Prairie State Wire

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Task Force met May 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the authority:

Task Force Member Attendance	WebEx	Absent
Dr. Adrienne Adams	x
Verda Bhatti, Between Friends		x
Carrie Boyd, ILCADV	x
State Representative Kambium Buckner		x
Margaret Duval, Ascend Justice	x
Jennifer Greene, Life Span	x
Representative Jackie Haas		x
Senator Mattie Hunter	x
Major Abigail Keller, Illinois State Police	x
Thomas Lemmer, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police		x
Senator Seth Lewis		x
Rebeca Perrone, Cook County Medical Examiner	x
Amanda Pyron, The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence		x
Mandy Sark, Chicago Missing Person’s Guild	x
Teresa Smith		x
Scheherazade Tillet, A Long Walk Home		x
Cristina Villarreal, Planned Parenthood of Illinois	x
Diane Walsh, Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County		x
Carrie Ward, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault	x

Also present were: 

Angela McLemore, Executive Assistant, Senator Hunter’s Office

A.J. Barks, Chicago Women’s Health Clinic

Meghana Halbe, University of Chicago

ICJIA Staff Present: 

Delrice Adams, Executive Director

Brianna Martin, Associate General Counsel

Amanda Vasquez, Research Manager

Erinne Smith, Research Scientist

Vincent Sarna, Task Force Coordinator and Report Writer

Karen Galbraith, Project Coordinator

Minutes by: Karen Galbraith, ICJIA Project Coordinator

I. CALL TO ORDER/ OPENING REMARKS 

• Chairperson Senator Hunter called the meeting to order at 12:04 P.M.

• Newly appointed members, Dr. Adrienne Adams and Carrie Boyd introduced themselves. Senator Hunter welcomed them to the Task Force. 

• Newly elected Vice Chair Mandy Sark introduced herself to the Task Force and looks forward to supporting the work of the task force in her new role.

II. ROLL CALL 

• Brianna Martin, ICJIA’s Associate General Counsel, took roll and quorum was reached.

III. OLD BUSINESS 

• A motion to approve the minutes from the April 14, 2025, meeting was made by Senator Hunter and seconded by Jennifer Greene. Members voted to approve the minutes. There were no nay votes nor abstentions.

IV.NEW BUSINESS 

• Update on Missing Persons Day – Task Force member Rebeca Perrone provided an update on the 5th Annual Missing Persons Day that was held on May 10th. Participating law enforcement agencies included, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the Chicago Police Department, and Illinois State Police. 13 families participated in DNA sample collection and were provided with information. They were able to provide information to a family about the whereabouts of their missing loved one.

• Presentation: A.J. Barks, Interim Executive Director of the Chicago Women’s Health Clinic, presented on the work of the clinic and the intersections of their work with the work of the Task Force. Ms. Barks noted the importance of relationship-building and trust in their success.

Additionally, she highlighted the increased risk of violence that is experienced by trans women, particularly black trans women and trans women of color. Please see the attached slides for additional information. 

• Report Writing Subcommittee Report 

Vice Chair Mandy Sark provided a summary of the subcommittee’s April meeting. To provide Task Force Members with the opportunity to provide input for the report, brief key takeaways survey has been developed for members to complete following each meeting and presentation. (The link will be provided via the meeting chat and email.) Additionally, the group is working on scheduling and recording a panel discussion of survivor families for the Task Force to watch and consider as recommendations are being drafted.

• Next Meeting: Vice Chair Sark reminded members that the next task force meeting will be held on Monday, June 9, 12 pm.

V. PUBLIC COMMENT 

• Chair Senator Hunter opened the floor to members of the public. There were no public comments.

VI. ADJOURNMENT 

• Senator Hunter requested a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Motion: Mandy Sark

Seconded By: Adrienne Adams

Vote: The motion passed. No Nays. No abstentions.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:02 pm.

https://agency.icjia-api.cloud/uploads/Missing_and_Murdered_Task_Force_Minutes_5_12_2025_Minutes_Approved_60cb790045.pdf