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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUNE AS GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN COOK COUNTY AND JUNE 5, 2026, AS WEAR ORANGE DAY
WHEREAS, gun violence is a national and local public health crisis and was declared a public health crisis by the American Medical Association in 2016; and
WHEREAS, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, firearm-related deaths remain at historic levels in the United States, with more than 48,000 lives lost annually to gun violence, including homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings; and
WHEREAS, gun violence is connected to historic disinvestment and structural inequities and disproportionately impacts communities of color, with Black Americans experiencing firearm homicide victimization rates significantly higher than their white counterparts; and
WHEREAS, gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office recorded 1,087 gun-related homicides in Cook County in 2021, marking the first time since 1994 that more than 1,000 homicides were recorded in a single year; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office recorded 553 gun-related homicide deaths in Cook County in 2025, reflecting meaningful progress while underscoring the continued urgency of addressing community violence; and
WHEREAS, despite reductions in gun homicides, rates of firearm violence remain tragically and unacceptably high, devastating families, neighborhoods, and communities throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, research demonstrates that community violence intervention programs, trauma-informed services, youth engagement initiatives, and public health-based prevention strategies can reduce involvement in gun violence, save lives, and address the root causes of violence; and
WHEREAS, Cook County remains committed to treating gun violence as a public health crisis that requires coordinated public health, public safety, and community-based responses; and
WHEREAS, Cook County has long supported effective and sustainable violence prevention strategies that address systemic inequities, meet the needs of individuals most at risk, and center the voices of communities most impacted by gun violence; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the Justice Advisory Council (JAC) implements Cook County's community safety policy development and investment strategy; and
WHEREAS, the Justice Advisory Council has managed Cook County's historic $110 million investment in gun violence prevention and reduction services made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Justice Advisory Council established two complementary grant initiatives-the Cook County Community Violence Intervention (CC-CVI) initiative and the Cook County Wraparound Services for Survivors of Gun Violence (CC-SGV) initiative-with an initial investment of $25 million to strengthen community safety and support survivors of violence; and
WHEREAS, Cook County allocated an additional $30 million in 2026 to sustain these critical violence prevention and survivor support initiatives; and
WHEREAS, additional investments in community safety include Cook County Reconnect, Domestic Violence Intervention and Support Services, and behavioral health initiatives funded through the Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County initiative administered by Cook County Health; and
WHEREAS, Cook County helped establish the Government Alliance for Safe Communities (GASC) in 2021 to coordinate violence prevention investments among the State of Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Cook County continues to provide leadership through GASC and collaborates with philanthropic, business, research, nonprofit, and community stakeholders to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of violence prevention efforts; and
WHEREAS, June is nationally recognized as Gun Violence Awareness Month, and the first Friday in June is observed as Wear Orange Day in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, whose life was tragically cut short by gun violence in 2013, and in remembrance of the thousands of lives lost each year to firearm violence; and
WHEREAS, every resident, institution, and stakeholder has a role to play in promoting peace, supporting violence prevention efforts, and creating safer communities throughout Cook County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than 5.2 million residents of Cook County, do hereby recognize June 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Month and acknowledge June 5, 2026, as Wear Orange Day; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cook County reaffirms its commitment to investing in evidence-based, community-centered, and trauma-informed strategies that prevent gun violence, support survivors, and strengthen public safety; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cook County will continue collaborating with municipal, county, state, federal, and community partners to advance equitable and effective solutions that reduce violence and improve quality of life for all residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented to the Justice Advisory Council, community violence intervention organizations, and violence prevention stakeholders throughout Cook County as a symbol of the County's continued commitment to building safer communities.
Adopted this ___ day of June, 2026.
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