MEMORIAL RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF LULA NAVARRO
WHEREAS, Lula Navarro, mother, wife, community activist, and beloved resident of Little Village, passed away in 2004; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been called on to celebrate Lula's memory by the Honorable Michael D. Rodriguez, Alderman of the 22nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Lula Navarro was born in San Luis Potosi in Mexico before she came to the United States at the age of fourteen to work in a garment factory; while on the job, she lost her finger in a workplace accident and her position was terminated, but she persisted and took a position as a housekeeper; and
WHEREAS, During the 1960s while Lula lived in South Chicago, she began her involvement as an activist, where she was regularly the only Mexican woman at community demonstrations; and
WHEREAS, When Lula and her husband moved their family to Pilsen, she immediately became involved in various campaigns, including fighting for the hiring of Latinos within the Greyhound Bus Co., the Farm Workers movement, and neighborhood school campaigns; and
WHEREAS, Lula was involved in countless community campaigns, but is most remembered for her leadership in the fight to build Benito Juarez High school; and
WHEREAS, Lula also worked for Chicago Public Schools for many years, where she built a strong rapport with many parents and students, and she established programs throughout the City to increase access to bilingual tutoring and expose students to different career opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Lula was a pillar in the Little Village neighborhood since her family moved there in 1974, and her lifelong work in the community is still felt to this day; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twentieth day of July, 2022, would like to recognize and celebrate the life of Lula Navarro; and
MICHAEL D. RODRIGUEZ Alderman, 22nd Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Lula Navarro as a sign of our honor and respect.