RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT PARTICIPANTS IN THE 2021 NEXT GEN CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, On March 16,2021, students of Harlan, Lake View, Benito Juarez, Michele Clark, Amundsen, and George Washington High Schools participated in the Office ofthe City Clerk and Chicago Public School's "Next Gen City Council", which encourages students to be civically engaged and provides Chicago Public Schools students an opportunity to participate in a mock City Council process where each of the students takes on the role of a member of City Council as they draft, debate, and vote on policies; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the day, the student participants worked on separate ordinance drafts with the help of elected officials and other civic leaders, to be presented to and voted on by the full group during the Next Gen City Council meeting at the end of the day; and
WHEREAS, Students of Harlan and Lake View High Schools presented a mock ordinance which was voted on and passed by their peers during the Next Gen City Council simulation, that provided housing support to Chicagoans due to the harmful effects on communities caused by COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Residents in communities across the nation have suffered the loss of jobs and reduced wages due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial hardships have undoubtedly been exacerbated for the working class; and
WHEREAS, To no fault of their own, hundreds of thousands of families suddenly found themselves out of work, and unable to provide basic needs such as food and housing, for themselves or their families; and
WHEREAS, Residents across the State of Illinois and the city of Chicago are at risk of homelessness; and
WHEREAS, Via EO2020-72, State of Illinois and City of Chicago officials implemented an eviction ban to ensure that families effected by COVID-19 financial hardships would not end up on the street; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago has allocated millions of dollars to provide Chicagoans who are at risk of becoming homeless, support for rent payments via the Rental Assistance Program, administered by the Department of Family and Support Service. These services are well needed for renters and will also provide well-needed
assistance to "mom and pop" landlords who depend on income they receive from rent to survive; and
WHEREAS, The students strongly believe aforementioned steps taken by government leaders will have an everlasting positive impact on Chicago communities for years to come; and
WHEREAS, The students of Lake View and Harlan High Schools, thank Mayor Lori Lightfoot and members of the City Council for protecting residents by implementing various programs that support renters and landlords alike; and
WHEREAS, All of the student participants worked diligently on their ordinances, and while the Harlan and Lake View High School students' ordinance was ultimately passed, the Office of the City Clerk is proud to be able to support civic engagement among all of Chicago's youth and foster civically minded students through the facilitation of the Civic Engagement Program; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-sixth day of May, 2021, do hereby acknowledge and congratulate the students of Harlan, Lake View, Benito Juarez, Michele Clark, Amundsen, and George Washington High Schools for their commitment and efforts to solving issues affecting the City of Chicago and its residents, as they are the future leaders of the City; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the students of Harlan, Lake View, Benito Juarez, Michele Clark, Amundsen, and George Washington High Schools who participated in the 2021 Next Gen City Council as a token of our respect for and appreciation of their commitment to civic engagement and dedication to fixing issues affecting the City of Chicago and its
ANDREA M. VALENCIA City Clerk
residents.