title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING COMMISSIONER BRANDON JOHNSON
WHEREAS, after four (4) years of exemplary service as a public servant, Commissioner Brandon Johnson will vacate his seat as Cook County Commissioner of the 1stdistrict; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Johnson grew up with nine siblings in a three-bedroom house with one and a half bathrooms in Elgin; and
WHEREAS, his parents were pastors and foster parents; Johnson was a volunteer at his father's church, leading the youth group and driving a church van; and
WHEREAS, Brandon and his wife Stacie live in the Austin community, where they are raising their children Owen, Ethan and Braedyn; and
WHEREAS, Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in human services, Youth Development Programming, and Management and a master's degree in teaching from Aurora University; and
WHEREAS, Johnson worked as a social studies teacher at Jenner Academy Elementary and George Westinghouse College Prep, both part of the Chicago Public Schools system; and
WHEREAS, he became an organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union in 2011, and helped organize the 2012 Chicago teachers strike; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Johnson sponsored Ordinances and Resolutions which successfully passed the Just Housing Ordinance, prohibiting discrimination against justice-involved Cook County residents seeking affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, he acted as lead sponsor for the Justice for Black Lives resolution, which called for investments in physical and mental health, jobs, housing, restorative justice, violence prevention, internet access, and additional resources; and
WHEREAS, he stood in solidarity with Little Village and Southeast Side communities in fights for environmental justice; and
WHEREAS, he helped secure over $100 million in historic violence prevention funding to community groups working directly in neighborhoods most impacted by violence; and
WHEREAS, he was a part of a coalition that created a dedicated Cook County Public Defender Imm...
Click here for full text