title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MURIEL CHALEM
WHEREAS, Muriel Chalem, a woman whose life was devoted to family, faith and community died at the age of 91 leaving friends, family and a community profoundly enriched for having known her; and
WHEREAS Muriel Chalem, often described as quietly remarkable, was a woman whose numerous accomplishments were anything but quiet and were most certainly remarkable; she represented the best qualities of humanity through her life-long work as an activist and community leader; and
WHEREAS, Muriel Chalem and her husband Richard Chalem were married in 1947. In 1954 they moved the family to Evanston to raise their family and enroll them in schools that reflected their deeply held progressive values of inclusion and opportunity for all. In Evanston they became treasured neighbors and community leaders; and
WHEREAS, Muriel Chalem understood the vital importance of the arts, she had an idea that would ultimately lead her to create First Night Evanston, an enduring and popular New Year's Eve family event that celebrates all types of artistic expression. For many years she was a vital and valued member of the Board of Directors of Next Theater in Evanston and she served as president of the Evanston Arts Council which was responsible for producing some of the most popular city art festivals in the region; and
WHEREAS, Muriel Chalem worked for many years at Evanston School District 65's Haven Middle School where she was adored by the students and became an indispensable member of the team. The principal at Haven who later was elected mayor of the city of Evanston, Lorraine Morton described Muriel as "her right arm" and added that "Muriel was lovely and nice to absolutely everyone"; and
WHEREAS, later, after she retired from Haven she became a trusted aide to Illinois State Senator Arthur Berman and assisted in staffing his constituent services office in Roger...
Click here for full text