RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Barbara Bolsen announced her retirement from The Night Ministry on September 30, 2020 following twenty-three years of distinguished service to the organization and the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this occasion by Alderman Thomas Tunney of the 44th Ward, Aldennan Scott Waguespack of the 32nd Ward, and Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Barbara was born in Cincinnati, Ohio the oldest of three children to parents who were both educators. To the surprise of no one, Barb skipped 5th grade. In high school, Barb was part of the swim club and played field hockey; and
WHEREAS, Bolsen moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism where she received a Bachelor Degree in Journalism; and
WHEREAS, As a journalist, Barb worked for publications in Maine, Washington, DC, and Chicago, and served as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. In Chicago, Bolsen worked for the Lerner Newspapers and spent twenty-three years working as a copy editor, reporter, managing editor, and - ultimately - the Editor of the American Medical Association's American Medical News; and
WHEREAS, After more than two decades in the world of journalism, Barb became more interested in social justice issues and decided it was time to do work that would engage her heart; and
WHEREAS, Bolsen attended Chicago Theological Seminary, where she received her Master of Divinity and was ordained as a United Church of Christ minister in 2000. During her time at Chicago Theological Seminary, Barb completed an internship with the AIDS Pastoral Care Network, working alongside a Chaplain who facilitated a weekly support group with women in the AIDS unit at Cook County Hospital; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Barbara found work that was in sync with her values when she started working for The Night Ministry. She was hired to work part-time in The Night Ministry's original Open Door Shel...
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