The City of Joliet is partnering with Will County to conduct an African American historic context study.

The Joliet City Council Tuesday learned that the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office has awarded a matching grant of $21,000 to fund a context study of the integral role African Americans played in the history of the community.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources administered the grant. Project goals include documenting Black history in an accurate narrative; acknowledging racial injustice using history; recognizing historic properties important to the Black community; challenging misinformation about the Black experience; and recording Black voices for future generations, according to the resolution adopted Tuesday.

Recognizing that this project needs to include areas outside Joliet limits to be comprehensive and meaningful, city officials sought a partnership with Will County, Joliet Township and Lockport Township as some older neighborhoods like Fairmont, Maninngdale, Preston Heights, Hill Crest and Patterson Road are under the guidance of these governmental entities.

The resolution also stated that the City of Joliet and the other governmental units will enter into a cost-sharing agreement to further conduct the study, so it is more inclusive and equitable.

Jayne Bernhard, city planner and liaison to the historic preservation commission, said the study has been endorsed by African American business leaders in Joliet.

“This context study will include research as well as input from the Black community in Joliet,” she said. “This study will not sit on the shelf” as Bernhard said two public presentations will be made once the study is completed.

While a Web site has yet to go live, Bernhard said residents can provide their input by emailing to blackhistory@joliet.gov.

Suzanna Ibarra, who represents District 5 residents on the city council, told Bernhard to involve Black churches when compiling the study, particularly Second Baptist Church.

Jim Dickinson of Joliet said such a study is warranted.

“I hear about so many other towns and cities doing this,” said Dickinson, a lifelong Joliet resident. “The best part is we can leave our history to the future generations who do not realize the hardships their ancestors had to go through. This is well worth the effort, and I applaud Joliet for doing this.”

In Other Joliet News

 The Joliet City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a new 2,450-square-foot Starbucks coffee shop on the city’s west side on vacant land near the Joliet Junior College campus along Houbolt Road and McDonough Street. Starbucks is proposed to have an outdoor patio and a drive-through lane that can support up to 17 cars.

This new approval comes less than a month after the council allowed the popular Starbucks franchise to replace the empty Bakers Square restaurant on west Jefferson Street. Bakers Square at 2211 W. Jefferson St. closed in 2019.

Starbuck also operates coffee shops near the Louis Joliet Mall next to the Burger King on Route 30 and in the North Ridge Plaza on Larkin Avenue in Joliet.