Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – “This report is what happens when a community refuses to look away.”
Those are the words of Massey Commission co-chair Joann Johnson, in a news release Thursday saying the final report of the commission formed following Sonya Massey‘s death last year is now available.
According to the commission, the report:
● Summarizes the Commission’s public hearings, listening sessions, and research.
● Identifies and names the gaps in public safety, mental health, transparency, and accountability that community members confront on a daily basis.
● Offers concrete Calls to Action for county agencies, local governments, schools, law
enforcement agencies, and community partners to take ownership of.
The commission says they want the report shared far and wide, so that change occurs after former sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was arrested for shooting Massey, and after he was convicted in October of Second Degree Murder.
“We want people to dog-ear these pages and highlight your favorite parts, quote them at meetings, and bring them to public comment,” said Kelly Hurst, Managing Director of the Massey Commission, in a news release. “If this report lives in the hands of the people, it cannot be ignored.”
The commission says in the news release its formal work is now done, but the “hardest and most important work” is now starting, which they say is implementation. According to the news release, that includes:
● Massey Commission Co-Chairs and staff will present the final report to the Sangamon County Board on their meeting on December 9th at 6:00 PM
● Commission staff will work with the Sangamon County Board and other local bodies on the Calls to Action.
● Community partners will organize listening/feedback sessions and public forums to unpack the recommendations and identify priorities.
● Residents will be invited to join working groups, listening sessions, advocacy campaigns, and accountability efforts to ensure this report does not sit on a shelf gathering dust.
At least some of that work, the commission says, will take the next several months.
