MOU with the Chicago Park District

Status: Not yet in place. No memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been drafted or signed. A written MOU with the Chicago Park District is required before the first class.

What an MOU is

An MOU is a written agreement that spells out who does what. For the Lab, it will set out what the Chicago Park District provides, what Ras Tafari Inc. promises, and how the two work together to keep children safe at Rainbow Beach Park (3111 E. 77th St., Chicago, IL 60649).

The Park District decides its own agreement terms and forms. The list below is what Ras Tafari Inc. will propose. The final MOU may differ. If it does, we will post what changed.

Terms we will propose

1. Space

• Indoor classes in the Rainbow Beach Park fieldhouse when space is available (fall through spring).
• Outdoor classes on the park lawn in summer, where the Park District allows.
• No Lab activity in or on the water. Children do not swim during the program.
• A safe place to store equipment between classes, and electrical access.
• A designated indoor shelter space for lightning and heat, and a lockdown room.

2. Schedule

• Class dates and times agreed in writing before they are posted for families.
• Notice periods for changes or cancellations on either side.
• Clear rules for weather cancellations (lightning, extreme heat), consistent with the Lab's safety policies.

3. Safety standards

The Lab's safety commitments become terms of the agreement, including:

• at least two adults cleared by the Park District's background check present with children at all times, and no adult alone with a child out of sight;
• no more than 6 children per screened adult;
• sign-in and sign-out by a parent or guardian, with release only to adults on the authorized-pickup list after a photo ID check;
• at least one adult per class holding current pediatric first aid/CPR/AED certification;
• no alcohol, tobacco, vaping or cannabis at any Lab activity;
• sound levels checked with a meter, and headphone volume capped, with Ras Tafari Inc.'s safety lead holding final authority over volume, stage access and stopping a session;
• an emergency action plan finalized after a site walk with park staff, with maps.

4. Insurance

• General liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, naming the Chicago Park District as additional insured.
• Sexual abuse and molestation coverage.
• A certificate of insurance delivered to the Park District before the first class, and kept current. See Insurance certificate.

5. Background checks

• The Chicago Park District runs background checks for every adult who works with children at the Lab, under the Park District's rules, including renewal. Ras Tafari Inc. does not substitute its own process.
• The Park District's process also applies to vendor staff on site during program hours, including Q-Ality Sound's crew.
• No adult works with children until the Park District's check is complete. On top of it, Lab adults give references and complete youth-protection training, Illinois DCFS mandated reporter training and, for at least one adult per class, pediatric first aid/CPR/AED.

5a. Complaints about adults

• The Park District receives complaints about any adult at the Lab. Families and staff are told to contact the Rainbow Beach Park office, (312) 745-1479, or any Park District staff member.
• Ras Tafari Inc. passes along anything it receives, the same day, and cooperates fully with any Park District inquiry. It does not investigate in place of the Park District.
• Suspected abuse or neglect still goes directly to the DCFS Hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE, and immediate danger to 911.

See Staff screening.

6. Incident reporting to park staff

• Any injury, safeguarding concern, lost child, emergency call or property damage is reported to on-site park staff as soon as the immediate emergency is handled, and on the same day in all cases.
• A written incident report follows within 24 hours, using the format the Park District requires.
• Reports to DCFS or 911 are never delayed to notify anyone first.

See Incident reporting.

7. Data not shared

• Ras Tafari Inc. does not share children's or families' personal information with the Park District except what is needed for a specific safety incident, or what the law requires.
• The Park District does not receive the Lab's registration or class-app data.
• Neither party photographs or records Lab participants for publicity without separate written parent consent.

See the privacy policy.

8. Vendor schedule

A schedule to the MOU lists every outside vendor that works on site:

9. Independent vote counting

• Ras Tafari Inc. asks Park District staff, or an outside party named in advance, to count any event audience vote that selects Lab performers for SelassieFest.

10. Other proposed terms

• Ras Tafari Inc. is responsible for the program, its staff and volunteers. The Park District is responsible for its facilities.
• A named contact on each side.
• Annual review of the agreement, timed with the annual safety review.
• Either party may pause the program immediately for a safety concern.

When the MOU is signed

We will post on this page:

• the date signed and who signed for each party;
• a copy of the MOU, or a summary of its terms if the Park District prefers that the full document not be posted;
• any differences from the terms proposed above.

This is item 7 on the Launch Readiness Checklist.