Forward Through Ferguson offers Massey Commission advice as they prepare final report
Share this @internewscast.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — On Monday, the Massey Commission convened a meeting and included guests to assist in their planning for community changes.

The commission is nearing its first anniversary, with the report deadline for enhancing equity in Sangamon County quickly approaching. Everything needs to be submitted by October.

“We were established following the death of Sonya Massey at the hands of a former deputy from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office,” JoAnn Johnson, co-chair of the Massey Commission, stated during the meeting. “We persist in expressing our condolences to her family and the larger community as we grieve her loss, while striving for justice, accountability, and significant transformations.”

In addressing some of their pressing questions, they invited three representatives from Forward through Ferguson, a nonprofit that was created after another commission disbanded following Mike Brown’s shooting in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014.

They recommended including numerous calls to action.  The Ferguson Commission’s final report included 189 recommendations.

“Our approach is to propose as much as we can,” Bethany Johnson-Javois of Forward through Ferguson explained. “We all understand and believe that something will have an impact, but we can’t predict what it will be. Often, the things you expect to work don’t, and what you least expect ends up being effective.”

The Forward Through Ferguson leaders also recommend working with as many organizations as they can.

“We ended up mapping the work that we all did and realizing that it was complementary, not competition, and that the type of work this organization did is the type of work that this organization always turns down and the type of work this organization does is actually a great first step before you go to that organization,” Nicole Hudson, another representative with Forward through Ferguson, said.

The members said starting to recruit the next generation of activists is also essential.

“Start cultivating your own champions that don’t exist today but we need ten years from now, starting now,” Johnson-Javois said.

They also urged the commission to remember the original reason why they were formed.

“You never let people forget that at the end of the day, a family lost Miss Massey,” Johnson-Javois added.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Israel Confirms Identities of Additional Hostage Victims Amid Vance’s Diplomatic Mission to Meet Netanyahu

TEL AVIV – In a solemn update, Israeli authorities have confirmed the…

New Bill Seeks to Provide Compensation for Victims of Crimes Committed by Undocumented Migrants

In a recent legislative move, Florida State Representative Berny Jacques, a Republican…

Florida Breaks Python Removal Record with Innovative New Partnership

In Tallahassee, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis recently took the stage alongside an…

Government Shutdown Threatens Paychecks for Workers This Friday

(NEXSTAR) While biweekly employees are gearing up for the second of three…

Jefferson County Paramedic Faces Charges for Alleged Minor Exploitation

A paramedic from Jefferson County has been suspended following his arrest on…

Shocking Allegations: Chicago School Security Guard Charged with Sexual Abuse of Minors

Editor’s Note: The following article addresses sensitive topics related to child abuse.…

United Way Appoints Dynamic New Leader to Propel Growth in Liberty and Long County

A tide of transformation is sweeping through Liberty and Long Counties as…

Breaking News: DHS Hikes Humanitarian Parole Fees to $1,000—What This Means for Immigrants

HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) — The Department of Homeland Security has introduced…

Atlanta Airport Threat: Federal Prosecutors Take Action Against Suspect in Chilling Shooting Plot

ATLANTA – On Tuesday, federal prosecutors filed charges against a Georgia man,…

Forensic Experts Investigate Human Skull Discovered at JC Golf Course; DNA Analysis Next Step

In Johnson City, Tennessee, police are delving into the discovery of a…

Don’t Miss: Experience the Thrill of SpaceX’s Florida Coast Rocket Launch Live at 9:30 PM!

Brevard County, Fla. – On Wednesday, SpaceX is set to launch a…

Port Wentworth Ice Cove Celebrates Milestone with Beam Topping Ceremony

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. – Tuesday marked a significant milestone for Port Wentworth’s…