title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
MEMORIALIZING THE OFFICIAL POEM OF THE COOK COUNTY MUNICIPAL FLAG EXCHANGE
WHEREAS, the I Will flag became the official banner of Cook County on May 12, 2022; and
WHEREAS, this new flag was selected as a result of contest that drew nearly 300 student submissions from 40 high schools throughout all 17 districts of Cook County, and two years of rigorous review by a professional Flag Advisory Panel and the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the I Will flag, designed by Glenbrook South High School student Drew Duffy and design mentor Martin Burciaga, was selected to symbolize the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of each and every one of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, on October 26, 2023, Cook County hosted a municipal flag exchange to further share the I Will flag with communities throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, during the municipal flag exchange, local songwriter and recording artist Daniel Shockley, known as Joel Q, preformed his original poem written for the historic occasion titled "Is that why they call you Cook?;" and
WHEREAS, Joel Q is known for the honesty and humility that he brings to his work; and
WHEREAS, Joel Q's talent was apparent at a young age growing up in the Roseland neighborhood as he began writing poems in his first-grade class, which quickly evolved to rap as he got older; and
WHEREAS, Joel Q is a special education teacher at John W. Cook Academy, and was influenced by his mother who was a kindergarten teacher and now principal; and
WHEREAS, Joel is passionate about his students, their education, and their well-being, and often shares his music with them; and
WHEREAS, Joel Q uses his art to inform, to push boundaries, and to be a light in Chicago and the world; and
WHEREAS, "Is that why they call you Cook?" is a reflective piece about all that it means to be a Cook County resident; and
WHEREAS, the full text of "Is that why they call you Cook?" as performed by Joe...
Click here for full text