RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING JULY 27, 2022 NATIONAL SOUL CHILDREN OF CHICAGO DAY
WHEREAS, The Governor of Illinois has proclaimed July 27, 2022 National Soul Children of Chicago Day; the Soul Children of Chicago ("SCC"), is a non-profit professional youth organization whose mission is to educate, elevate, and illuminate the City's youth, ages seven through seventeen, by using creative arts to provide an incentive for youth to remain free of gangs, drugs, and teen pregnancies; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this joyous occasion by the Honorable Pat Dowell, Alderman of the 3rd Ward; and
WHEREAS, The SCC is the nation's oldest internationally acclaimed, Grammy award winning youth gospel choir whose outreach and community mentorship has served as an example for similar programs around the world; and
WHEREAS, The SCC prides itself in its "Outreach Efforts" by giving back to the community with businesses and companies such as The Olive Branch, Bright Star Community Development, Father Michael Pfleger & Saint Sabina's War on Gang Violence, and the Truth Hope & Justice foundation; the SCC's efforts do not stop locally, SCC has built wells in Monrovia, Liberia, as well as established global networks with Soul Children choirs around the world in countries such as Norway, Sweden, Indonesia, Germany, England, and very soon South Africa; and
WHEREAS, The history of the SCC is filled with the names of successful participants and SCC's efforts have spawned graduates, artist, pastors, community leaders, professionals, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and business men and women; and
WHEREAS, The organization was established in 1981 under the leadership of Dr. Walter Whitman Jr., who still leads the organization today, and since its inception, the SCC has contributed more than 16 billion volunteer hours with their nonprofit organization; and
WHEREAS, Today the nonprofit sector affects nearly every citizen in one way or another, from concerts and fundraisers, trips to show different demographics to our youth, and partnerships that enrich young people and service our community, toy drives, to social services agencies that provide food, clothing, housing and training for those less fortunate: and
WHEREAS, For decades the SCC has become an institution in assisting the City's youth and its communities, and the City wishes further it success for more decades to come; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twentieth day of July, 2022, do congratulate the Soul Children of Chicago on its decades of success and hereby proclaim July 27, 2022 as National Soul Children of Chicago Day; and
PAT DOWELL Alderman, 3rd Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Soul Children of Chicago.