About

1990: Illinois became the first state in the country to mandate each public elementary school and high school to include in its curriculum a study of Holocaust history.

2005: The mandate, Public Act 094-0478, was expanded to include other cases of genocide.

2010: The Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission Act and Governor Quinn signed it into law. The Commission became effective on January 1, 2011.

Commission Mission Statement

Commissioners

Meeting

Thursday, November 5 2015
9am - 10.30am
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
9603 Woods Drive, Skokie IL

Meeting

Tuesday, July 21 2015
12pm - 1.30pm
Office of Greenberg Traurig
77 West Wacker Drive Suite 3100
Chicago, IL

Agenda

1. Introductions
2. Presentation by Cameron Hudson, Director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
3. Future of the Commission
4. Adjourn

Meeting

Monday, January 12 2015
6:00pm
Temple Sholom
3480 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60657

Agenda

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Goals for 2015
3. Other Business
4. Upcoming Meetings
5. Adjourn

Meeting

Monday, November 10 2014
6:30pm
School of Education & Social Policy, Northwestern University
Room G08, Annenberg Hall
2120 Campus Drive
Evanston IL 60208

Agenda

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Transition Discussion
3. Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center Update - Susan Abrams
4. Presentation on Sri Lanka
5. Research Project / Social Media Update
6. Upcoming Meetings - January 12, 2014, Temple Sholom, Chicago
7. New Business
8. Adjourn

Meeting

Monday, September 15
6:30pm
Ukrainian National Museum
2249 West Superior Street
Chicago, IL

Agenda

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Legislative Update
3. Social Media Update
4. Agenda for 2014-2015
5. Upcoming Events
6. Adjourn

Meeting

Monday, June 9 2014
6:30pm
School of Education & Social Policy, Northwestern University
G01, Annenberg Hall
2120 Campus Drive
Evanston IL 60208

Agenda

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Legislative Update
3. Springfield Yom HaShoah Memorial Recap
4. Research Project / Social Media Update
5. Upcoming Meetings
6. New Business
7. Adjourn

Meeting

Monday, March 24 2014
6:30pm
Sudanese Community Association of Illinois
4802 North Broadway #200
Chicago IL

Agenda

1. Approval of February Minutes
2. Welcome to New Member
3. Legislative Update
4. Springfield Yom HaShoah Memorial - bookmark
5. Research Project / Social Media Update
6. Guest Speaker
7. New Business
8. Adjourn

Meeting

Monday, February 3 2014
Special Meeting by Conference Call
7:30pm

Agenda

1. Discussion of amendment to enabling legislation

Meeting

Monday, January 13 2014
6:30pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Agenda

1. Call to Order
   1. Volunteer to record minutes
2. Recap of September Meeting
   1. Continuation of Old Business
   2. Event Update
      1. Recap of ILHMC fall events & preview of Spring events
      2. Springfield Yom HaShoah Commemoration
      3. Polish-Jewish relations film & panel discussion
3. Amendment to Enabling Legislation
4. Upcoming Meetings & Announcements
   1. George Marvopolous: Thessolinka Memorial

Meeting

Monday, September 23 2013
6:00pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Agenda

1. Call to Order and Approval of June Meeting Minutes
   1. Update from Rick Hirschhaut
2. Commission Contributions to Upcoming Special IHMEC Programs
3. Allocation of Responsibilities and Timeline for Completion of Commission Website
4. Commission Response to Syria
5. Debrief of Summer Community Events
   1. Senator Donne Trotter's Visit
6. Upcoming Community Events
7. Upcoming Meetings

Meeting

Monday, June 10 2013
6:30pm
Sudanese Community Association of Illinois
4802 North Broadway #200
Chicago IL

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Recap of March meeting
3. Overview of Controversy Regarding the Recent Comments of Senator Donne Trotter
4. Discussion
   1. Website update
      1. Genocide unit submissions update
   2. Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month update
   3. Fact Sheet: The Obama Administration's Comprehensive Efforts to Prevent Mass Atrocities Over the Past Year
   4. Introduction of Sudanese Community Association Center and ongoing initiatives
5. Debrief of Past Community Events
6. Upcoming Community Events
7. Set Next Meeting

Meeting

Monday, March 18 2013
6:30pm
Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church & Community Center
1701 North Greenwood Road
Glenview IL

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Recap of January 16 2013 Meeting and Approval of Minutes
3. Proposed Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month Proclamation
4. Update on Commission Website - Danny Cohen
   1. Structure
   2. Content
5. Program Planning - Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide - Sunday April 21 2013
   1. Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 2-4pm, with Keynote Speaker: Scholar and Author, Peter Balakian, Open to the Community
6. 2013 Meeting Dates / Possible Locations
   1. Monday, June 10, 2013
   2. Monday, August 12, 2013
7. New Business

Meeting

Wednesday, January 16 2013
6:30pm
Aspira Haugan Middle School
3729 West Leland Avenue
Chicago IL

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Recap of November 13th Meeting and Approval of Minutes
3. Welcome New Members
4. Overview of Website
5. Program Planning - International Day of Holocaust Remembrance, January 27, 2013
6. Initial Planning Report - Armenian Genocide Exhibition
7. Film Premiere: "Skokie: Invaded, But Not Conquered"
8. 2013 Meeting Dates / Possible Locations
   1. Monday, March 11th
   2. Monday, June 10th
9. New Business

Meeting

Tuesday, November 13 2012
6:30pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Recap of September 12th Meeting and Approval of Minutes
3. Overview of Recent Website Additions and Discussion of Protocols
4. Report from Association of Holocaust Organizations (AHO) International Conference
5. Program Planning - International Day of Holocaust Remembrance, January 27, 2013
6. 2013 Meeting Dates / Possible Locations
   1. Monday, January 14th
   2. Monday, March 11th
   3. Monday, June 10th
7. New Business

Meeting

Wednesday, September 12 2012
6:30pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Recap of June Meeting
3. Discussion
   1. Summer Institute on Teaching Human Rights and Genocide
   2. Srebrenica Commemoration
   3. Visit to Chicago of South Sudanese Parliamentarians
4. Upcoming Events
   1. Commemoration of Smyrna Destruction
5. Proposed 2102-13 Meeting Dates
6. New Business

Meeting

Monday, June 11 2012
6:30pm
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Recap of April Meeting
3. Discussion
   1. Medal of Freedom Award Ceremony
   2. Website
      1. Tour of Site and Initial Feedback
      2. Final Updated Biographies
      3. Additional Information and Resources to be added
4. SPECIAL GUESTS: Malual Awak and Sean Tenner, Sudanese Community Center
5. Calendar of Statewide Commemorations and Observances
6. Set Next Meeting