On Dec. 4, 2024, Reparation Generation (RepGen) accepted the Outstanding Contributions to the Reparations Movement award at the National State and Local Reparations Symposium, hosted by FirstRepair and the National African-American Reparations Commission. This event was held in Evanston, IL—the birthplace of the nation’s first municipally funded reparations program.
RepGen was selected for this award based on “exceptional leadership in the reparations movement.” RepGen co-founder Karen Hughes and Executive Director Christian Harris were there to accept the award.
“As we continue the fight for justice and repair, I want you to know that your work is seen, valued, and an inspiration to us all,” The FirstRepair team wrote in an email notifying RepGen of the award. “You have built on the work of our ancestors and the elders to set new precedents, prioritize collaboration and reach new milestones that might once have been dismissed as fringe and implausible. With your leadership, we have built a local to national strategy for reparations.”
Noting that reparations work is his “life’s calling,” RepGen Executive Director Christian Harris said, “This moment is only possible because of the tireless work of generations of reparations advocates who never saw a dime from their efforts. In fact, for many, it cost them their lives and livelihoods. I honor them every day as we create opportunities for Black people to build wealth and assess the impact of reparative wealth transfers on both contributors and recipients. Together, we are demonstrating that reparations are feasible, can heal harm, create wealth, and be designed effectively. Thank you to FirstRepair for the honor and to the ancestors for making this moment possible.”
Hughes, who is RepGen’s Evaluation Team Co-Chair and Program Manager for the Homeownership Reparative Transfer Program, said that building awareness and support for a federal reparations act is something that she is “excited to do right now, in solidarity, guided by Black leadership.”
“Doing this work in collaboration with FirstRepair and partners across the country, makes even the difficult times joyful and healing for me. Reparations are part of good governance at every level: individual, family, community, organization, state and federal. Our political, economic and cultural leaders need to hear from all of us.”
FirstRepair thanked RepGen for “telling the truth.”
“Thank you for making the dream tangible,” the FirstRepair team wrote. “Together, we are making reparations common sense and commonplace.”