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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING JOANN WILLIAMS FOR HER DEDICATION, ADVOCACY, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE LECLAIRE HEARST COMMUNITY AND 7TH DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, Joann Williams has been a resident of the LeClaire-Hearst Community for 58 years; and
WHEREAS, Joann Williams became the founder and president of the Hearst Community Organization (HCO) in 1987; and
WHEREAS, Joann Williams is a U.S Army Disabled Veteran who served as an enlisted Private and later as a Commissioned officer in the Army Reserves and Active-Duty service for 15 years; and
WHEREAS, as a newly Commissioned U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant from the University of Illinois, Joann Williams initiated and helped establish the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Program at her Alma Mater, Chicago State University, in 1979; and
WHEREAS, Joann Williams became the Economic Development Director in 1987 after active military service at the LeClaire Courts Resident Management Corporation public housing; and
WHEREAS, in 1990, Joann Williams became the founder and Executive Director of the Chicago Vietnam Veterans and Family Assistance Program (CVVFAP); and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Joann Williams acquired funding for a Community Veterans Memorial in LeClaire-Hearst Park honoring neighborhood veterans.
WHEREAS, in 1991, Joann Williams was an Inductee for the Chicago Women’s Hall of Fame for Veteran and Community Activities by the Chicago Department of Human Relations; and
WHEREAS, Joann Williams received a full scholarship from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) based on her history of community service to acquire her Master’s Degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University; and
WHEREAS, Joann Williams facilitated the funding and completion of projects to incorporate
Facilitated funding and project completion in 1995 to incorporate 3 vacant lots to expand LeClaire-Hearst Park, which added two children’s tot lots, a running track, a performance area, and an expanded baseball field; and
WHEREAS, Joann Williams became a Homeland Security Disaster Relief on-call FEMA Housing Inspector; and
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WHEREAS, as Program Director, Joann Williams established and launched the: “Next Generation LeClaire-Hearst Workforce Development Program,” which is a basic pilot construction building trades program for the LeClaire-Hearst Community residents in preparation for jobs in the redevelopment and new construction of LeClaire; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Cook County Board President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby honor Joann Williams for her hard work and dedication to the 7th district community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, this text be spread upon the proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy of this resolution is presented to Joann Williams for her outstanding achievements.
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