OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
March 23, 2022
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Sadlowski Garza, King, Burnett, Harris, Smith, Villegas, Fladden, Silverstein, Vasquez, Tunney, Gardiner, Scott, Ramirez-Rosa, Moore, Ervin, La Spata, Waguespack, Reboyras, Rodriguez, Martin, Cappleman, Mitts, Sigcho-Lopez, Dowell, Quinn, O'Shea, Osterman, Lopez, Nugent, Napolitano and Hopkins, a resolution in celebration of Women's History Month.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Women's History Month commemorates the cultural, political, and social achievements of women, while recognizing the need for further action to ensure equality, justice, and opportunity for all women; and
WHEREAS, Women's History Month has been observed in the United States for more than thirty years. In 1987, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, which designated March 1987 as Women's History Month. Since 1988, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women's History Month; and
WHEREAS, Women's History Month coincides with the observance of International Women's Day on March 8 of each year. International Women's Day originated as a day of activism for the labor and suffrage movements in North America and Europe during the early twentieth century; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations theme for International Women's Day 2022 is "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow," focusing on the contribution of women around the world who are leading on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago recognizes the many prominent women who have contributed to Chicago's rich history; and
WHEREAS, Kitihawa, a Potawatomi woman married to Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, made significant contributions to establishing and fostering the development of the first permanent settlement in what is now Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Chicago became the first major city in the United States to elect a woman as mayor when Jane Byrne won a record 82 percent of the vote in the 1979 election; and
WHEREAS, In 2019, Chicago elected women to all three citywide elected offices: Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer; and
WHEREAS, Fifteen women currently serve on the City Council, representing a diverse group of neighborhoods and communities across Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Women serve in leadership positions throughout the City of Chicago, driving our economy, keeping the public healthy, and advocating for social justice; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative to honor the women who have built our City and have played a critical cultural, social, and economic role in Chicago; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-third day of March, 2022, do hereby designate March 2022 as Women's History Month in Chicago, and encourage all Chicagoans to acknowledge the contributions of women to the vibrant culture, identity, and history of our great City.