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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE WORK AND ADVOCACY OF JESSIE MAAG
WHEREAS, Jessie Maag has been a tireless advocate for human rights, social justice, public safety, and the LGBTQ+ community across the northwest suburbs and has taught others how to fight for the rights and well-being of others; and
WHEREAS, Jessie is a co-founder of a women's group NW Women's VOICE (Vowing to Overcome Inequities & Committed to the Environment) in the northwest suburbs; and
WHEREAS, Jessie has been a leader in the fight for the LGBTQ+ community, and over the course of the last several years, Jessie has been the lead coordinator of the Community Pride Community Celebration held in Des Plaines every year; and
WHEREAS, she is a founding member and co-leader of the community group 'SPEAK Des Plaines' (Supporting Positive Efforts of Action and Knowledge), an anti-racist nonpartisan group open to anyone who wants to engage the diverse residents in local elections and city; and
WHEREAS, after witnessing the nationwide protests for police reform and racial justice in 2020, as a leading member of SPEAK Des Plaines, Jessie contacted city officials and the Des Plaines Police Department regarding transparency, training, and accountability and in response the police department published the DPPD Commitment to Community webpage; and
WHEREAS, as led by Jessie, SPEAK Des Plaines also cooperated with Maine West High School's faculty to engage students in canvassing neighborhoods with voter registration information and have plans to further involve these active young residents in the future; and
WHEREAS, Jessie and members of SPEAK Des Plaines assisted 'Reclaim the Northwest Suburbs' in creating an educational, virtual event about racism in the suburbs; and
WHEREAS, additionally, in partnership with Maine West High School's students, faculty, and "The Westerner" student newspaper, SPEAK Des Plaines published local candidate interviews so that residents could be informed for the loca...
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