Rue Simmons

Rue Simmons was born and raised in the largely segregated[1] 5th Ward of Evanston, Illinois.

As alderman, she led the passage of the United States' first government-funded reparations legislation.

[2][3][4][5] The local reparations initiative[6] is being funded by the first $10 million of adult-use cannabis sales tax revenue collected by the City of Evanston.

After leaving office,[8] Rue Simmons now serves as the chair of the City of Evanston's Reparations Committee.

Rue Simmons is Founder and Executive Director of the not-for-profit FirstRepair, which "informs local reparations, nationally."