RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Mr. Wilbert Jones is a noted author, culinary pioneer in healthy soul food, expert on South African cuisine, successful businessman, and president of the Wilbert Jones Company, a Chicago-based 24-year-old food/beverage marketing and sales company; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his accomplishments by the Honorable Michele Smith, Alderman of the 43rd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Wilbert Jones was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi and raised in the historic Pullman District on the South Side of Chicago, embodying the best of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Wilbert graduated from Percy L. Julian High School and Loyola University on Chicago's North Side; and
WHEREAS, Wilbert went on to live on the North Side for the past 25 years, serving as a resident of the 43rd Ward for 19 years, where he and his family now call home; and
WHEREAS, Wilbert demonstrated his unwavering dedication to his Gold Coast community, where he's now been a resident for 19 years, by co-authoring the book Images of America: Chicago's Gold Coast, with a foreword written by his revered friend, philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus; and
WHEREAS, Wilbert showcased his commitment to his culinary passion by authoring three cookbooks, with one, The New Soul Food Cookbook, winning the Purple Reflection Award in 1996 from the National Council of Negro Women, the oldest women's organization in America. In addition, he authored Mama's Tea Cakes in 1998 and Smothered Southern Foods in 2006; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Wilbert was inducted into the prestigious Les Amis d'Escoffier Society of Chicago, and a few years later, was honored by becoming the host of the 2008 PBS national television show, Healthy Heritage Kitchen; and
WHEREAS, Wilbert continually proves his resolute love for his city by engaging as an active board member of the Gold Coast Neighbors Association, and served on its 50th anniversary committee. Additionally, Wilbert is a current advisory board member of Bella Cuisine Kids Cooking Club and former advisory board member of Common Threads, founded by celebrity Art Smith; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, Wilbert was honored with his first key to the city in Sikeston, Missouri for being an outstanding keynote speaker at the 8th Annual Multi-County Women's Health Conference. Wilbert is also a prominent contributor and writer of Cuisine Noir Magazine and Prepared Foods Magazine; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, Wilbert expressed his deep love of blues, as demonstrated by his 2014 book, Images of America: Chicago Blues, which profiled the migration of the Delta Blues
musicians to Chicago. In 2015, Wilbert was gifted the key to the blues capital of the world, the city of Clarksdale Mississippi, and he was named Culinary Ambassador of the entire Mississippi Delta; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this March 29,2017, do hereby commend Mr. Wilbert Jones for his accomplishments, and for the publishing of his fifth book, Images of America: Chicago Blues, from the Mississippi Delta to the International Stage.
MICHELE SMITH Alderman, 43rd Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution are presented to Mr. Wilbert Jones as a sign of our honor, gratitude, and respect.