RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, In November of 1894, at the urging of Jane Addams, Mary McDowell picked a four-room building on Gross Avenue to serve as a community center for the residents of Packingtown; and,
WHEREAS, In 1906, the Settlement House was moved to a new building on the same block where it stood for six decades, containing several amenities for residents including a library, game room, sewing room, boxing room, music room, nursery, junior/senior girls rooms, and the famous club rooms; and,
WEHEREAS, Hundreds of families not only learned valuable skills at the Settlement House but also were able to socialize across all ethnic spectrums found within the Stockyards; and,
WHEREAS, In honor ofthe friendships and memories instilled by the "Angel ofthe Stockyards," a group of past participants have formed an organization called the Mary McDowell Settlement Alumni Association; and,
WHEREAS, The Association has maintained contact and hosted dinners commemorating their experiences and historical connections with Mary McDowell & the Settlement House; and,
WHEREAS, The Association was instrumental in lobbying for the name change of Gross Avenue to McDowell Avenue, as well as the honorary designation of "Mary McDowell Way;" and,
WHEREAS, The Association has remained committed to preserving the name of Mary McDowell in the Back of the Yards community by providing scholarships to the students of Chavez Multicultural Academic Center, Lara Elementary Academy, Daley Elementary Academy, Hamline Elementary School, Hedges Fine & Performing Arts Academy, and Seward Communication Arts Academy; and,
WHEREAS, The Association continues to provide assistance and support to the local Catholic churches and organizations within the Back of the Yards community including Casa Catalina, Holy Cross-Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, and Catholic Charities; and,
WHEREAS, The Association has been successfully led by its Steering Committee with members being Tom & Rose Doyle, Dave Alba, Ray & Tina Alcala, Vicky Arteaga, Connie Banasiak, Jackie Chico, Don & Sylvia Cortez, Patsy Dranter, Flo Franco, Barbara Guziak, Mary Ellen Joren, Jeannie Lopez, Joe & Noreen Manzo, Dolores Quiroz, Dave & Cynthia Ramirez, and Wally & Joyce Sura; and,
WHEREAS, The Assocation celebrated its 30th Anniversary this October 13, 2018; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council, assembled this fourteenth day of November, 2018, do hereby congratulate all members, past and present, ofthe Mary McDowell Settlement Alumni Association; and,