Record #: R2023-497   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 3/15/2023 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 3/15/2023
Title: Commemoration of Women's History Month
Sponsors: Lightfoot, Lori E. , Valencia, Anna M., Villegas, Gilbert, Hadden, Maria E. , Osterman, Harry, Knudsen, Timothy R., Tunney, Thomas, Scott, Monique L. , Hopkins, Brian , Sigcho-Lopez, Byron, Rodriguez, Michael D., Moore, David H., Waguespack, Scott, Gardiner, James M. , Dowell, Pat, La Spata, Daniel
Attachments: 1. R2023-497.pdf

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY OF CHICAGO

LORI E. LIGHTFOOT

MAYOR

March 15,2023

TO l'HO HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I transmit herewith, together with City Clerk Valencia and Aldermen Villegas, 1 Iadden, Osterman, Knudsen, Tunney, Scott, Hopkins, Sigcho-Lopez, Rodriguez, Moore, Waguespack, Gardiner, Dowell and La Spata, a resolution in honor of Womens 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 girls; 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, Women's History Month has been observed in the United States for more than thirty-five 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 have guided the course of this Nation's history as abolitionists, civil rights leaders, suffragists, labor activists, and continue to lead as advocates for reproductive rights, racial justice, and LGBTQ equality; 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, Sixteen 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, maintaining public health and safety, and advocating for social justice; and

WHEREAS, During Women's History Month, it is imperative we honor the women who have built our City and have played an essential 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 fifteenth day of March, 2023, do hereby reaffirm our prior designation of March 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.