on this task force. I wanted to acknowledge my colleagues who are also here in the room, Commissioner Anaya, Commissioner Degnan, Commissioner McCaskill. So thank you all for being here. Were there any other elected officials in the room? No. Okay. Okay, Commissioner Stamps just walked in. Thank you all for being here. So now Katie Dunn has been helping us organize and facilitate these meetings. And I wanted to just get right into the presentation. So Katie will assist in introducing our presenters. Thank you, Katie. Fantastic.