HR0521 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0521 LRB101 14365 ALS 63251 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Patricia Avery on the occasion of her retirement as the Executive Director of the Champaign-Urbana Area Project; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, Patricia Avery was the first African American woman appointed or elected to a county office when she was elected as the Recorder of Deeds; in 1998, she was elected to the Champaign County Board; in 2000, she was the first Democrat, the first African American, and the first woman to serve as the Chair of the Champaign County Board; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, Patricia Avery founded the CUperStar Performing Arts and Enrichment Program, where over 100 young artists showcased their talents at various venues across Champaign-Urbana; and

WHEREAS, Patricia Avery has served on many boards, including the YWCA, the Rape Crisis Center, Women in Transition, the Black Chamber of Commerce, the Tri-County Economic Development Corp, and the City of Champaign Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals; she served as Champaign's representative on the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission; she was a member of the Unit 4 School District Community Engagement Committee, CU Fresh Start, the Champaign Community Coalition, and the City of Urbana Traffic Stop Study Committee; she was an Everytown for Gun Sense Fellow in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Patricia Avery was President of the Champaign County NAACP from 2011 until 2017; and

WHEREAS, Patricia Avery was appointed to the African American Families Commission by Governor Pat Quinn from 2014 until 2017; she served as Vice President of the Illinois Council of Area Projects; and

WHEREAS, Patricia Avery has received many awards and honors, including the Phenomenal Woman of Worth Award from the International African Women in Leadership Organization, Diaspora Conference, that took place in Atlanta, Georgia in 2017; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Patricia Avery on the occasion of her retirement as the Executive Director of the Champaign-Urbana Area Project and commend her life's work of public service, community organizing, and advocacy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Patricia Avery as an expression of our esteem and respect.