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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
REMEBERING KAREN CLARK-CHAVERS
WHEREAS, longtime District Director of Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and beloved community leader Karen Clark-Chavers died on August 23, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Karen Clark-Chavers was born January 26, 1949 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Harold and Thyra Clark; and
WHEREAS, Karen Clark-Chavers attended Saint Elizabeth High School, London Line College and Olive Harvey College; and
WHEREAS, since 2002, Karen Clark-Chavers served as the District Director for Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin. She was also his treasured friend and trusted advisor; and
WHEREAS, as District Director, Karen Clark-Chavers tirelessly helped thousands of residents of the Thirteenth District navigate Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Karen Clark-Chavers organized a property tax assessment appeal program, where she helped homeowners lower their property tax assessments. She helped seniors, the disabled and veterans to receive all of their exemptions, lowering their tax bills or making them eligible for a refund; and
WHEREAS, Karen Clark-Chavers was the Treasurer of the Housing Authority of Cook County, where she worked to ensure that everyone, regardless of their income, had a safe, affordable place to live; and
WHEREAS, Karen Clark-Chavers was proud to have been a community organizer. She considered it to be the defining training of her career and it influenced her worldview and professional life. She was the founder and director of the Evanston Neighborhood Conference, a network of neighborhood groups across the City that worked to improve Evanston. When Southeast Evanston was struck by bursts of violence, Karen was on the front line. She built relationships with everyone. Longtime residents, newcomers, the elderly, the youth, law abiding and those outside of the law. She knocked countless doors, held numerous community meetings and fought to keep the peace. She brought in programming and services for the local kids, giving them an outlet for their anger. She also forced the City to rebuild local parks, so the residents felt that their needs were being met today; and
WHEREAS, Karen Clark-Chavers was a leader with Open Communities, where she helped organize North Suburban Housing Partners, a housing coalition of about two dozen organizations working to put a face on housing issues on the North Shore. She also worked with Turnstone Development, an organization that developed over 1,300 affordable housing units for families and seniors; and
WHEREAS, Karen Clark-Chavers co-founded the Shorefront Legacy Center, an organization that collects, preserves and educates people about black history on the North Shore; and
WHEREAS, even though she lived in Evanston, New Orleans was her spiritual home. Karen Clark-Chavers loved that city its culture and idiosyncrasies, and frequently returned to visit family and to maintain her ties; and
WHEREAS, the community has lost a great friend in Karen Clark-Chavers and she will be sorely missed. Karen is mourned by her mother Thyra Clark and family including her grandchildren, Ariana, Marcel, Jaden, Amaya, She was predeceased by her father, Harold Clark Sr; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County commemorates the extraordinary life of Karen Clark-Chavers, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable and innumerable contributions she has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the family of Karen Clark-Chavers.
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