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, do hereby celebrate and thank Ms. Cerda for her unparalleled contribution to Chicago; and,
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ms. Cerda.