WHEREAS, Ms. DuShaun Pollard has been practicing for almost 15 years and fell in love with yoga because it allowed her to find peace of mind while moving her body. As a yoga student, DuShaun noticed that in most of her classes she was the only black and plus sized person in the room. This inspired her to become a practitioner to bring yoga to more people who looked like her; and
WHEREAS, Ms. DuShaun Pollard In 2020 DuShaun began teaching online Chair yoga classes with the hopes of bringing yoga to more people who had never practiced and for those who might need a more accessible class. While teaching, DuShaun also started an initiative called Period Flow, a donation-based class where students paid in menstrual products. Within this initiative, more than 2,000 menstrual products were donated and sent to local Love Fridge locations in and around Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Ms. DuShaun Pollard co-founded an initiative called Black Brown and Breathing with Taylor D. Mason. The two saw the need after 2020 uprisings and pain in Chicago that Black and Brown people needed a place to come together to rest and to be. Since the start of Black Brown and Breathing, the two have hosted collective healing spaces in North Lawndale, Humboldt Park, Roseland, Hyde Park, Evanston and more; and
WHEREAS, Ms. DuShaun Pollard is a community organizer, working with the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council. Within this work, she has helped organize food distributions, diaper drives, mask giveaways, and financial assistance programs to assist community members in the height of the pandemic.; and
WHEREAS, Ms. DuShaun Pollard truly believes that now more than ever people need a place to rest, a place to heal and spaces to openly share and be in community. Through Sage Gawd Collective, DuShaun will continue to make spaces for rest and encouraging and talking openly about the importance of therapy and mental health support.; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer of 2nd District on behalf of President Toni Preckwinkle, the Cook County Board of Commissioners and on behalf of the over five million residents of Cook County, on this 4th day of November do hereby recognized Ms. DuShaun Pollard for her Outstanding Commitment and Services to communities throughout Chicago, and so wish Ms. DuShaun Pollard every continued success in her future endeavors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be tendered to Ms. DuShaun Pollard and a copy be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body.