URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The State of Illinois African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission hosted a public hearing on the University of Illinois campus Saturday.

Professors, researchers and local government officials went to the Krannert Performing Arts Center to discuss the history of slavery and the effects it has on current descendants of enslaved people.

“Let’s make this moment count, not just for us, but for the generations to come behind us,” said Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams. “Illinois stands as one of only three states in the nation with a dedicated reparations commission.”

The hearing in Urbana is one of many stops they’re making before they write a report outlining the impacts of slavery in Illinois and present recommendations to state legislators next year.

“It will paint a nice throughline so we can understand what the problem we need to remedy actually is,” said commission chair Marvin Slaughter Jr. “We want to make sure we’re engaging with all the citizens of Illinois, in each of the regions of Illinois, downstate, Central Illinois and the Chicagoland area.”