title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING JOSE M. WILSON AS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEADER
WHEREAS, José M. Wilson was raised in Atlanta, GA, a 25-year resident of Cook County, and a homeowner in the Greater Grand Crossing Community, and has received his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University; and
WHEREAS, Jose is happily married to Stephanie Forbes-Wilson, 33 years, and they have been blessed with five children, ages 30 to 16; and
WHEREAS, Jose is an 18-year employee and Director of Facilitation and Organizational Learning for the North Lawndale Employment Network. As the director, he is responsible for facilitating, training facilitators, and ensuring curriculum fidelity and sustainability of NLEN's flagship reentry program, U-Turn Permitted, ensuring that the organization is acquiring the knowledge and competencies required to achieve the organization's mission; and
WHEREAS, As NLEN's representative, Jose served as a founding Committee Member of the North Lawndale Restorative Justice Community Hub, and continues to serve on the Executive Committee; and is a Founding Steering Committee Member of the Country's first 100% Restorative Justice Community Court in North Lawndale. Finally, Jose served as NLEN's lead staff in developing the READI Chicago Transitional Job arm in North Lawndale; and
WHEREAS, He is a chapter co-author in the book Cultural Awareness and Competency Development in Higher Education, titled, Multicultural Counseling Competencies: Why Is It Difficult to Apply What We Know…?, he has received numerous Community Service awards from Wichita, KS, Atlanta, GA, and Chicago, IL. Jose has been a guest lecturer at several universities, including the Adler School of Professional Psychology - Doctoral Program; and
WHEREAS, Jose's mission is to work with his justice-involved brothers and sisters and inspire individuals and organizations to improve and adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors, including exercise. He has completed many cycling challenges, none more significant than in May 2022, Jose completed the London to Paris 24 Sportive Challenge (L2P24), Where he, his younger brother, with 120 other cyclists from around the world rode their bikes from London, England, to Paris, France; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the members of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County does hereby recognized Jose M. Wilson for being a Workforce Development Specialist, Mental Health Professional and Community Leader in the County of Cook and wish him much success in all of his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, a suitable copy of this text is spread upon the official proceedings of this honorable body and a suitable copy be presented to Mr. Jose M. Wilson for this auspicious occasion.
end