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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BARBARA DEER
WHEREAS, Barbara Deer, a beloved daughter of North Lawndale, Chicago, Illinois, lived a life defined by service, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to uplifting her community; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Deer was a highly accomplished and licensed Speech Language Pathologist, earning her Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from Jackson State University and her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and further distinguished by her Illinois licensure and certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); and
WHEREAS, Barbara Deer devoted decades of her professional life to the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of speech and language disorders, profoundly impacting the lives of countless children and families, and further demonstrated her entrepreneurial acumen as the President and owner of a private speech pathology practice; and
WHEREAS, her commitment to lifelong learning and leadership was exemplified through her completion of a business entrepreneurship program at Joseph Business School, reinforcing her capacity to lead with both compassion and strategic foresight; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Deer served with distinction as the Executive Director of Juneteenth Illinois, a statewide collaborative initiative uniting governmental entities, community-based organizations, civic institutions, and cultural leaders to commemorate, educate, and elevate the historical and contemporary significance of Juneteenth; and
WHEREAS, through Barbara Deer's leadership, Juneteenth Illinois became a central repository and unifying platform for commemorations across the State of Illinois, amplifying the resilience, heritage, and collective voice of Black communities while fostering education and civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, her work aligned with the historic legislative efforts led by her husband, the ...
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