RESOLUTION HONORING OAK STREET HEALTH
WHEREAS, Oak Street Health has been part of the City of Chicago since 2013 when it opened its first center in the Edgewater community area and has since established nine more centers throughout Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Oak Street Health has worked to reduce health inequalities by opening centers in under-served communities, including Oak Street Health- Hermosa, which also serves Belmont Cragin; and
WHEREAS, During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Belmont Cragin had among the highest rate of COVID-19 cases in any neighborhood in the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Oak Street Health staff and volunteers were able to organize a mass-vaccination site at Steinmetz College Prep, in the Belmont Cragin community; and
WHEREAS, During the same pandemic, staff and volunteers selflessly, and without hesitation, volunteered their weekends to administer hundreds of vaccines each day, aiding the City of Chicago immunize communities most affected by COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Over 10,000 residents have received the first dose ofthe vaccine, far surpassing the initial goal of 8,000 first doses administered; and
WHEREAS, Jonathan Uhl distinguished himself at every step of the way by coordinating staff and volunteers, logistics, and site management; and
WHEREAS, By these actions have shown their compassion and commitment to the communities they serve; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council of Chicago, assembled on this twenty-fourth day of March, 2021 do hereby honor Oak Street Health, its staff, volunteers, and Jonathan Uhl for their help and service to mitigate the spread of COVID-19; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Metropolitan Family Services as a token of our respect and of our best wishes for continued success.
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward