Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2021-224

• Record #: R2021-224
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• Intro date: 2/24/2021
• Final action: 2/24/2021
• Title: Tribute to late Karen Lewis, president of Chicago Teacher's Union
• Sponsors: Lightfoot, Lori E. , Sadlowski Garza, Susan, Ramirez-Rosa, Carlos, Dowell, Pat, King, Sophia D., Hairston, Leslie A., Thompson, Patrick D., Cardenas, George A., Quinn, Marty, Burke, Edward M., Coleman, Stephanie D. , Moore, David H., O'Shea, Matthew J., Brookins, Jr., Howard, Rodriguez, Michael D., Scott, Jr. Michael, Sigcho-Lopez, Byron, Maldonado, Roberto, Ervin, Jason C., Taliaferro, Chris, Reboyras, Ariel, Waguespack, Scott, Austin, Carrie M., Villegas, Gilbert, Mitts, Emma, Nugent, Samantha , Reilly, Brendan, Smith, Michele, Tunney, Thomas, Martin, Matthew J. , Osterman, Harry, Hadden, Maria E. , Silverstein, Debra L., Harris, Michelle A.

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
2/24/2021	27503	City Council	Adopted	Pass
2/23/2021		City Council	Rules Suspended - Immediate Consideration

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR


February 24, 2021










TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO


Ladies and Gentlemen:

I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Sadlowski Garza, Ramirez Rosa, Dowell, King, Hairston, Harris, Thompson, Cardenas, Quinn, Burke, Coleman, Moore, O'Shea, Brookins, Rodriguez, Scott, Sigcho Lopez, Maldonado, Ervin,. Taliaferro, Reboyras, Waguespack, Austin, Villegas, Mitts, Nugent, Reilly, Smith, Tunney, Martin, Osterman, Hadden, and Silverstein, a resolution honoring the life and memory of former Chicago Teacher' Union President Karen Lewis.

Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.


RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to lcam of the death on February 8, 2021, at age 67, of Karen Lewis, the former president of the Chicago Teachers Union and a respected citizen of the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Born on July 20, 1953, Ms. Lewis was raised in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. Her parents, Geoffrey Jennings and Martha Gakins, were both Chicago Public School ("CPS") teachers. Ms. Lewis attended Kenwood High School, where her father taught wood shop, and Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts before transferring to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. The only Black woman admitted to its Class of 1974, Ms. Lewis graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Music; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from college, Ms. Lewis moved to Oklahoma and later to Barbados. In 1984, she returned to Chicago to attend medical school at the University of Illinois, initially hoping to become a doctor. While there, Ms. Lewis realized that she was most interested in chemistry. In 1987, Ms. Lewis began her 22-year teaching career with CPS as a substitute chemistry teacher at Sullivan High School, where, in her words, she fell "madly, passionately in love" with teaching. Jn 1990, Ms. Lewis began teaching full time at Lane...