Record #: R2020-175   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 2/19/2020 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 2/19/2020
Title: Recognition extended to Nikole Hannah-Jones as journalist for dedication and commitment to coverage of racial issues and injustices
Sponsors: Lightfoot, Lori E. , Dowell, Pat, King, Sophia D., Hairston, Leslie A., Sawyer, Roderick T., Mitchell, Gregory I., Harris, Michelle A., Beale, Anthony, Coleman, Stephanie D. , Moore, David H., Curtis, Derrick G., Taylor, Jeanette B. , Brookins, Jr., Howard, Scott, Jr. Michael, Burnett, Jr., Walter, Ervin, Jason C., Taliaferro, Chris, Austin, Carrie M., Mitts, Emma, Martin, Matthew J. , Hadden, Maria E.
Attachments: 1. R2020-175.pdf

OFFICE  OF THE MAYOR

CITY OF CHICAGO

LORI E. LIGHTFOOT MAYOR

 

February 19, 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Dowell, King, Hairston, Sawyer, Mitchell, Harris, Beale, Coleman, Moore, Curtis, Taylor, Brookins Jr., Scott Jr., Burnett Jr., Ervin, Taliaferro, Austin, Mitts, Martin, and Hadden, a congratulatory resolution concerning Nikole Hannah-Jones.

 

Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.

 

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is especially appropriate during Black History Month for the Members of this Chamber to honor author and investigative reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones for her lifelong commitment to journalism, and particularly for her steadfast and dedicated coverage of race relations and civil rights in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Hannah-Jones' career in journalism began at a young age in Waterloo, Iowa, where she attended an almost all-white school as part of a voluntary school busing desegregation program. She wrote about her experiences in the high school newspaper; and

WHEREAS, In 1998, Ms. Hannah-Jones earned a bachelor's degree in History and African-American Studies from the University of Notre Dame. In 2003, she graduated with a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism and Mass Communications, where she was a Roy H. Park Fellow; and

WHEREAS, After completing her graduate studies, Ms. Hannah-Jones began her career in journalism covering education for, the Raleigh News and Observer, a position she held for three years, before moving to.Portland, Oregon, where, for six years, she did feature work for The Oregorian and expanded her writing portfolio to include demographics, government, and the census; and

WHEREAS, Inspired by Ida B. Wells, Ethel Payne, Simeon Booker, Claude Sitton and other heroic beat reporters who wrote about race in the face of adversity and frequent threats against their lives, Ms. Hannah-Jones joined the New York-based, non-profit news organization ProPublica in 2011, where she worked for three years as an investigative reporter covering civil rights and chronicling how official policies and laws, such as redlining and lack of enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, perpetuate systemic and institutional racism; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, Ms. Hannah-Jones became a staff reporter for The New York Times, where, in 2019, she wrote the first essay published as part ofthe 1619 Project to mark the 400th anniversary of American slavery, an ongoing initiative begun by The New York Times Magazine, which "aims to reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative"; and

WHEREAS, An internationally recognized authority on housing discrimination, racial segregation, and the desegregation and re-segregation of American schools, Ms. Hannah-Jones' many accomplishments include serving on the National Advisory Commission for Civil Disorders and being named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. A three-time recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists, Pacific Northwest, Excellence in Journalism Award, Ms. Hannah-Jones is also a recipient ofthe 2012 Gannett Foundation Innovation in Watchdog Journalism Award; 2013 Sidney Award for outstanding investigative journalism in service ofthe common good; 2015 Peabody Award; 2015 Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting; 2016 George Polk Award for radio reporting; and 2017 MacArthur Foundation Award. A 2017 Emerson Fellow at the New

 

 

America Foundation, she is currently writing a book on school segregation, titled The Problem We All Live With, which is scheduled for publication in June; and

 

WHEREAS, In addition to her many literary achievements, in 20,15, along with fellow : African-American journalists Ron Nixon, Corey Johnson and Topher Sanders, Ms. Hannah-Jones cofounded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which provides fellowships, training and mentorship to aspiring journalists of color around the United States and partners with numerous universities to promote the study of journalism; now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED,. That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this nineteenth day of February, 2020, do hereby recognize Nikole Hannah-Jones for her stellar career in journalism, and for her unfailing commitment to promoting honest discussions about race in America, to confronting racial injustice and inequality, and to better protecting the civil rights of all Americans; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to Nikole Hannah-Jones as a token ofour appreciation and esteem.

 

resolution

adopud by Tlie Qity Qoundl ofthe Qity of Qkicago. Illinois

 

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resented by   Mayor Lori E. LightfoQt.and                     ok

Members of the Chicago Black Caucus

 

Whereas , It is especially appropriate during Black History Month for the Members of this Chamber to honor author and investigative reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones for her lifelong commitment to journalism, and particularly for her steadfast and dedicated coverage of race relations and civil rights in the United States; and

 

■ WHEREAS, Ms. Hannah-Jones' career in journalism began at a young age in Waterloo, Iowa, where she attended an almost all-white school as part of a voluntary school busing desegregation program. She wrote about her experiences in the high school newspaper; and

 

WHEREAS, In 1998, Ms. Hannah-Jones earned a bachelor's degree in History and African-American Studies from the University of Notre Dame. In 2003, she graduated with a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism and'Mass Communications, where she was a Roy H. Park Fellow; and

 

WHEREAS, After completing her graduate studies, Ms. Hannah-Jones began her career, in journalism covering education for the Raleigh News and Observer, a position she held for three years, before moving to Portland, Oregon, where, for six years, she did feature work for The Oregorian and expanded her writing portfolio to include demographics, government, and the census; and

 

WHEREAS, Inspired by Ida B. Wells, Ethel Payne, Simeon Booker, Claude Sitton and other heroic beat reporters who wrote about race in the face of adversity and frequent threats against their lives, Ms. Hannah-Jones joined the New York-based, non-profit news organization ProPublica in 2011, where she worked for three years as an investigative reporter covering civil rights and chronicling how official policies and laws, such as redlining and lack of enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, perpetuate systemic and institutional racism; and

 

WHEREAS, In 2015, Ms. Hannah-Jones became a staff reporter for The New York Times, where, in 2019, she wrote the first essay published as part of the 1619 Project fo mark the 400": anniversary of American slavery, an ongoing initiative begun by The New

 

 

York Times Magazine, which "aims io rename the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative"; and

 

WHEREAS, An internationally recognized authority on housing discrimination, racial segregation, and the desegregation and re-segregation of American schools, Ms. Hannah-Jones' many accomplishments include serving on the National Advisory Commission for Civil Disorders and being named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. A three-time recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists, Pacific Northwest, Excellence in Journalism Award, Ms. Hannah-Jones is also a recipient of the 2012 Gannett Foundation Innovation in Watchdog Journalism Award; 2013 Sidney Award for outstanding investigative journalism in service of the common good; 2015 Peabody Award; 2015 Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting; 2016 George Polk Award for radio reporting; and 2017 MacArthur Foundation Award. A 2017 Emerson Fellow at the New America Foundation, she is currently writing a book on school segregation, titled The Problem We All Live With, which is scheduled for publication in June; and

 

WHEREAS, In addition to her many literary achievements, in 2015, along with fellow African-American journalists Ron Nixon, Corey Johnson and Topher Sanders, Ms. Hannah-Jones cofounded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which provides fellowships, training and mentorship to aspiring journalists of color around the United States and partners with numerous universities to promote the study of journalism; now, therefore,

 

BE ST RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this nineteenth day'of February, 2020, do hereby recognize Nikole Hannah-Jone's.for her stellar career in journalism, and for her unfailing commitment to promoting honest discussiohs.dbout race in America, to confronting racial injusfiG^and inequality, and to better protecting the civil rights of all Americans; and <\&'$.i

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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Nikole Hannah-Jones as a token of our appreciation and esteem.