Rainbow DJ LabRas Tafari Inc. · Rainbow Beach Park, Chicago
Proposed:The Lab is not running yet. No class runs until every item on the launch checklist is complete.
Rainbow DJ Lab › Safety › Grievance Procedure

Grievance Procedure

The steps and deadlines for resolving a complaint about the Rainbow DJ Lab, from acknowledgment to appeal to the Ras Tafari Inc. board officers and outside options.

Status

These policies were adopted by the Ras Tafari Inc. board on October 17, 2026. The Lab is proposed. No staff are hired yet.

Before anything else

  • A child in danger right now: call 911.

  • Suspected abuse or neglect: call the DCFS Hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873). You don't have to use this procedure first, or at all.

  • A concern about any adult (a coach, trainer, volunteer, officer or sound crew member): contact the Chicago Park District: the Rainbow Beach Park office, (312) 745-1479, or any Park District staff member. The Park District handles complaints about adults; Ras Tafari Inc. passes along anything it receives and cooperates fully, but doesn't investigate in place of the Park District.

  • A conflict-of-interest concern: a Ras Tafari Inc. director with no stake in the Lab (named in the conflict of interest policy once appointed), or the Park District.

This procedure is for everything else: a decision you disagree with (such as a discipline step or a pause), a safety practice you think isn't being followed, how a concern was handled, treatment of your child, or anything about the program.

Timeline at a glance

Stage Who Deadline
1. You raise the grievance You Any time. Sooner is better, so facts are fresh
2. Acknowledgment Stephen Henry Within 2 business days
3. Review Stephen Henry Starts right away
4. Written response Stephen Henry Within 10 business days of receiving it
5. Appeal (if you want one) You, to the Ras Tafari Inc. board officers Within 10 business days of the response
6. Appeal decision Board officers Within 10 business days of the appeal (Lab policy target)

If more time is truly needed (for example, while DCFS or police investigate), we tell you in writing why and when to expect an answer.

Step by step

1. Raise it

Tell us in person, by phone (Stephen Henry, 872-255-9333), by email (stephen@selassiefest.com), or by mail (Ras Tafari Inc., 1401 E. 71st St., Chicago, IL 60619). Writing helps but isn't required. If you tell us by phone, we'll write it down and send it back so you can check it's right. See Report a Concern.

If the grievance is about Stephen Henry (other than his conduct with children, which goes to the Park District), send it to the other board officers, Paul Kelly (Vice President and Treasurer) and Albert Harris (Corporate Secretary), at the mailing address. They handle steps 2–4, and Stephen Henry is not involved in deciding it. (A direct contact route for the officers will be posted before launch.)

2. Acknowledgment (2 business days)

You get a reply confirming we received it, who is handling it, and when you'll hear back.

3. Review

  • We talk with the people involved and any witnesses, and look at records (sign-in/out log, incident reports, class log).
  • If it turns out to be about an adult's conduct, we pass it to the Chicago Park District the same day and tell you we did. If it involves child safety, that person is kept away from children while CPD looks at it (Enforcement).
  • If CPD, DCFS or the police are involved, we cooperate and do not interview children ourselves.
  • You can share anything you'd like us to consider, and bring a support person to any meeting.

4. Written response (10 business days)

It says what we found, what we decided, any changes we're making, and how to appeal. Other children's private information is left out.

5. Appeal to the board officers

If you're not satisfied, write to the Ras Tafari Inc. board officers within 10 business days of the response. Say what you disagree with and what outcome you're asking for.

How to send it: until a direct contact route for the officers is posted (before launch), send appeals by mail, addressed to the board officers at Ras Tafari Inc., 1401 E. 71st St., Chicago, IL 60619. That way the person whose decision is being appealed isn't the gatekeeper.

Officers who were involved in the original decision step aside from the appeal.

6. Appeal decision

The officers review the file, may talk with you and the staff involved, and send a written decision. Their decision is final within Ras Tafari Inc. It doesn't limit your outside options.

Outside options (any time)

You can go outside the Lab at any point, before, during or after this procedure:

Where For
911 Immediate danger
Illinois DCFS Hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) Suspected child abuse or neglect
Chicago Park District: Rainbow Beach Park office, (312) 745-1479, or any Park District staff Any concern about an adult at the Lab, and concerns about use of the park or fieldhouse
Illinois Attorney General, Charitable Trust Bureau Concerns about how a charity is run

No retaliation

Filing a grievance or appeal will never be held against you or your child. Retaliation is a policy violation handled under Enforcement.

Records

Grievances, responses and appeals are kept on file with registration records (kept 3 years, then deleted) and reviewed by Stephen Henry and the board officers to spot patterns.

What you'll be told

  • Within 2 business days: that we received it, who is handling it, and when to expect an answer.
  • Within 10 business days: a written response, with the appeal route.
  • After an appeal: a written decision from the board officers.

Sources

  • Illinois DCFS, Child Abuse Hotline: https://dcfs.illinois.gov
  • Illinois Attorney General, Charitable Trust Bureau: https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
  • Chicago Park District: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
  • U.S. Center for SafeSport, Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies: https://uscenterforsafesport.org