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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE OF DELORES HOLMES
WHEREAS, The Honorable Delores Holmes passed away on October 23, 2024 at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, Delores was born April 21, 1928 in Spring Hill, Tennessee and moved to Evanston in 1941 when she was just three years old; and
WHEREAS, Delores' father worked as a commander at Veterans of Foreign Wars, and her mother was a member of its auxiliary. Holmes said her parents served as an inspiration for a lifetime of service to the city and her community; and
WHEREAS, when Delores married Bill Holmes and had children in the '60s, she began working for the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Head Start program, which provides early childhood education to young children. This job marked the beginning of her advocacy for families and children; and
WHEREAS, Delores served as the Family Activities Coordinator for the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) 1971 to 1976; and
WHEREAS, Delores also began volunteering with the Evanston branch of the League of Women Voters, and served as their observer at City Council meetings - a position that she said taught her the inner workings of municipal politics and prepared her to be alderman; and
WHEREAS, Delores got her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Northeastern Illinois University and her Master's in Education from National Louis University. Deelores was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Delores became a well-known figure in Evanston during her 27-year tenure as the co-founder and first director of Family Focus Evanston starting in 1976, an organization that supports young families with youth outreach, early childhood education and much more; and
WHEREAS, under the direction of Delores, the Weissbourd-Holmes Community Center has become home to numerous community organizations, including Connections for the Homeless, PEER Services, Foster Reading Center, the Youth Services Bureau of the Evanston Police Dep...
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