MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR HAL BASKIN
WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that the members of this Chamber learned of the untimely passing of Mr. Hal E. Baskin on August 10, 2018; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed body has been informed of his passing by the Honorable Toni Foulkes, Alderman of the 16th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Hal Baskin was born to the union of Primas and Eloise (Spraggins) Baskin in West Point, Mississippi, on June 15, 1952. He was the seventh of fourteen siblings; and
WHEREAS, Hal was raised in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Chicago Public Schools, graduating from Francis Parker High School and going on to receive his graduate degree from Northeastern Illinois University, majoring in Politics;
WHEREAS, He was an active member of his church, joining Christ Way M.B. Church where he was baptized on March 20, 1980 under the leadership of the late Rev. Consuela York and the late Pastor John York; and
WHEREAS, Hal married the love of his life, Hermein in 1978. To that union, two children were born, Karla and Hal Jr.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hal E. Baskin has been a resident of the Englewood community for over 56 years, where he has served as a dedicated community organizer and political activist for almost 40 years; and
WHEREAS, In Hal's role as a community organizer he has united spiritual and community leaders to combat gang violence, created gang deactivation programs at Chicago Public Schools, led a search resulting in finding the body of a missing Englewood child, and opened a youth center to create alternatives to gangs and violence; and
WHEREAS, Hal was the founder and driving force behind many organizations, including Liberation for Self Help, 16th Ward Political Task Force, P.E.A.C.E. (People Educated Against Crime in Englewood) and the Englewood Political Task Force. He was also instrumental in creating various youth based opportunities including Englewood United Little League Baseball, the Gang Deactivation Program at Englewood area high schools, renaming of Ryan Harris Memorial Park, as well as coordinating an annual "Celebration of Life Picnic;" and
WHEREAS, Hal is truly exemplary of what it means to be a community organizer, creating a Kid's Cafe Program which serves 7,800 hot meals annually, the African American Male Initiative, a safety net program, partnerships with the University of Chicago 4H club and the University of Illinois Extension Program, securing snow removal services for seniors and providing a CEDA intake site for sixteen years; and
WHEREAS, Under Hal's leadership, the Englewood Political Task Force has secured over 950 jobs in the construction industry, sending about $53 million to the black community. He also coordinated the Real Men Read Program at Bass Elementary School and the Male Mentoring Program at Granville T. Woods Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, Hal was recently the recipient of a tremendous honor by the Chicago City Council, 65th Street, from South Green Street to South Racine Avenue, was official named "Hal Baskin Street," in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the City; and
WHEREAS, Hal is not only the pillar of his family, but was viewed as a father to many in the community. He enjoyed spending his spare time tending to his mother's garden, spending time in the P.E.A.C.E. garden, or enjoying his grandchildren of which he was so proud; and
WHEREAS, Hal leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Hermein; daughter, Karla; son, Hal Jr.; mother, Eloise; grandchildren, Parrish and Kyla; great-granddaughter, Khyla; brothers, Robert (Zeddie), James (Marie), Billy, Tyrone, and Primas Jr.; sister, Katherine; honorary son, Oghande Moon (Tara); brother-in-law, Vincent Sterling; goddaughter, Jada Valentine; and host of adoring family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Hal touched the lives of all who knew him through his love for Chicago, dedication to others and lively spirit. He will be deeply missed, but the memory of his character will live on in those who knew and loved him; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twentieth day of September, 2018, do hereby extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Hal E. Baskin.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution are presented to the family of Mr. Hal E. Baskin as a sign of our honor, gratitude, and respect.
TdNIL FOULKES Alderman, 16th Ward