MEMORIAL RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF MATTIE BUTLER
WHEREAS, Mattie Carey Butler, beloved community advocate, passed away on November 3, 2022; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of Mattie's passing by the Honorable Jeanette B. Taylor, Alderwoman ofthe 20th Ward; and
WHEREAS, The youngest of five children, Mattie was born to Arvelia and JT Butler in Sunflower, Mississippi, on April 25,1943; and
WHEREAS, Mattie was an impressive musical talent, touring the United States for 40 years performing with her brothers Jerry and William and recording with music legends including collaborations with Curtis Mayfield, Mavis Staples, and Aretha Franklin; and
WHEREAS, Not believing in mastering only a single talent, Mattie was also a master modiste who created stage costumes for fellow entertainers; and
WHEREAS, Motivated by the power of a united community that she experienced while living in Cabrini Green as a child, in 1964, a 19-year-old Mattie embarked upon a career in public service, beginning her calling as an employment counselor at the YMCA; and
WHEREAS, After resettling in the Woodlawn community, Mattie co-founded the nonprofit Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors (WeCan) in 1980 with Eddie Mae Johnson, following an arson fire that claimed the lives of 13 children; and
WHEREAS, Under 40 years of Mattie's leadership, WeCan went on to become a food pantry, employment training facility, youth service agency, and an affordable housing development agency, including developing affordable housing and pathways to homeownership through her "Step-Up" housing program, preserving 5,420 units of housing from being demolished, and directly providing 108 units of affordable housing to Woodlawn residents; and
WHEREAS, In her 55 years of public service, Mattie Butler was a warrior for affordable housing, community economic development, and the empowerment of Chicago's African-American community; A fierce and relentless advocate throughout her life, Mattie developed several other nonprofit organizations and supported community leaders who have continued to lift her legacy of social justice; and
WHEREAS, Mattie has received national recognition for her work in public service, including becoming one ofthe first National Petra Fellows for Justice in 1989, receiving a full scholarship for a Master of Science degree in Community Economic Development from the Southern New Hampshire Graduate School of Business at the age of 50, and receiving a host of other awards, including the Neighborhood Institute Recognition Award, the Crossroads Funds Honoree Award, the Harold Washington Bridge Builder Award, the CEDA Recognition Award, the Chicago Rehab Network Developer of the Year Award, the Cook County Outstanding Community Leader Award, the ComEd Renaissance Illinois Inaugural Partnership Award, the Chicago Real Estate Executive Woman's Award, the State of Illinois Treasurer's Community Service Award, and the Bank of America Local Hero Award; and
WHEREAS, Mattie's unrelenting commitment to God supported her throughout her life; she demonstrated the love of Christ through dedication to her family, community service work, and her support of countless members of her community, serving as church mother at Almighty Love Christian Center under Pastor Joseph Clark; and
WHEREAS, Mattie was preceded in death by her siblings Lula Mae, Dorothy, and William "Billy", and is survived by her children Venus Scott, William, and Jerry Armstrong, her brother Jerry Butler; grandchildren: Jabari Armstrong, Amani Armstrong, Amare Armstrong, Kamau Armstrong, Tavon Armstrong, Aisha Armstrong, Tan'esha Armstrong, Tasha Butler-Scott, James Scott, Jr (Dariane), great-grandchildren: Devin Scott, Maya Scott, Jhenira Brown, Jamil Brown, and Jasime Brown; Mattie lives on in the hearts of a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, mentees, friends, residents, and community workers; and
WHEREAS, Mattie's legacy reaches beyond the housing she provided, the food she fed to others, the employment she offered, and the determination she demonstrated; Mattie's legacy lives in the hearts of those she taught to do the same; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this fourteenth day of December, 2022, do hereby honor the life and legacy of Mattie Carey Butler; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Mattie Carey Butler as a sign of our honor and respect.
CITY OF CHICAGO
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Resolution to Honor the Life of Mattie C. Butler
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