April 10, 2019 City Council
Resolution Honoring Kelli Wefenstette
WHEREAS, Kelli Wefenstette moved to Portage Park in 2009 intent on investing in her new community, working in economic development, and getting involved in civic life; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Wefenstette in 2013 earned her Master's Degree in Social Justice and Community Development from Loyola University Chicago, focusing her final semester of work on Six Corners, volunteering with Arts Alive Chicago, the Six Corners Association, and the 45th Ward office; and
WHEREAS, at the end of 2013, Ms. Wefenstette was hired by the Six Corners Association to aid in economic and community development, and in 2015, she was appointed Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, both as an employee and as Executive Director, Ms. Wefenstette continued the organization's economic development strategy using the Main Street approach, a method that values sustained community development, traditional placemaking, continued promotion, and local entrepreneurship over "magic bullet" redevelopment strategies; and
WHEREAS, during her time with the Six Corners Association, Ms. Wefenstette has helped attract dozens of new, locally owned business to Six Corners, bringing new life to the historic Northwest Side business district; and
WHEREAS, for many years, Ms. Wefenstette successfully managed Six Corners BBQ Fest, and in 2018, launched and organized the County Fair Chicago, a neighborhood festival of Americana with an urban twist; and
WHEREAS, having been featured in the April, 2018 issue of Chicago Magazine's Urban Farming Guide, she is the area's resident expert of urban chicken keeping; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Wefenstette has displayed her own entrepreneurial spirit, first as a founder of the Urban Folk Circuit traveling craft market, and recently as the owner and founder of Wildlight Yoga; and
WHEREAS, with her husband Jimmy Thomas, Ms. Wefenstette also founded the Brad Wefenstette Prize, an award given to a Monmouth College undergrad who demonstrates a commitment to peace and social justice, in honor of her late brother;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here in assembly on April 10, 2019, do hereby honor Ms. Wefenstette's leadership and success in building a sustainable economy at the Historic Six Corners Shopping District; and