RECOGNITION OF JAY MICHAEL DAY
WHEREAS Jay Michael was a lifetime Chicago area resident, who had an impact on multiple communities, including, but not limited to the Uptown community, LGBT, Chicago artists, and the Chicago-bound refugee community; and
WHEREAS He made a critical impact on the revitalization of the Uptown community, as a direct result of his vision for Uptown, facilitated the addition of dozens of Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund dwellings; and
WHEREAS Jay was passionate supporter of LAMBDA Legal; and
WHEREAS Jay Michael was on the board of Refugee One and the co-chair for the 2015 Refugee One Annual Gala that raised nearly $300,000, which was well beyond the goal for the event; and
WHEREAS he was an active board member of the Museum of Science and Industry, Heartland Alliance and an active supporter of Common Threads; and
WHEREAS Jay Michael, for the last six month of his life he campaigned Northwestern Hospital food service to accommodate his donation of the Lifeway Frozen Kefir machine and program that launched in May 2016; and
WHEREAS Jay Michael was the Flats Chicago visionary, built Flats Studio, a community arts organization as well as Flats Project a small business incubator and accelerator; and
WHEREAS Jay Michael won numerous awards including: the 2014 Soul of Uptown Award by Uptown United, the 2014 and 2015 46th Ward Award for Ward Innovator, the Chicago Association of Realtors 2015 Good Neighbor Award, the 2015 Chicagoland Apartment Association Property Excellence Award in the Vintage Category, listed as 502nd of Inc. Magazine's 5000 Fastest Growing Companies of 2015, and Crain's 2015 Coolest Office; and
WHEREAS his impact on not just Uptown, but on his 100 employees, countless friends and family will be felt for years to come; and
WHEREAS he had a vision for the Uptown community and all of Chicago that encompassed compassion for others, vitality, and creativity that sparked our imaginations;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago
City Council gathered together this eighteenth day of May, 2016 dedicates June 15th, 2^6 as
Jay Michael Day in honor of his brilliant career and his contributions to creative desjgn srki
development of the Uptown community and the City of Chicago. 5 *o
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presenJed-to his mother, Frances Michael, on June 15, 2016. 3£
Alderman, 46th Ward