OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL MAYOR
July 25, 2018
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Curtis, Reboyras and Sawyer, congratulatory resolution regarding the Black Fire Brigade.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber are pleased to be informed of the recent establishment of the Black Fire Brigade, an important new organization in the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade seeks to stimulate community interest in African-American Fire and EMS service history, as well as educate individuals about fire prevention and fire safety; and
WHEREAS, The group held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the formal opening of its clubhouse last month at 8404 South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood as a place for mentoring, support, training, historical remembrance and community for Chicago's firefighters, EMS personnel, and the next generation of leaders; and
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade contributes to the community by working to improve employment standards, introducing fire service initiatives, creating opportunities for community collaboration and celebrating art and culture; and
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade represents community concerns about Fire Rescue and EMS Rescue Services and supports them by adding a voice to public discussions, spreading awareness, and promoting fundraisers; and
WHEREAS, The organization engages in conversations that stimulate interest in new technologies, strategies, tactics and general operating procedures td benefit and improve Fire and EMS Rescue Services; and
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade also honors fallen colleagues and helps these individuals' families, serving as active role models for those children and honoring Chicago's thirteen African-American firefighters who have died in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, Quention Curtis launched the Black Fire Brigade after witnessing a decades-long struggle by African-American firefighters and EMS personnel through court cases, hoping to instead drive progress and develop camaraderie through the organization; and
WHEREAS, The opening of the clubhouse, the result of efforts by firefighters and EMS personnel from all over, was an emotional and poignant event, particularly in light of the historical barriers faced by African-American firefighters and EMS workers; and
WHEREAS, In May, the Brigade brought together African-American female firefighters, including the City's first such firefighter. Many of the women did not previously know each other or know Mattie Rawski, the inspiring first African-American, female firefighter in Chicago, but during the event, the women formed a network of support and fellowship; and
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade commits to be active community participants and pledges to protect the fire services that exist today while honoring the history and heritage of African-American firefighters; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered together this twenty-fifth day of July, 2018, do hereby welcome and thank the Black Fire Brigade for their interest and commitment in bettering the City of Chicago, and we look forward to seeing their good work throughout Chicago's communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the Black Fire Brigade as a token of our esteem and respect.
adopted by Tlie Glty GoUHCll
<ft» Gity of Ghicago, Illinois
P
Aldermen Derrick G. Curtis, Ariel Reboyras, Roderick T. Sawyer and
resented by Mayor Rahm Emanuel Qft July 25, 2018
^QlieTeClS , The Members of this Chamber are pleased to be informed of the recent establishment of the Black Fire Brigade, an important new organization in the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade seeks to stimulate community interest in
African-American Fire and EMS service history, as well as edgcdte 1 ndivid'(jal|;aboi^t :fire ;
prevention and fire safety; and '-. ■,;-
^HEREAS/The groyp held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the formal opening
of. its .elu'bhbuse' la'sr -month :dt/84p4v South Kedzie "Avenue!'in GhicagoV^sh'b.urn
: •neighborhood as .a pjgqe/for mentoring, support, training, historical remerfi^ dng ^;r-
'commm personnel, and thV-n§xt;|j^ -;.''."''
and' .'.;>;' " "V'-'V '['''■ vl-' . : ."'t;-;^""-'^
:-.1 ... WHER^VS, "The Black Fire Brigade contributes
'imprdvj^ fire 1 ^ejyiefet;'" ih't i^f ive^'^-'preqtjng^- • >;
.opportyhities for community collaboration, and celebrating art gni c'dJfSre £ '' ';'
W|IerIas, ;The Bldpk Fire Brigade represents/-e.or^m^ Fire
Rescue'^^ and supports them 'By'-'7<^^i^F<^!f§p§^'p public
■discussion^ and~ ^:f!*'" -.- .. '\
WHEREAS, The organization engages in conversations that'-^timu(gfe^1nter§sf in"
new technologies, strategies! tactics and general operating procedures to benefit and .-
improve Fire and EMS Rescue Services; and ' "•'
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade also honors fallen colleagues and helps these individuals' families, serving as active role models for those children and honoring Chicago's thirteen African-American firefighters who have died in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, Quention Curtis launched the Black Fire Brigade after witnessing a decades-long struggle by African-American firefighters and EMS personnel through court cases, hoping to instead drive progress and develop camaraderie through the organization; and
WHEREAS, The opening of the clubhouse, the result of efforts by firefighters and EMS personnel from all over, was an emotional and poignant event, particularly in light of the historical barriers faced by African-American firefighters and EMS workers; and
WHEREAS, In May, the Brigade brought together African-American female firefighters, including the City's first such firefighter. Many of the women did not previously know each other or know Mattie Rawski, the inspiring first African-American, female firefighter in Chicago, but during the event, the women formed a network of support and fellowship; and
WHEREAS, The Black Fire Brigade commits to be active, community participants ■ and pledges to protect the fire services that exist today while honoring the history and heritage of African-American firefighters; now,•therefore .'•
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the. Mayor and members off he-City Council of the City •
of Chicago, gathered together this twenty-fifth day of July, 2018, do hereby welcome ,
ana" thqrik the 'Black Fire Brigdde fOntheir interest and comrhifh^i§;nt-.ih;■■bfe.tfering:the/^ity.-,!;'
o.f;':GhicqgO, :gnd we/Jjook .^Qr^qr^-to^seeing' <the;ir-; gopd -^.prjc: -throughout plaiec^p:^s>.';V
cqmmuKfties; arid . ^'"'^f;; . ''^■'•?1:^k ' •/;V^>/r;'. ''■''. ■'■;,';''.•'".; ' '*'-.
. <if.'*. "'• ;. ■■ .'v • '•' '-j-. /r^.y-sS'-'•'V.'''■■"■^'V-■ '■y1---:■; • ''•.:-'r'-:':i'-.
, BE fT FURTHER RESQLyED)''j[lf)di a suj.tabje cOpy of jhis res^
presented To the Black Fire Brigade;ds qtote '■<, ;k:;.' ''••'•