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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING DR. PEGGY A. MONTES ON THE OCCASION OF HER 90TH BIRTHDAY
WHEREAS, Dr. Peggy A. Montes is a native Chicagoan born on October 17, 1936, who has devoted her life to serving women, girls and disadvantaged children, with a philanthropic and volunteer career centered on Empowering Women and Educating Children; and
WHEREAS, Peggy left teaching to found and lead multiple institutions, and is best known as the Founder and President of the Bronzeville Children’s Museum - still the first and only African American children’s museum in the country - now celebrating its 33rd Anniversary, and as a civic, cultural, educational and women’s rights activist who serves on numerous boards, commissions and committees; and
WHEREAS, a lifelong volunteer, Dr. Montes made history as the first female Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Building Committee at the DuSable Museum of African American History, where Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs was her mentor and best friend, and led the development and completion of the $3.5 million Harold Washington Wing; and
WHEREAS, her museum involvements include as co-founding member of the Chicago Art Institute Leadership Advisory Council, member of the Black Creativity Council of the Museum of Science and Industry, twenty-seven-year member of the Illinois Arts Council, member of the Illinois Book Advisory Committee, and founding member of Leadership Illinois - a women’s empowerment organization celebrating its 36th Anniversary that encourages women to become politically active; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Montes served on the Board of Trustees of Provident Hospital from 1980 to 1987, helping spearhead the completion and opening of the new Provident Hospital in 1986, and served over thirteen years on the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, as one of the first Trustees appointed in 1996 and as Board Chairman from 2005 to 2007, during which she worked with architects to redesign the fourth floor Sunroom in the Gwendolyn Brooks Library; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Montes also worked with Dr. Frances Carroll, Senator Emil Jones, Jr., Dr. David Slatkin and Dr. Elnora Daniels to realize the founding of the College of Pharmacy, dedicated in 2007, and has proudly served on the Chicago State University Foundation for over a decade; and
WHEREAS, Peggy has made many friends across the political spectrum including President Bill Clinton who appointed her to the White House Women’s Conference, presided over by First Lady Hillary Clinton; Governors James Thompson, Jim Edgar, George Ryan and Pat Quinn who have given her important appointments; and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White who appointed her to serve on the Illinois Center for the Book; and
WHEREAS, the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington appointed her to head his first Chicago Commission on Women, and the late Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, Jr. selected her to head his first Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues, created in 1995, with current President Toni Preckwinkle reappointing her in 2016 to continue serving as Commissioner/Chairman for her twenty-fourth year; and
WHEREAS, in 1986 she founded Chicago’s first Celebration of Women’s History Month, commended by Mayor Eugene Sawyer’s 1987 proclamation; in 1988 she co-founded Leadership Illinois; and in 2010 the Cook County Board of Commissioners named the Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Awards in her honor; and
WHEREAS, she was selected for Governor Ryan’s Trade Mission Delegation to South Africa, alongside First Lady Laura Lynn, to explore cultural exchanges between Illinois and South Africa, and for President Barack Obama’s White House Summit on Working Families in 2015; Congressman Bobby Rush appointed her to co-chair the committee that named the 31st Street Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park on August 11, 2015; and in 2022, Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed her to the newly created Black Chicago Heritage Initiative; and
WHEREAS, Peggy recently retired after serving 24 years as Commissioner/Chairman of the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues, and remains a member of the Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Book Advisory Committee, the Chicago Art Institute Leadership Advisory Council (founding member), the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s Black Creativity Advisory Council, Chicago Links, Inc., Friends of DuSable, DuSable Park Coalition and Advisory Council, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa; she is also a donor and supporter of the Chicago State University Foundation Board and the University of Chicago Medicine Underrepresented in Medicine Visiting Clerkship program; and
WHEREAS, Peggy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Chicago Teachers College (Chicago State University), awarded June 24, 1960, and a Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance from Governors State University, awarded December 21, 1974, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from Chicago State University on May 9, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Peggy resides in Chicago, is a widow, and is the proud mother of two - an attorney and an educator - and proud grandmother of three; in her spare time, she collects First Day Covers and unicorns and is a world traveler; and
WHEREAS, Peggy is the recipient of many honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of African American Museums, the Trustee Award from the DuSable Museum, the History Makers Award, the Salute to Excellence Award from Governor George Ryan, the Phenomenal Woman Award from State Farm, the Chicago State University Lifetime Achievement Award, the Woman of Excellence Award from the Chicago Defender, the Legacy Award from the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, and recognition in Who’s Who in Black Chicago; the Cook County Commissioners renamed the annual Women’s Commission Awards the Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroines Awards in her honor; and
WHEREAS, between 2011 and 2018 she received, among others, the Operation PUSH Keeper of the Village Award, the Cook County Clerk’s Outstanding Woman in Nonprofits Award, the CHURN Living Legacy Award, the Ora Higgins Youth Foundation Distinguished Leadership Award, the WECE Community Dedication Award, the Rainbow PUSH Stand Up For Others Award, and the Chicago State University College of Pharmacy Award for her efforts to establish that college; and
WHEREAS, from 2019 to 2022 her honors included the Mary McLeod Bethune Living Legacy Award, recognition as one of Chicago’s Top Black Women of Impact, the Chicago State University Cougar Servant Leadership Award, dedication of the Peggy A. Montes Playground at the Chicago State University Child Care Center, recognition as a 2021 Notable Non-Profit Board Leader by Crain’s Chicago Business, the DuSable Museum’s Women’s Board Founder’s Award, the Margaret T. Burroughs Legacy Award, and the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Lifetime Award; and
WHEREAS, from 2023 to 2025 she received the Trailblazer Leadership Award from the Association of African American Museums, the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Association of Children’s Museums, the Stellar Black History Honors Legacy Leadership Award, the Haitian Heritage Association Leadership Award, the Carter G. Woodson Outstanding Leader ASALH Award, and the Outstanding Community Leader Award from the Chicago Cultural Alliance, remaining ever active in cultural and museum advocacy in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, she has been involved for over 36 years in the development of Mayor Harold Washington’s DuSable Park, whose groundbreaking is expected in 2027, and was recently named a 2025 Bud Billiken Parade Honorary Grand Marshal by Chicago Defender Charities and a recipient of Governors State University’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners congratulate and honor Dr. Peggy A. Montes on the occasion of her 90th Birthday; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Honorable Body extends its deepest gratitude and commendation to Dr. Montes for her many years of exemplary and dedicated service, marked by unwavering commitment, professionalism, and a steadfast dedication to those she has served; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy be presented to Dr. Peggy A. Montes as a symbol of our respect and esteem.
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