MEMORIAL RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF MATTIE BUTLER
WHEREAS, Mattie Carey Butler, beloved community advocate, passed away on November 3, 2022; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of Mattie's passing by the Honorable Jeanette B. Taylor, Alderwoman ofthe 20th Ward; and
WHEREAS, The youngest of five children, Mattie was born to Arvelia and JT Butler in Sunflower, Mississippi, on April 25,1943; and
WHEREAS, Mattie was an impressive musical talent, touring the United States for 40 years performing with her brothers Jerry and William and recording with music legends including collaborations with Curtis Mayfield, Mavis Staples, and Aretha Franklin; and
WHEREAS, Not believing in mastering only a single talent, Mattie was also a master modiste who created stage costumes for fellow entertainers; and
WHEREAS, Motivated by the power of a united community that she experienced while living in Cabrini Green as a child, in 1964, a 19-year-old Mattie embarked upon a career in public service, beginning her calling as an employment counselor at the YMCA; and
WHEREAS, After resettling in the Woodlawn community, Mattie co-founded the nonprofit Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors (WeCan) in 1980 with Eddie Mae Johnson, following an arson fire that claimed the lives of 13 children; and
WHEREAS, Under 40 years of Mattie's leadership, WeCan went on to become a food pantry, employment training facility, youth service agency, and an affordable housing development agency, including developing affordable housing and pathways to homeownership through her "Step-Up" housing program, preserving 5,420 units of housing from being demolished, and directly providing 108 units of affordable housing to Woodlawn residents; and
WHEREAS, In her 55 years of public service, Mattie Butler was a warrior for affordable housing, community economic development, and the empowerment of Chicago's African-American community; A fierce and relentless advocate throughout her life, ...
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