Evanston committee hears proposal to pilot DNA genealogy program funded by $500,000 state appropriation

The Evanston Reparations Committee on April 3 heard a presentation on a state-funded DNA genealogy pilot intended to help people trace family links formed during the transatlantic slave trade.

Dr. Lakeisha David, a researcher with a background at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Illinois, told the committee the project has a state appropriation of $500,000 and that organizers intend to distribute roughly 500 test kits as part of an initial pilot. She said participation would cost residents nothing and that the program will use tiered consent and university oversight to address ethical and privacy concerns.

The pilot aims to generate family-linkage trees from DNA results and to offer options for in-person kit collection at local sites, mailed kits with prepaid return postage, and the capacity to partner with community organizations. "This is showing you an example of the pop up results ... we have to have all of this approved under active oversight. So that's in place," Dr. David said, describing an institutional review and consent process she said is part of the project.

Committee members asked about the long-term security of DNA data and whether results collected by commercial companies could be re-used or transferred. Dr. David said organizers will make decisions about which tests and companies to use and will prioritize data security; she cautioned that the commercial landscape changes (she referenced 23andMe and Ancestry by name when discussing company options) and said the project will require ongoing commitments about how data are stored and governed.

Committee members also asked whether residents would need to travel to Champaign or another out‑of‑state site to participate. Dr. David said they plan to partner with Evanston to provide local collection sites, options in Chicago, and a mail‑back option for people to complete swabs at home. She said kits would be barcoded and that participants typically photograph the barcode and link it to their online account as part of the process.

Staff and committee members discussed operational roles if Evanston joins the pilot. Dr. David said the state funding covers the pilot's testing and shipping costs and that there would be "no cost to the city" for residents to join, because the appropriation would underwrite those expenses. Committee members suggested the city health department could help manage kit collection if the pilot moves forward.

Public commenters and committee members raised operational cautions: one asked that the program consider postal‑service disruptions and bulk returns; another asked whether 23andMe data might be re‑used by future corporate buyers and urged clarity on long‑term data stewardship. Committee members and presenters agreed to follow up; Dr. David said she would provide more information and that the committee would be contacted with next steps.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the pilot at the April 3 meeting. Organizers said they will return with details on company selection, consent language, and logistics for local collection if the committee chooses to proceed.