, The Free & Sovereign State of Jalisco, Mexico, includes the great city of Guadalajara, and is home to more than 7.5 million people (5 million people in the metropolitan area); and
WHEREAS, Jalisco has made rich cultural contributions not only to the country of Mexico, but also to the rest of the world and, specifically, the City of Chicago, and the communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, A great number of Jaliscienses have traveled to the United States in pursuit of the American dream of life, liberty and happiness, and an estimated 200,000 call Illinois their home; and
WHEREAS, Fedejal, the Federacion Jalisciense del Medio Oeste, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the well-being and advancement of the Jalisciences in the Midwest and Mexico through educational, cultural, civic and social projects; and
WHEREAS, Each year to recognize the traditions, history and culture of Jalisco, Fedejal sponsors "Semana Jalisco," "7N7" or Jalisco Week "7 Cities in 7 Days", in the Midwest; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Chicago City Council are committed to promoting, recognizing and celebrating various cultures and traditions that are part of Chicagoans' rich heritage; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Chicago City Council, the Office of the City Clerk, and the people of the City of Chicago recognize the contributions of the people of Jalisco and, with great gratitude, the work of Fedejal, and present to them this formal expression of that admiration and support; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, we, the Mayor of the City of Chicago and the members of the Chicago City Council, gathered this fourteenth day of September, 2016, do hereby proclaim September 1, 2016 as honorary "Dia de Jalisco" in Chicago.
MAYOR
CITY CLERK