RESOLUTION HONORING MARlA CERDA
WHEREAS, Maria Cerda was a true Chicagoan, pioneer and trailblazer for the Latino community across the country, but especially in Chicago; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Cerda served as the first Latina on the Chicago Board of Education, advocate for bilingual education and co-founded the Latino Institute; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Cerda's public career in Chicago began in 1969 when she became the first Latina member of the Chicago school board; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Cerda's impact would stretch for many decades, extending all the way to the White House after President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the National Center on Educational Research; and,
WHEREAS, While Ms. Cerda was bom in Puerto Rico, she will forever be a daughter of Chicago and her impact will be felt worldwide through her work on Sesame Street. Touching millions of children across the United States and the World; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Cerda's greatest impact can be seen today on the bilingual education system in Chicago. Today many ofthe best students in the Chicago Public School system are educated in a bilingual system that began with the advocacy of Ms. Cerda; and,
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago and its residents will forever be grateful for the work done by Ms. Cerda; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Cerda gave so much to the City of Chicago, yet she managed to find time for her family: her husband, David Cera; her sisters, Carmen Bongiovanni, Hilda Irizarry; her children, Marta, Arthur and David Cerda; and her three grandchildren; and,
WHEREAS, Chicago will never forget the impact of Maria Cerda, a hero, role model and aspiration for so many Puerto Ricans, Chicagoans, Spanish speakers and education advocates alike; and,
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago and its residents owe a debt of gratitude to Ms. Cerda and would like to thank her and her entire family; therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this 23rd day of November 2020,...
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