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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF IVORY D. MITCHELL
WHEREAS, Ivory D. Mitchell was born on November 18, 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri to John and Virgie Mitchell; and
WHEREAS, Mitchell completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, he served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force for 41 years, retiring with the rank of Major; and
WHEREAS, Mitchell’s career and passion focused on civil rights and education; and
WHEREAS, in college he organized inter-racial groups for discussions and lectures on campus and in nearby communities; and
WHEREAS, he later became an active member of Christ the Mediator Lutheran Church in Chicago and received education and social responsibility through the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, Mitchell worked as Branch Chief of the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education, where he conducted investigations and compliance reviews throughout the midwest focusing on major civil rights laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX promoting women’s and minority rights in educational institutions and the rights of persons with disabilities, and educational funding for low-income children through section 504 legislation and the Emergency School Aid Act (E.S.E.A.); and
WHEREAS, after his retirement from the Department of Education, he served as political consultant to hundreds of elected representatives, among them the late Mayor Harold Washington, Cook County Board President John Stroger and former President Barack Obama (State Senator and U.S. Senatorial campaigns); and
WHEREAS, as part of his commitment to open, effective and good government, Mitchell joined Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Political Organization (IVI-IPO) where he served terms as State Chair and South Chapter Chair, receiving numerous special awards on this leadership; and
WHEREAS, Mitchell affirmed his commitment to education and the future of the youth by sponsoring many young adults for aviation flight training at the Gary-Chicago airport; and
WHEREAS, Mitchell was part of the historic Black Tuskegee Airman program; and
WHEREAS, Ivory D. Mitchell passed away on May 28, 2018; and
WHEREAS, he will be sorely missed by friends, family and colleagues throughout Cook County; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family and honor the life and memory of Ivory D. Mitchell.
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