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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN GRATITUDE TO DIANE LIMAS FOR HER INCALCULABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO COOK COUNTY’S COMMUNITIES AND THEIR RESIDENTS
WHEREAS, Diane Limas, a daughter of immigrants in a family of 12, grew up in Humboldt Park, witness to her parents struggle to find and keep affordable rental housing in the neighborhood, which made her understand, at that time, that the City was not well-suited for low-income families; and
WHEREAS, Diane Limas worked at the Chicago Election Board for 33 years subsequently taking her childhood experiences and catalyzing her passion for service by co-founding the former Albany Park Neighborhood Council, now known as Communities United; and
WHEREAS, Diane Limas has dedicated herself to working on housing issues for over 17 years, engaging with elected officials to approve and implement fair and just housing policies; and
WHEREAS, through her “boots on the ground” community involvement, she has collaborated with housing leaders and coalitions to approve critical housing policies in Chicago including the Affordable Requirements Ordinance; the Sweet Home Chicago, which allowed TIF money to be used towards affordable housing; and the Keep Chicago Renting Ordinance, which protects tenants in foreclosed rental property; and
WHEREAS, Diane Limas was also key in the development of Renters Organizing Ourselves To Stay (ROOTS) which works to prevent the displacement of low-income families through the development of a model to preserve affordable housing in neighborhoods across Chicago, a program that successfully put over 400 units in the preservation pipeline to become long-term affordable units, with a new 50-unit affordable housing development soon to be completed in Albany Park; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, Diane was given the Chicagoan of the Year award by Chicago Magazine for her housing work. She was also awarded the Senior Citizen of the Year award by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel in 2018; and
WHEREAS, at the County and State levels, Diane Limas’ leadership and advocacy has helped pave the way to increase access to quality healthcare to countless low-income families; and
WHEREAS, Diane’s leadership played a crucial role in co-convening the Healthy Communities Cook County coalition, helping lead advocacy for the creation of a program that increases healthcare access to an estimated 100,000 uninsured Cook County residents; and
WHEREAS, over the past two years, Diane helped found the Chicago Flats Initiative in partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services and Enterprise Community Partners to preserve affordable housing of 2-4 flats across the City and County; and
WHEREAS, Diane has worked and advocated with Illinois Development and Housing Authority to assure that 2-4-unit homeowners and renters were not forgotten in housing relief programs during the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Diane presently serves on the Cook County Land Bank Board of Directors and is Board Vice- President of Communities United; and
WHEREAS, Diane’s life-long commitment to create a just and inclusive City, County and State has inspired thousands of community members and young people to follow her steps and become active leaders in their communities to continue to shape a better future for all.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board President and Board of Commissioners do hereby recognize the incalculable contributions Diane Limas has made to developing more inclusive communities, affordable housing and healthier communities; and extend their gratitude for her life-long commitment to the residents of Cook County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Diane Limas in commemoration of this joyous occasion.
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