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Record of Proceedings

Cook County Human Rights Commission Meeting Summary – May 22, 2026

Board of Commissioners — Friday, May 22, 2026
BodyCook County, Illinois
SessionBoard of Commissioners
DateFriday, May 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:22:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Good morning.

0:10

We'll get started.

0:16

Just go around.

0:17

Happy New Year.

0:18

I know the world's not all like these days, and just so much to working alongside.

0:31

More than thank you all.

0:39

Morning, everyone, Commissioner.

0:41

Good to see everybody.

0:42

Commissioner Jack Block, Commissioner Richard Taller.

0:46

Commissioner Pushker.

0:48

Sherman.

0:49

Director Jennifer King.

0:51

Commissioner CPF Health.

0:53

Deputy Director to my right.

0:55

I used to wildness associate operations sessions.

1:02

Sasha Hutchinson, Outreach Training Coordinator.

1:04

Claire Dillon, Data Fellow.

1:06

Shravia Sampali.

1:08

Claire Dylan Data Filip.

1:11

Shravia Samhali Data Fellow.

1:16

Alyssa Coffee investigator.

1:17

Edwin Ryan Vasquez Associate Investigator.

1:20

Shot Sierra What's being associate investigator.

1:30

I don't believe we have anyone here for statements from the by the general public.

1:35

Oh, we have to do a roll call.

1:40

Commissioner Lapinski.

1:43

Commissioner Block.

1:44

Here.

1:45

Commissioner Robert Talliver.

1:47

Commissioner Sharma.

1:48

Chair Soho.

1:50

Chair, you have a quorum.

1:55

Any statements by the general public?

2:04

Thank you so much.

2:05

Chair contains a motion to approve today's agenda.

2:09

So those who may have a second, please.

2:12

Second.

2:12

Thank you.

2:12

All those in favor, please say aye.

2:14

Aye.

2:14

Aye.

2:15

All those who oppose, please say nay.

2:17

Agenda is approved.

2:19

Thank you.

2:20

Chair entertained a motion to approve the November 13th, 2025.

2:24

Regular meeting open minutes.

2:30

Thank you.

2:30

All those in favor, please say aye.

2:32

Aye.

2:33

All those in opposed, please say nay.

2:36

The November 13th, 2025, regular meeting open minutes are approved.

2:41

Any commissioner updates.

2:46

Sure, we have uh we just wanted to recognize that our uh commissioner Amber Smock is resigning from the commission, and so we just want to recognize that she served on the commission for 10 years and was really a great contributor, and we appreciate your service that she'll be present.

3:03

Thank you, Commissioner Smock.

3:07

Any other commission updates.

3:16

Thank you.

3:17

Um I'll just note that for the I'll of course review the FY 2025 totals, and then the data from the new fiscal year, uh just about half of a quarter from December 1st to January 15th.

3:30

Uh so we have 215 cases, active cases currently, or as of January 15th, which are that number has grown based on the new cases that have come in since then.

3:40

127 inquiries in the first half of the quarter, so we're trending pretty similarly to probably have around 250 or so, um, which is not too far off from the last quarter.

3:52

Uh 36 new cases filed in the first half of the quarter.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Personnel Matters██████████████████18%
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Criminal Justice█████████████13%
Housing████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Cook County Human Rights Commission Meeting Summary – May 22, 2026

This meeting of the Cook County Human Rights Commission convened on May 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM (estimated from adjournment time) and included updates on caseload, a fair housing impact assessment, procedural rule amendments, training activities, and executive session actions. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner South, with roll call showing Commissioners Lapinski, Block, Robert Talliver, Sharma, Isaacs, and South present. Commissioner Amber Smock was recognized for her resignation after 10 years of service.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public were present to speak during the public comment period.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda approved unanimously
  • Minutes of November 13, 2025 regular meeting approved

Discussion Items

  • Caseload Update: As of January 15, 2026, the commission had 215 active cases, with 127 inquiries in the first half of the quarter. 36 new cases were filed, and 24 investigations were closed (none settled). Staff noted a shift in priority to closing older cases, which may impact closure numbers.
  • Just Housing Impact Assessment: Surveys collected 154 responses and 20 follow-up interviews with individuals with arrest/conviction records. A draft report has been completed by Roosevelt University and is being finalized for publication in March or early April 2026.
  • FY25 Annual Report: Work has begun on the commission’s annual report for FY2025, which will be presented to commissioners for review and approval.
  • Procedural Rule Amendments: Staff presented a draft standard operating procedure (SOP) for rule amendments, including a timeline for public notice and commissioner review. Discussion clarified that the 14-day pre-publication period refers to public notice, not publication for comment. The SOP is intended as an internal resource.
  • Outreach and Training Updates: Provided by Outreach Coordinator Sasha Hutchinson. Activities included a resource table at the Northwest Side Job Fair on December 5, 2025; a fair housing training on December 8, 2025; and a December 10, 2025 event at the National Public Housing Museum. On January 13, 2026, JHA training was provided to adult probation staff. A January 27, 2026 national origin training was held in English and Spanish. The commission’s newsletter has grown to 2,507 subscribers. A new worker protections training was confirmed for February 26, 2026, with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership.
  • Press Conference Regarding EEOC Guidance: A staff member noted a press conference with Women Employed regarding the rescission of portions of the EEOC’s harassment guidance, particularly related to gender. Staff emphasized that the commission’s protections (over 40 protected classes) are unaffected by federal changes and that the commission has concurrent jurisdiction. A rise in filings based on gender is anticipated.
  • Investigation Extension Requests: Staff requested 38 first extensions for investigation completion under procedural rule 40.100, citing delays in receiving party responses. The item was tabled until after executive session.

Executive Session

  • Motion to enter executive session approved. During closed session, the commission voted on case-related matters.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopt ALJ Recommendation (Case 2023 PA 005): Motion passed with 6 ayes and 0 nays (Commissioner Robert Talliver abstained, noting he was not present for the case).
  • Deny Reconsideration (Case 2025 E00373): Motion passed with 6 ayes and 0 nays, with changes discussed in executive session.
  • Approve Investigation Extensions (38 cases): Motion passed unanimously.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for March 26, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. We'll get started. Just go around. Happy New Year. I know the world's not all like these days, and just so much to working alongside. More than thank you all. Morning, everyone, Commissioner. Good to see everybody. Commissioner Jack Block, Commissioner Richard Taller. Commissioner Pushker. Sherman. Director Jennifer King. Commissioner CPF Health. Deputy Director to my right. I used to wildness associate operations sessions. Sasha Hutchinson, Outreach Training Coordinator. Claire Dillon, Data Fellow. Shravia Sampali. Claire Dylan Data Filip. Shravia Samhali Data Fellow. Alyssa Coffee investigator. Edwin Ryan Vasquez Associate Investigator. Shot Sierra What's being associate investigator. I don't believe we have anyone here for statements from the by the general public. Oh, we have to do a roll call. Commissioner Lapinski. Commissioner Block. Here. Commissioner Robert Talliver. Commissioner Sharma. Chair Soho. Chair, you have a quorum. Any statements by the general public? Thank you so much. Chair contains a motion to approve today's agenda. So those who may have a second, please. Second. Thank you. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. All those who oppose, please say nay. Agenda is approved. Thank you. Chair entertained a motion to approve the November 13th, 2025. Regular meeting open minutes. Thank you. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. All those in opposed, please say nay.

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