RESOLUTION HONORING ERICA KIRKWOOD
WHEREAS, Erica Kirkwood, a widely admired member of the legal community, will be sworn in as the 25th President of the Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. on May 31, 2017; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by the Honorable Matthew O'Shea, Alderman ofthe 19lh Ward; and
WHEREAS, Erica Kirkwood graduated from Chicago State University and Western Michigan University Thomas Cooley Law School where she founded the Weekend Law Society; and
WHEREAS, Since 2003, Erica Kirkwood has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., whose mission is to: cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards; promote unity and friendship among college women; study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women to improve their social stature; maintain a progressive interest in college life; and be of "Service to All Mankind"; and
WHEREAS, Erica Kirkwood began her career at the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, where she worked for ten years protecting the consumers of Chicago from fraudulent business practices by investigating consumer fraud cases, conducting liquor, hotel, tobacco and Public Place of Amusement license inspections to approve or deny licenses pursuant to municipal ordinances; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Erica Kirkwood opened Kirkwood Law Group Inc., where she drafted various estate planning documents for clients and represented them in complex real estate transactions; and
WHEREAS, Because of her legal skills and extensive experience in regulatory law, Erica Kirkwood was hired as the Deputy General Counsel at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS); and
WHEREAS, Erica Kirkwood solves legal issues involving contracts, business licensing, drafts, negotiates and maintains the final approval of data sharing agreements, vendor agreements, general contracts, Intergovernmental Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding. She manages adoption matters and the implementation of statutory changes to DCFS rules and procedures and resolves statewide legal issues involving the Illinois School Code, the Child Care Act of 1969 and DCFS rules and regulations; and
WHEREAS, The Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., one of the fastest growing bar associations in the state, was established in 1987 by black women lawyers practicing in the Chicago Metropolitan Area; and
WHEREAS, The Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. was founded to: identify and address issues unique to African-American women lawyers, judges and those in academia; improve the administration of justice by increasing the participation of African-American women and other minorities throughout the legal system; and advance civil and human rights; and
WHEREAS, During her upcoming tenure as President, Erica Kirkwood plans to focus on promoting diverse career opportunities, enhancing business skills for attorneys, creating a public directory of diverse women attorneys in various practice areas and professional development for government, law firm and corporate attorneys; and
WHEREAS, The expertise and professionalism of Erica Kirkwood serves as an example to all; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled here this twenty-fourth day of May, 2017, do hereby congratulate Erica Kirkwood on becoming President ofthe Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That May 31, 2017, shall officially be recognized as Erica Kirkwood Day throughout the City of Chicago.
MATTHEW O'SHEA Alderman, 19th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Erica Kirkwood as a token of our admiration and respect.