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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING ERNEST R. AND GLORIA J. JENKINS FOR THEIR LIFE AND LEGACY OF CHANGING LIVES THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WHEREAS, Ernest R. Jenkins began his career by organizing local communities, focusing on issues resulting from street gang violence and related inner- city problems. He was also known as "Ernie" by his family and friends; and
WHEREAS, in 1956, Ernie started working as a group worker for Chicago Youth Centers (CYC), there he met his wife, Gloria J. Jenkins, and began his life's work; and
WHEREAS, Gloria J. Jenkins, during her tenure with (CYC), she worked as a bookkeeper, secretary, and a group worker. As a group worker, she implemented the "Gun Moll" program for girls who were members of gangs and usually carried weapons for their boyfriends. She was responsible for working with a minimum of 15 teen girls, 14 to 18 years of age, teaching several skills including ?tiquette, and structured sports. and
WHEREAS, Ernie served as Executive Director for Urban Programs West YMCA, Austin YMCA and the Southside YMCA, the latter of which he was instrumental in building. When Ernie joined the YMCA's staff in the early seventies, he brought with him fifteen years' experience in street work, program planning and community organizing. An enabler and organizer, Ernie's major emphasis was on organizing community groups for self-help purposes; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, during his tenure as Vice President at for Community Development, Ernie, along with his wife Gloria, Danny K. Davis, and "Ma" Fletcher, co-founded the Westside Association for Community Action, affectionally known as WACA. Gloria was a board member from the inception (1971) until November 1993 when she accepted the position of Executive Director until her passing in 2006; and
WHEREAS, WACA was Ernie & Gloria's life work and their most outstanding accomplishment. Their team provided the youth of Chicago's Westside alternatives to negligent lifestyles. Ernie served as ...
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