title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
MEMORIALIZING THE OFFICIAL POEM OF THE COOK COUNTY MUNICIPAL FLAG EXCHANGE
WHEREAS, the I Will flag became the official banner of Cook County on May 12, 2022; and
WHEREAS, this new flag was selected as a result of contest that drew nearly 300 student submissions from 40 high schools throughout all 17 districts of Cook County, and two years of rigorous review by a professional Flag Advisory Panel and the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the I Will flag, designed by Glenbrook South High School student Drew Duffy and design mentor Martin Burciaga, was selected to symbolize the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of each and every one of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, on October 26, 2023, Cook County hosted a municipal flag exchange to further share the I Will flag with communities throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, during the municipal flag exchange, local songwriter and recording artist Daniel Shockley, known as Joel Q, preformed his original poem written for the historic occasion titled “Is that why they call you Cook?;” and
WHEREAS, Joel Q is known for the honesty and humility that he brings to his work; and
WHEREAS, Joel Q’s talent was apparent at a young age growing up in the Roseland neighborhood as he began writing poems in his first-grade class, which quickly evolved to rap as he got older; and
WHEREAS, Joel Q is a special education teacher at John W. Cook Academy, and was influenced by his mother who was a kindergarten teacher and now principal; and
WHEREAS, Joel is passionate about his students, their education, and their well-being, and often shares his music with them; and
WHEREAS, Joel Q uses his art to inform, to push boundaries, and to be a light in Chicago and the world; and
WHEREAS, “Is that why they call you Cook?” is a reflective piece about all that it means to be a Cook County resident; and
WHEREAS, the full text of “Is that why they call you Cook?” as performed by Joel Q reads:
Since before an adolescent
one of my biggest confessions
Is that I don’t know why we call you Cook
I mean when CHICAGO
is at its greatest HEIGHT
We can for sure be a light
As long as we are “WHEELING” to keep
The temperature right
So many recipes are passed down
to keep the structure in order
MAY YOUR (Mayor) ticket be
present before you step to be served
A piece of my bread goes to the city
To protect my preserves
In a county that’s bubbles culture
Different sauce different words
When the stakes (STEAK) are high and brewing Like Green Tea
We ALSIP (All sip) together
for better peace
One city at a time
all communities at arms
The gold standard is mandatory
Especially when Cooking with grease
Sometimes I wish I can make my bread
At home and move my BEDFORD
towards the sun
And go over easy.
But from a BRIDGEVIEW
You’ll never know what’s on
The other side until you get across
In a county that separates no one
And ensures that they need me
We are even ranked at 6 stars
We are obviously eating good
I pray the chefs see resemblance
In each city and every neighborhood
The logo may change but the foundation
Still remains
January 15th 1831, a county was named
Rather you are white black shades of brown
the reservations for opportunities
is always available for you to book
We all eat together
I would hope
That Daniel Pope
And the Illinois legislation
thought like me
When they name you Cook
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that “Is that why they call you Cook?” be added to the County’s Archives as the official poem of the Cook County Flag Municipal Exchange, and live forever as a central tenant of Cook County’s great history; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby extend its sincerest gratitude to Joel Q for his time, talents, and creativity, for lending his voice to mark this and hereby calls for a suitable copy of this resolution to be tendered to Joel Q as a means of communicating our thanks.end