Rockford proclaims ‘Summit on Racism Day,’ advocates meet to find common ground

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, May 8th, as a “Summit on Racism, Embracing Difference for a Change Day.”

Leaders and community advocates gathered for the 2025 Summit on Racism at the UW Sports Factory, at 305 S. Madison Street.

Organizers said the goal of the summit was to get the opinion of residents about how the city can become”a more inclusive and equitable community.”

Rock Valley College president Dr. Howard Spearman talked about a new RVC campus coming to the West side, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) spoke about fighting food insecurity, including plans for a mobile grocery store.

“Just by uniting together for the cause, and coming together just to answer questions and see what we can do to make this world a better place for you and I,” said George Scott, the president of the Rockford Branch of the NAACP. “We just want everybody to be treated equal. Concentration is obviously on the West side, because they don’t have a lot of things that the East side has. But today’s topics are about the whole city of Rockford and making improvements.”

Leaders said that by the end of the summit, they expect to have both short- and long-term goals on how to unite the city.

“We see there’s a lot going on in the world right now. We see there’s a lot of divisive thought, and we’re trying to really combat that. Make sure people know here in town that they are welcome. That this is a place where you belong. Where you can contribute. Where you can work together,” said Shelton Kay, executive director of the Rockford Regional Health Council.

“So much of Rockford is West Side versus East Side, when it should just be one community. We should see that there’s a value to living anywhere in this town, because there really is,” he continued.