Former Evanston Alderwoman Receives Urban One Honors Award
Robin Rue Simmons recognized for historic Reparations work
Robin Rue Simmons
Robin Rue Simmons recognized for historic Reparations work
Robin Rue Simmons, Reparations advocate and former Evanston alderwoman, is an award recipient of the annual Urban One Honors which highlighs the exemplary accomplishments of African American women around the country. Rue Simmons is the architect of the nation’s first funded municipal Reparations legislation, sparking local legislative efforts nationwide and raising awareness around the HR40 bill seeking to progress federal Reparations. This year’s Urban One Honors theme is “Women Leading the Change,” where Rue Simmons and her many contributions to the Reparations movement, including her “solutions only” leadership style, will be acknowledged for her meaningful impact within the Black community and beyond.
Other awardees include Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and voting rights activist, Stacey Abrams; Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of The New York Times 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and more powerhouse Black female change makers.
This award is presented just a week after Rue Simmons’ last day in office as Alderwoman of Evanston’s 5th Ward. During her tenure for the city, she spearheaded Evanston’s Reparations legislation to begin repairing the harm Black residents endured as a consequence of decades of prior discriminatory housing policies. On March 22, 2021, Evanston made history as the first city in the U.S. to move such a plan forward, committing to distributing over the next 10 years $10 million in Reparations to eligible Black Evanstonians.
“Serving Evanston and our residents has been an honor and among the greatest experiences of my life,” Rue Simmons said of her time as Alderwoman. As she exits her city office, she remains dedicated to championing Reparations work. “I will never stop taking real, bold steps to right the wrongs borne out of past and current practices rooted in anti-Blackness,” Rue Simmons said. “Together, we’ll keep advocating for local Reparations to create a brighter, more equitable future for Black Americans everywhere.”
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