RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, GEORGE RUMSEY, was born and lived in Toccoa, Georgia;
WHEREAS, George was a graduate of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia;
WHEREAS, George moved to Chicago to attend the University of Chicago Graduate School where he received a Master of English Literature Degree;
WHEREAS, George felt that because of its diversity, variety of shops, proximity to the lake, the Promontory, and the opportunity to make an impact on the community, Hyde Park was the perfect place to plant his roots;
WHEREAS, George worked as an editor for the University of Chicago in past years, and also spent fifteen (15) years working in the Sociology Department at the University of Chicago;
WHEREAS, George joined the staff of Options for Youth in 2019 as President of Programs, a mentorship program for Little Village that focused on violence reduction and mentorship, and also worked with at-risk youth on the south and west sides of Chicago; this program was for students who attended Chicago Public High Schools on an on-going basis, beginning at their sophomore year;
WHEREAS, George began teaching Microsoft Excel and Word Perfect for additional income and that led to a career in desktop Publishing/Communications Consultant with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations, International Planned Parenthood, and other non-governmental organizations;
WHEREAS, George has trained over 50,000 individuals to be highly proficient PC users through hands-on instruction;
WHEREAS, some of George's long-term clients include Northwestern School of Law, the University of Chicago Law School, Loyola University-Chicago (where has trained 6,000 students in three months), and many other local non-profit groups;
WHEREAS, George was President ofthe Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference from 2001-2009 and 2014-2017;
WHEREAS, George was the founding member and former President ofthe Coalition for Equitable Community Development, a non-profit organization created to promote affordable housing in Hyde Park, Kenwood, and the surrounding communities;
WHEREAS, George was a member ofthe 53rd Street Advisory Committee in 2012, Vice Chairman in 2014-2017, and Chairman ofthe Board for the SSA 61 in 2018-2021;
WHEREAS, George was a Board Member of D.A.R.E. (Disabled Adults Residential Enterprise) in 2011, and Vice President from 2018 until the present;
WHEREAS, George was a member ofthe Southside Preservation Action Fund Board from 2007-2009;
WHEREAS, George was the Chairman ofthe Hyde Park Disabilities Taskforce from 2014-2019;
WHEREAS, George was a member ofthe Hyde Park Garden Fair Committee from 1999 to the present;
WHEREAS, George was a member ofthe Hyde Park Used Book Sale Committee from 2007 to the present;
WHEREAS, George became a member ofthe Hyde Park Farmers Market in 2016 and Promontory Point Conservancy Board Member in 2017;
WHEREAS, George has been the recipient of many awards including the 2017 Southeast Chicago Commission's "Community Stakeholders Award;"
WHEREAS, George stays active in the community and maintains his spare time at the garden in Nicholas Park;
WHEREAS, we appreciate his dedication to pursuing equal access to education, housing, social services, and quality of life for the south and west sides of Chicago
NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 20th day of July, 2022, do hereby honor the service of GEORGE RUMSEY, and extend our sincere congratulations for his service to the community, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented to GEORGE RUMSEY as a sign of our good wishes.
Alderman Leslie A. Hairston 5th Ward