THE GAPA COALITION HAS LAUNCHES A NEW EFFORT TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY, help people join the political process, and reimangine what is possible for the future of police accountability in Chicago. ​

​

​

• Empowering Communities: ECPS Educational CampaigN

  • GAPA will develop a curriculum and launch a citywide campaign to build awareness of the Community Commission and District Councils.
    
    This new curriculum will highlight the urgent need for community power as federal tough on crime rhetoric directly threatens the progress we have made as a City to hold police accountable.
    
    Through relational organizing, teach-ins, and storytelling, we will empower communities to harness the power of our civilian oversight system to shape public safety.

​

​

• District Council Election Preparation

  • The next District Council election cycle begins in August 2026. Due to many factors, including lack of support and resources, there is concern that there will not be enough pro-accountability candidates interested in taking on this critical local public safety leadership role.
    
    This year, GAPA will identify candidates to step into leadership and strengthen civilian oversight of CPD.
    
    We will also engage communities across the city to ensure residents are informed, mobilized, and ready to vote for the future of police accountability.

 

​

• Support for Alternative Responses to Policing Efforts 

  • The communities represented by the GAPA Coalition understand that many of the roles the Chicago Police Department is tasked with would be better suited for other professionals and support transformative change.
    
    While the Community Commission and the District Councilors are tasked by ordinance to explore and expand alternative responses to policing and have begun that work, it is still in its very early stages.
    
    Over the next year, our efforts will focus on educating residents about their options for non-police response and advocating for the growth of alternative response models across Chicago.​​