A Resolution Honoring the Life & Legacy of Leola Spann
ADOPTED by The City Council
Of the City of Chicago, Illinois Presented by Alderman Emma Mitts on April 10. 2013
WHEREAS. There was once a woman named Leola Spann, who was both tender and tough, as well as a. grandmotherly yet fiery advocate lor the poor and disenfranchised. Mrs. Spann was well-known, revered and respected as a formidable force devoted to improving opportunities in Chicago's Austin neighborhood: and
WHEREAS. Mrs. Eeola Spann was the longtime president of'die Noithwesr. Austin Council, (NAC); and
WHEREAS, During her 22-year with die Northwest Ausdn Council. Mrs. Spann launched multi-faceted efforts to introduce after-school programs, scolded slumlords into fixing there buildings and lead the first known lawsuit to use nuisance abatement laws to shut down a drug den. The Northwest Austin Council is located at. .5780 W, Division St Chicago, IL 606751; and
WHEREAS, She. fought tirelessly to rid the west side of drug dealers ami gangs, while working with elected officials and police to improve the community's overall quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Leola Spann was a community organizer and activist, who siood up to neighborhood bullies, criminals and oilier negative forces, helped slow down speeders on the streets of Austin and fought big utility companies as a champion of the poor and elderly; and
WHEREAS, Leola Spann was committed totally to the Austin community and to the people, who lived and worked there, calling diem her 'heroes5; and
WHEREAS, -She was considered die surrogate mother of the neighborhood, and throughout, her long her activism career, she developed a well-earned reputation tor blunt honesty, steely determination and integrity. The bottom line was thai she was deeply respected by everyone who knew her, whether friend or foe; and
1 i P a g e
WHEREAS, Without Leola Spann, many (if* die things accomplished hv Northwest Austin Council and by a diverse array of local clergy, co...
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