CITY HALL - ROOM 300 121 N. LASALLE STREET
CHICAGO, IL 60602 PHONE: 312-744-6860 WARD48@CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG
HARRY OSTERMAN 48TH WARD
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE
January 18, 2023
TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL:
Your Committee on Housing and Real Estate, for which a virtual meeting was held on January 10, : 2023, was referred an Ordinance from the Department of Planning and Development for the call for the placement of a plaque honoring Marion Jean Kennedy Volini at 5708 N. Ridge Ave.
(02022-3984)
Having the same under advisement, begs leave to report and recommend that Your Honorable Body, Pass the proposed communication transmitted herewith.
The recommendation was Passed by the same roll call as was used to determine quorum in Committee.
Harry Osterman Chairman, Committee on Housing and Real Estate
Sincerely,
SUBSTITUTE ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, It is appropriate to remember those who have, through life's dedication and service, enriched and improved the City of Chicago by honoring them in a way where others may be touched by their example; and 1
WHEREAS, Marion Jean Kennedy Volini did lead by example and enriched the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, She was born, raised, and lived her life here in Chicago as she attended Saint Rita parish church and grammar school, Saint Casmir High School, and Mundelein j College, married Camillo F. Volini, and together raised five children in the Lakewood-Balmoral neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Marion represented Saint Ita Church on the Board of Directors of the Edgewater-Uptown Mental Health Center, where the board worked to obtain the much-needed resources to help the patients discharged from state psychiatric hospitals that were residinglin Edgewater, and maintained watchful oversight of the landlords housing those former patients; and
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WHEREAS, Marion encouraged communities to find their voice and advocate for themselves, which she did when she helped establish and served as president of the Lakewbod Balmoral Residents Council block club, and subsequently served as president ofthe Edgewater Community Council, which helped block clubs form throughout Edgewater to strengthen the; community's voice in self-determination and to improve the Community of Edgewater; and •
WHEREAS, Marion served as Alderman ofthe 48th Ward from 1978 until 1987, where she continued advocating for communities to use their voices, in part by creating the 48th Ward Zoning and Land Use Committee to ensure the community's voice in decisions affecting j development, and also worked to bring City programs to the Ward and was instrumental in | obtaining designation for Edgewater as Chicago's 77th Community area, saving the Broadway Armory for public use, and preserving the Berger Park Mansions; and
WHEREAS, When asked what her lasting impact has been, she responded with: "If I have one legacy it is the empowerment of the people here. We encouraged everyone to raise their voices, be heard, make a difference, and become the leaders of the community. So, that is what I see is what we began and what I think is my lasting legacy"; and
WHEREAS, After leaving office, she continued to advocate on behalf of her community as while in private real estate practice, she often made it her main mission to encourage businesses to come to Edgewater's Andersonville, Bryn Mawr, and Broadway business districts, and she closely worked with her 48th Ward Aldermanic successors Kathy Osterman, Mary Ann Smith, and Harry Osterman to continue the improvement of Edgewater for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, Such a life lived that has exemplified support of the democratic process; lifting up the individual voices to be strengthened in unity, and tireless devotion to her J community in Chicago, it is appropriate for her to be honored; now, therefore, i
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is authorized to work with supporters of people who wish to honor Marion Jean Kennedy Volini to place a plaque honoring her in Edgewater at a City lot located at 5708 North Ridge Avenue. The City shall' commemorate the space by naming it "Marion Jean Kennedy Volini Plaza".
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon passage and publication.
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HARRY OSTERMAN Alderman, 48th Ward