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Meeting date/time:
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5/15/2025
9:00 AM
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Minutes status:
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Draft
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Meeting location:
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Cook County Building, Board Room,
118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois
Consent Agenda - Issued on: 5/8/2025
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25-2651
| 1 | | RESOLUTION HONORING THE REMARKABLE LIFE AND
LEGACY OF MYLES LEE REED SR. | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION HONORING THE REMARKABLE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MYLES LEE REED SR.
WHEREAS, it is both fitting and proper that the Cook County Board of Commissioners pauses to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring contributions of Myles Lee Reed Sr., who was born on January 26, 1925, in Lorman, Mississippi - a man distinguished by an unshakable faith, a profound commitment to community, and a tireless devotion to the uplift of his fellow citizens; and
WHEREAS, Myles Lee Reed Sr., the devoted husband of the late Barbara Nell Wilkerson Reed, was also the loving and guiding patriarch to his children - Myles Lee Jr., Frank, Darryl, Brenda, Ronald, and Claude - exemplifying the virtues of steadfast fatherhood and principled leadership within his family and beyond; and
WHEREAS, as a young man, Mr. Reed migrated to Omaha, Nebraska, where he would embark on the foundational chapters of a life characterized by purpose, resilience, and service. In his formative years, he nobly answered the call of duty, serving in the United States Army, and upon com | | |
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25-2752
| 1 | | RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MALIK T. MURRAY | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MALIK T. MURRAY
WHEREAS, Malik T. Murray was a distinguished leader, visionary professional, and beloved son of Cook County whose profound contributions to business, education, and community empowerment leaves a lasting legacy across Chicago and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Malik T. Murray exemplified the highest ideals of service, leadership, and compassion, leaving an indelible imprint upon the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the countless lives he touched through his professional excellence, philanthropic endeavors, and personal generosity; and
WHEREAS, Malik was born and raised in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, the cherished son of the Honorable Leonard Murray, Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, and the late Linda Diane Gray Murray, a respected educator whose influence inspired Malik’s lifelong commitment to education, equity, and civic service; and
WHEREAS, Malik's journey of excellence began at St. Philip Neri Elementary School and continued at St. Ignatius College Prep, where he distinguishe | | |
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25-2738
| 1 | | HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND DAVID BIGSBY | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REVEREND DAVID BIGSBY
WHEREAS, David Bigsby was born in Marietta, Georgia, in 1945, and his father was a preacher and a “giver,”; and
WHEREAS, from 1963 to 1967, Mr. Bigsby attended Morehouse College before entering the U.S. Army, where he was a paratrooper serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War and was awarded a Bronze Star and honorably discharged in 1969 at the rank of staff sergeant; and
WHEREAS, Pastor Bigsby earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Northwest Missouri State University in 1975, and after college after college he worked in the insurance field, earning a CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) designation from American College in 1979; and
WHEREAS, eventually he accepted his calling to preach, something he was born to do, and in 1985, Reverend Bigsby preached his first professional sermon during service on Thanksgiving morning at Calvary Baptist Church in Glenwood, IL and about a decade later, in 1994, he became pastor of the church; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Bigsby would go on to found and lead In | | |
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25-2739
| 1 | | COMMEMORATING NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH IN COOK COUNTY | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, May is National Military Appreciation Month, introduced by late Senator John McCain and designated by Congress in 1999, which gives our nation the opportunity to honor the service and sacrifice of servicemembers and their families; and
WHEREAS, not only do we reflect on Memorial Day the sacrifice and service of those who gave all, but the month also marks several other military anniversaries and events, including Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Loyalty Day, VE Day, Public Service Recognition Week, and Armed Forces Day; and
WHEREAS, this month as we celebrate current and former members of our military and their families, it is important to encourage all citizens to observe the month as a symbol of unity and recognize that as Americans we have more in common than not; and
WHEREAS, we honor the sacrifice of generations of military men and women by our commitment to community and country, and to preserving our freedoms and our democracy they so valiantly fought and continue to | | |
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25-2756
| 1 | | HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. CHERYL F. GREEN | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. CHERYL F. GREEN
WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom called from our midst, Dr. Cheryl F. Green, Governors State University’s sixth President, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, following a lengthy illness; and
WHEREAS, at a young age, Dr. Green learned her life’s purpose when she served as a literacy tutor and saw firsthand the disparities in education. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology and later went on to fulfill her dream of impacting communities by serving students in higher education across several states, including Indiana, Tennessee, and Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Green was passionate about community, education, and student success. For more than thirty years, she devoted her time and talent to transforming lives through the power of higher education and removing barriers to marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, never one to shy away from a challenge, Dr. Green took the reins as President of Governors State University at the height of the pandemic in July of 2020. As the University’s first African Am | | |
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25-2806
| 1 | | HONORING MICHELLE HARRIS ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING MICHELLE HARRIS ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, Michelle Harris has served with distinction as Executive Assistant to Commissioner Donna Miller since the Commissioner assumed office in December 2018, playing a vital role in ensuring the efficient, compassionate, and professional operation of the 6th District office; and
WHEREAS, Michelle’s journey in public service began immediately after graduating high school in the 1970s, when a local precinct captain encouraged her to apply for a position at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. She accepted the opportunity and began working at the Cook County Morgue, located at 2121 W. Harrison Street in Chicago-a facility later named the Robert J. Stein Institute of Forensic Medicine. Under the leadership of Chief Toxicologist Dr. Michael Schaffer, Michelle served for approximately three years, embracing the role with courage, diligence, and grace; and
WHEREAS, Michelle’s career reflects a deep commitment to the public good and civic leadership. Over the years, she has served and supporte | | |
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25-2353
| 1 | | CLARENCE L. AND MARY F. BROOKINS
75TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN HONOR OF CLARENCE L. AND MARY F. BROOKINS 75TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, Clarence L. and Mary F. Brookins, residents of Lansing, Illinois, will celebrate their Diamond Jubilee Wedding Anniversary on May 6, 2025, marking an extraordinary milestone in their lives; and
WHEREAS, the celebration of seventy-five years of marriage is a rare and remarkable achievement, recognized by the United States Census Bureau, which estimates that Clarence and Mary are among fewer than 1,000 couples in the entire United States to reach this incredible milestone; and
WHEREAS, Clarence L. Brookins after graduating from high school, went on to become the pastor and founder of True Foundation Missionary Baptist Church, where he served for over fifty years with dedication and love; and
WHEREAS, Clarence L. Brookins is a retired Cook County Sheriff, contributing greatly to his community; and
WHEREAS, Mary F. Brookins, a devoted partner, earned her associate’s degree from Chicago State University and made significant contributions to the fields of insurance, health c | | |
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25-2715
| 1 | | HONORING EMILIA DIMENCO | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION HONORING EMILIA DIMENCO FOR HER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
WHEREAS, Emilia DiMenco has served with distinction as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), one of the oldest, largest, and most impactful women’s business assistance centers in the United States; and;
WHEREAS, under Ms. DiMenco’s visionary leadership, the WBDC has expanded its reach and deepened its impact, providing critical support to women-owned, minority-owned, and other underserved businesses through entrepreneurship training, financial education, procurement opportunities, and access to capital; and
WHEREAS, Ms. DiMenco was instrumental in forging a powerful partnership between the WBDC and Cook County to create the Cook County Small Business Source, an initiative that has supported thousands of small businesses across the County, particularly those hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing business advising services, grants, and long-term resources to ensure their growth and sustainability; and
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25-2807
| 1 | | Whitney Young's 50th Anniversary | Consent Calendar Resolution | PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WHITNEY M. YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
WHEREAS, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, located at 211 South Laflin Street in Chicago, Illinois, was established on September 3, 1975 as the city’s first public magnet high school, named in honor of esteemed civil rights leader Whitney M. Young, Jr.; and
WHEREAS, for five decades, Whitney Young has exemplified academic excellence, embracing its motto, "Where Academic Excellence is the Standard," and fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that nurtures the holistic development of its students; and
WHEREAS, the school has consistently ranked among the top high schools in Illinois and the nation, most recently named the #3 Illinois High School by U.S. News & World Report in 2024, reflecting its rigorous college preparatory curriculum and exceptional faculty; and
WHEREAS, Whitney Young has rightfully earned the title “School of Champions”, with an unparalleled legacy of success in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities, including multiple state championships | | |
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