Naperville City Council Passed Resolution to Condemn Racism and Encourage Diversity Following Racist Attacks Against Asian Americans
Nancy Chen cares about the Naperville community and actively joins many women and Asian organizations. She usually hosts events at her house, inviting people who care about Asian community issues to come.
Photo provided by Nancy Chen.
The Naperville City Council adopted a resolution on May 19 proposed by Nancy Chen, a Naperville resident and an active retired public servant, to denounce racism and encourage diversity.
Chen has been a resident in Naperville for 48 years, after she retired from her career in public service. She has become more active after she retired and joined many women and Asian organizations, such as the Indivisible Naperville and United Chinese Americans Chicago chapter.
Chen’s concerns about anti-Asian sentiments and discrimination in Naperville was a primary motivator for her fight for the resolution as well after several nationwide racist-attacks against Asian Americans that happened after the COVID-19 outbreak, and some of which were prior to the COVID-19 outbreak like a racist incident at Buffalo Wild Wings last year.
“There’s always a fear, but a fear didn’t exactly be brought so close to home until I heard that a man of Chinese American was attacked in Naperville,” said Chen.
Chen proposed the resolution also in response to non-Naperville-resident Erika DeCarlo, who called Asians who objected to marijuana legality in Naperville “roving carpetbaggers” during a previous Naperville City Council meeting on April 7. The City Council considered DeCarlo’s statement to be offensive and racist. The full recording during the City Council meeting on May 19 can be found here.
Chen first read the resolution during the April 21st City Council meeting, encouraging council members to adopt the resolution. One of the council members, Benny White, stated that he was pleased that the entire Council denounced the actions that took place and fully supported the resolution. Theresa Sullivan and Patrick Kelly are other two council members that worked with Chen. Within less than a month, the resolution had been adopted and the more important next step was to take the actions.
“The important thing is not just the resolution to say something nice to support the Asian communities or denouncing the hate crime. I actually wanted the City Council to do something about it,” said Chen.
Chen’s resolution.
In Chen’s resolution, she proposed the City of Naperville should work with government entities and community partners, including School Districts 203 and 204 and the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, to achieve an equitable and diverse community. Also, Chen urged that the City Council should denounce all kinds of racism, intolerance and condemn any unacceptable racist behaviors.
“As a Chinese American, we have to get out of our own comfort zone and to be working with other communities. The days where we kept our head down and just worked hard and tried to achieve our success are over. We need to work with others, and we need to become more active,” said Chen.
Chen hosted a fundraiser at her house on February 23 for Janet Yang(seated at the chair), a Chinese American in Naperville who is running for IL state representative district 41.
Photo provided by Nancy Chen.
Chen hosted the Meet and Greet event at her house for the Chinese community and neighbors to get to know the Mayoral Candidate, Rocky Caylor (the man on the left).
Photo provided by Nancy Chen.
Chen received the Outstanding Community Leadership Award at Midwest Asian Health Association 2019 annual dinner.
Photo provided by Nancy Chen.
Chen (left) was with Congressman Raja Krishnamurthy(right) and her granddaughter at United Chinese Americans, UCA-Illinois New year celebration, 2019.
Photo provided by Nancy Chen.
On May 7, Chen was invited by Naperville Neighbors United to be on the panel to discuss anti-Asian racism during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Screenshot provided by Nancy Chen.
The United Chinese Americans-Illinois chapter (UCA) and Jewish American Committee Chicago are two organizations that supported the resolution. Several Naperville organizations such as Naperville Neighbors United, Indivisible Naperville, ACE (act, connect and engage), also made statements to support. Two Chinese American board members within school district 203 also made relevant statements. Two Naperville-born Chinese American young women made their statements of support too.
“The United Chinese Americans (UCA)-Illinois Chapter would like to express our support for the resolution to celebrate the diversity of our community and denounce all acts of racism, intolerance and unlawful discrimination,” said Lily Chen, chair of UCA-Illinois, in an email. “We applaud your leadership in standing up against racism in all forms. On behalf of our members in Naperville, we thank you for making the city an inclusive and welcoming place for all.”
In addition to incorporating with the government and school districts, the City Council will offer some training programs for their employees, police departments, and fire departments to respect the diversity and address the importance of the issue. Chen said even the police stations in Naperville would like to hire some Asian American police officers.