A Resolution to Honor Dr. Nona Burnev
WHEREAS, Dr. Nona Burney was called home on March 31st, 2014 at the age of 64; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to gain more knowledge about how she could help more people, Dr. Burney obtained B.A. in Education from Northwestern University, an M.A. in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University, a Law Degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and a Phd in Urban Education from Cleveland State University; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burney taught Social Studies and Black History at Cleveland, Ohio's Collinswood High School during a time when the city was marred by civil rights issues pertaining to equal access to education; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burney also helped start the Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School in Cleveland before becoming the Principal ofthe school in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burney returned to Chicago and became an Assistant Professor at Roosevelt University in 1995, and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burney was promoted to the Director of Roosevelt University's Center for Teaching and Learning in 2007 where her focus was on service learning; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burney became the Chair of Roosevelt University's Department of Curriculum Studies in the College of Education in 2010; and
WHEREAS, Much of Dr. Burney's work was focused on improving education in the Bronzeville Community having been a founding member of the Grand Boulevard Federation's Peer Parent Education Network where she worked with parents and school leaders towards the development of the Seven Critical Elements of a Quality School, which is still used by the Bronzeville community to evaluate the needs of area schools; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, Dr. Burney played an integral part in the creation ofthe Bronzevile Community Action Council (BCAC) where she served as a member ofthe Steering Committee and the Best Practices Sub-Committee before being voted into the position of BCAC Chair; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burney's leadership ofthe BCAC lead to several schools remaining open and resourced in an effort to ensure every child in the community had safe access to a quality education; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burney's legacy is defined by her philosophy of helping others by making the greatest impact, which has influenced a countless number of her students who are now instilling this value into their students; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Chicago gathered this 30th day of April, 2014, do hereby express our condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Nona Burney and recognize and appreciate her commitment to public education for the children of Chicago and elsewhere; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to the family and friends of Dr. Nona Burney.
03AI3'33H
Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward