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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING PASTOR JAMES L. BROOKS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT, AND DEDICATION TO THE NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, Pastor James L. Brooks is the son of the late James and Mary Brooks, serves as the Senior Pastor of Harmony Community Church and the Vice President of Mission & Community Engagement at Lawndale Christian Health Center. He formerly served as the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, IL, and was the first African American to be called to serve this historic Lutheran congregation; and
WHEREAS, Pastor James L. Brooks is a summa cum laude graduate of Concordia University where he majored in organizational management. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Northern Theological Seminary, where he was the first Dr. John Perkins Scholar graduate; and
WHEREAS, Pastor James L. Brooks also completed his youth and theology certification at Princeton Theological Seminary and a clinical pastoral education unit at the University of Illinois Medical Center. In November 2020, he completed the Community Health Center Executive Fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center. To add to his wide array of empowering strategies and techniques, he is a highly sought-after John Maxwell Certified Life Coach. He is currently a doctoral student at Northern Theological Seminary; and
WHEREAS, Pastor James L. Brooks James is grateful to participate in God’s work of proclaiming liberty to the oppressed and breaking down the walls that so easily divide us from one another. In addition, he provides a weekly food pantry and provides hot meals to the community during the holidays; and
WHEREAS, He enthusiastically facilitates workshops in leadership development, spiritual resiliency, margins, boundaries, and Christian community development. For his service, Pastor James L. Brooks humbly received numerous awards and accolades, including being a recipient of Northern Seminary’s distinguished Bryan F. Archibald Award for Excellence in Preaching; and
WHEREAS, Pastor James L. Brooks sits on various boards for institutions and organizations within his community, including, North Lawndale College Prep High School, UCAN, and the Lawndale Christian Legal Clinic. As a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he believes in serving with excellence; and
WHEREAS, Pastor James L. Brooks is happily married to his beautiful wife, Jacqueline, a Registered Nurse specializing in transplant care. They have two brilliant and energetic daughters, Jaylah and Janay; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Government acknowledges Pastor James L. Brooks for transforming lives through community engagement.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that President Toni Preckwinkle, the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the board of Commissioners and on behalf of the over 5.3 million residents of Cook County, do hereby recognize Pastor James L. Brooks for his invaluable, leadership, dedication and commitment to the residents of the North Lawndale Community and herewith express our sincere gratitude for your service to the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to Pastor James L. Brooks, and a copy is spread upon the official proceedings of this honorable Body recognizing this auspicious occasion
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