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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING GINA ROXAS, OAKTON COLLEGE'S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI HONOREE
WHEREAS, The Oakton Distinguished Alumni Award began in 1982 to provide examples of the college’s values “through professional excellence, community service, and overall achievement.”; and
WHEREAS, this year’s Honorees are making an impact across a wide range of fields and communities and includes Executive Director of Trickster Cultural Center, Gina Roxas; and
WHEREAS, Roxas, a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, has drawn on her background in environmental studies and her grandmother’s traditional teachings as she works to connect Indigenous knowledge and Western science to advance ecological stewardship and cultural resilience; and
WHEREAS, under Roxas’ leadership, Trickster Cultural Center has amplified Native American voices through first-voice narratives, contemporary arts, and community education; and
WHEREAS, Roxas has also guided land-based initiatives that revitalize traditional plant knowledge and connect healing, environmental justice, and self-determination across Native communities and collaborating institutions; and
WHEREAS, Oakton celebrated its Honorees’ accomplished graduates at its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony on September 10th; and
WHEREAS, Cook County is home to the country’s third-largest urban Native American population as it stands on the lands of the Council of Three Fires-the Ojibwa, Ottawa and Potawatomi-as well as the Miami, Peoria, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk and Meskwaki peoples;
WHEREAS, Roxas has also been a tireless supporter of the LGBTQ community by hosting the Northwest Pride Fest and has also continued Trickster’s tradition of being a key early voting location; and
WHEREAS, Roxas has served as a dedicated community partner with the office and community of the 15th District of Cook County, and under her leadership, they have held town halls, veterans resource programs, and other programming for the residents of the 15th District and county-wide; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby congratulate Gina Roxas on being named as an Honoree of Oakton College’s Distinguished Alumni Award and thank her for her wonderful work connecting Indigenous wisdom and Western science and her advancement of ecological stewardship and cultural resilience; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be tendered to Gina Roxas in recognition of all her amazing contributions to her community and across the County.
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