RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Barbara Bolsen announced her retirement from The Night Ministry on September 30, 2020 following twenty-three years of distinguished service to the organization and the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this occasion by Alderman Thomas Tunney of the 44th Ward, Aldennan Scott Waguespack of the 32nd Ward, and Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Barbara was born in Cincinnati, Ohio the oldest of three children to parents who were both educators. To the surprise of no one, Barb skipped 5th grade. In high school, Barb was part of the swim club and played field hockey; and
WHEREAS, Bolsen moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism where she received a Bachelor Degree in Journalism; and
WHEREAS, As a journalist, Barb worked for publications in Maine, Washington, DC, and Chicago, and served as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. In Chicago, Bolsen worked for the Lerner Newspapers and spent twenty-three years working as a copy editor, reporter, managing editor, and - ultimately - the Editor of the American Medical Association's American Medical News; and
WHEREAS, After more than two decades in the world of journalism, Barb became more interested in social justice issues and decided it was time to do work that would engage her heart; and
WHEREAS, Bolsen attended Chicago Theological Seminary, where she received her Master of Divinity and was ordained as a United Church of Christ minister in 2000. During her time at Chicago Theological Seminary, Barb completed an internship with the AIDS Pastoral Care Network, working alongside a Chaplain who facilitated a weekly support group with women in the AIDS unit at Cook County Hospital; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Barbara found work that was in sync with her values when she started working for The Night Ministry. She was hired to work part-time in The Night Ministry's original Open Door Shelter on Clark Street in the Lakeview Neighborhood and doing street outreach focused on homeless youth in the neighborhood, many of whom identified as LGBTQ; and
WHEREAS, During her time as The Night Ministry's Youth Outreach Minister, Bolsen became aware of the traumatic, unsafe experiences that young people - especially trans young people -faced on the streets of Chicago. Together with Lakeview Action Coalition, she worked to increase awareness of these young peoples' experiences and create change with local elected officials, the business .community, neighborhood groups, and within the Chicago Police Department; and
WHEREAS, She soon became the Director of The Night Ministry's Outreach & Health Ministry Program, which provides free health care and outreach in neighborhoods across Chicago via the Health Outreach Bus; and
WHEREAS, As Director of Programs, Barb led further expansion ofthe Health Outreach Bus into neighborhoods like Humboldt Park, Pilsen, Roseland, New City, and Rogers Park. Under her
leadership, The Night Ministry's youth shelters expanded from one 16-bed shelter program to four programs that provided 53 beds nightly. Included in that expansion were programs dedicated to pregnant and parenting youth and The Crib - Chicago's first overnight emergency shelter for homeless youth - which provides safe space for homeless youth who identify as LGBTQ; and
WHEREAS, As Director of Strategic Partnerships, Bolsen assisted in the development of a shelter program that houses Chicago Public School students experiencing homelessness and the relocation of The Crib and The Night Ministry's administrative offices to its current home in Bucktown; and
WHEREAS, Barbara has served on many Boards of Directors such as the Urban Clinical Pastoral Education Consortium, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation, Lakeview Action Coalition (now known as ONE Northside), and Community Renewal Society. She is a member of Epiphany United Church of Christ in Chicago, where she sings in the choir; and
WHEREAS, Barb has earned the opportunity to spend her time doing the things that she loves -- travelling, photography, reading, enjoying the outdoors, and providing a loving home for her older dogs Huckleberry and Dandelion. She has spent many hours sailing on Lake Michigan admiring the city's skyline. She is a devotee of The New York Times crossword puzzle (which she completes in ink). She belongs to two book clubs. She enjoys trips to Door County every summer, White Sox games, nights out at the theatre, and a good glass of wine; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Bolsen has served the City of Chicago, The Night Ministry, and thousands of Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and poverty with compassion and integrity, and has earned a happy retirement; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 9th day of September 2020, do hereby honor the service and accomplishments of Barbara Bolsen and extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to her on her retirement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Barbara Bolsen as a symbol of our esteem and gratitude.
Thomas M. Tunney Alderman, 44th Ward
Maria Hadden Alderwoman, 49th Ward
Scott Waguespack Alderman, 32nd Ward
CITY OF CHICAGO
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ANNA M. VALENCIA
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121 NORTH LASALLE STREET, ROOM 107, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60602
CITY OF CHICAGO
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OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ANNA M. VALENCIA
Chicago City Council Co-Sponsor Form
Congratulations extended to Barbara Bolsen on retirement from The Night Ministry.
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121 NORTH LASALLE STREET. ROOM 107. CHICAGO. ILLINOIS 60602