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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF EL VALOR
WHEREAS, El Valor is a non-profit community-based organization that was founded in 1973 by Guadalupe Reyes; and
WHEREAS, El Valor strives for a community in which all members, including individuals with special needs, can live, learn and work; and
WHEREAS, El Valor, meaning “courage”, from its roots in the Hispanic community, has grown into a multicultural, multipurpose organization that reaches thousands of families throughout the Chicagoland area; and
WHEREAS, El Valor’s mission is to support children, people with disabilities, and their families to achieve excellence and participate fully in life; and
WHEREAS, El Valor’s programs exist to create opportunities that enrich and empower vulnerable populations to become their own advocates and promote a sense of inclusion within a learning community; and
WHEREAS, El Valor aspires to be a leader in social justice and the premier organization that supports vulnerable populations to meet their full potential; and
WHEREAS, El Valor has multiple programs to offer those in the community; and
WHEREAS, El Valor Early Childhood Programs focus on early education, inclusion, enrichment, and dual language instruction in English and Spanish; and
WHEREAS, El Valor’s adult programs offer a continuum of services that maximize personal choices, enrichment, employment, and self-sufficiency for individuals of all ages with different abilities; and
WHEREAS, El Valor offers parents a variety of enrichment opportunities including parent curricula, parent seminars, and family groups; and
WHEREAS, El Valor has been awarded many recognitions including the 2021 Vanessa Rich Innovation & Leadership Program Award, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) awarded a 3-year accreditation. El Valor has also been recognized as a national model in HeadStart social media by NHSA, and as one of the Top 25 Largest Hispanic Run organizations in the U.S; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, El Valor was selected as a Bright Spot, by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics; and
WHEREAS, El Valor continues to be a tremendous asset to the communities they serve.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby recognize and honor the 50th Anniversary of El Valor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy of this resolution is presented to El Valor in honor of its outstanding achievements and its 50th Anniversary
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