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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CONGRATULATING KATHY MILLIN ON HER RETIREMENT AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PARTNERS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin has dedicated her life to the well-being of her community and its residents; and
WHEREAS, in addition to teaching adult literacy at Harper College for 36 years, Kathy Millin has served as the Executive Director of the community-based organization Partners for Our Community (POC) for twenty years; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin was drawn to the mission of POC as she lives in the community and was compelled to put her time and energy into making the community healthy, safe, and equitable for all; and
WHEREAS, POC links individuals and families in Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park, Streamwood, Schaumburg, Wheeling, and Arlington Heights to community resources and services, provides the skills needed to navigate in a changing and complex world, removes barriers, and serves as a site for continuing education, life skills training and vocational advancement; and
WHEREAS, POC supports clients who are immigrants by providing a myriad of resources and programs including health and wellness, education and employment, youth and family, and adult leadership; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin catalyzed the counseling and social service offerings for children and adults by partnering with The Bridge, JCFS Chicago, Palatine Police, Palatine Township Senior Services, and WINGS- Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin liaised with Access to Care, All Saints Lutheran Church, Asian Human Services, Endeavor Health, Palatine Park District to launch health and wellness programs that provide basic needs such as food, clothing, chronic disease education, fitness and infant/young children wellness; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin collaborated with Harper College and the Palatine Library District to expand education services including literacy, ESL, GED, Paraprofessional tests, and citizenship classes; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin enlisted local school districts including CCSD15, SD54, SD211, and SD214 to provide programs for low-income families; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin formed a partnership with Palatine Park District, CCSD15, and Palatine High School to start the ICompete Youth Program, giving youth in elementary and middle school access different facilities and venues for programs such as dancing, after school homework clubs, cultural arts and more to children and their families who otherwise would not experience these activities; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin’s partnership with Cook County Commissioner Britton’s Office provided hundreds of children with the opportunity to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens and Brookfield Zoo; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin led her team in supporting vulnerable populations through the COVID lockdown crisis, ensuring vaccination, food insecurity, and wellness needs were met; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin’s tireless work for POC also delivered a Cook County Building Healthy Communities grant that allowed for POC’s food pantry expansion serving vulnerable residents in Palatine, Wheeling, and nearby communities; and
WHEREAS, POC signed on to the Cook County United Against Hate initiative in 2022, with Kathy Millin noting the importance of working on internalized hate and the importance of understanding and empathizing with others; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Millin said of her passion, "we all can work on the hate in our own heart, this is elemental, try to understand others, our neighbors, break down barriers, empathize with others.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby thank Kathy Milan for her decades of service to residents and creating a healthier community for everyone, and celebrates and honors her as she embarks on retirement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of the same be tendered to Kathy Millin as a means of conveying our thanks and congratulations for her service to the residents of Cook County.
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