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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel AME (Quinn Chapel) is the oldest 
3African American church in Chicago, and it sits upon
the 
4longest-held real estate owned by African Americans in the 
5City; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel is a member of the 4th Episcopal 
7District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
church and 
8stewards Quinn Chapel for its benefit; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel has consistently and continuously 
10served as an oasis and beacon of hope for
African Americans of 
11and around the Bronzeville community for over 175 years; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The building housing Quinn Chapel, located at 2401 
13South Wabash in Chicago, is listed
on the National Register of 
14Historic Places; it is designated as an Illinois and Chicago 
15Landmark and holds many other
historic designations; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel served as a platform for early 
17expression of African American culture; Frederick Douglas, 
18George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King, and many other 
19African American scholars
and orators spoke from its pulpit; 
20and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Suffragette Susan B. Anthony advocated from 
2Quinn's pulpit after being banned from speaking at the

3Columbian Exposition in 1893; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The federal government has recognized the 
5cultural and historic significance of Quinn Chapel by 
6exhibiting a pew from its sanctuary as Artifact #1 in the 
7Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, 
8D.C.; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel provides necessary services to the 
10surrounding community through youth mentoring,
societal 
11reentry, and homeless outreach programs and initiatives, among 
12others, as well as senior and
supportive housing through its 
13support of The Renaissance Collaborative and other housing 
14providers; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel is increasing its historic cultural 
16service to the wider community through, without
limitation, 
17free historical education and tours by its Historic 
18Preservation Ministry, community outreach through
its Peace in 
19the Streets Ministry, and by hosting cultural, educational, and 
20social events through its External
Hospitality Ministry; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Quinn Chapel is an integral and vital asset to the 
22surrounding community as it evolves into a racially
and 
 
 
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1economically diverse neighborhood and tourist hub; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Through congregational giving, along with 
3multiple foundation and a few municipal and federal
grants, 
4Quinn has made significant progress on a comprehensive physical 
5restoration that will further increase
its ability to 
6positively impact the surrounding community; therefore, be it
  
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
8HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
9recognize the historic and cultural significance of Quinn 
10Chapel AME; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That we applaud the significant and ongoing 
12effort made by Quinn Chapel in helping to preserve this

13tangible aspect of its heritage; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That we encourage the Department of Commerce and 
15Economic Opportunity's Office of Tourism
and the Metropolitan 
16Exposition Authority to consider including Quinn Chapel public 
17tours and event space in their
promotional materials for 
18McCormick Square and Bronzeville; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to Quinn Chapel as an expression of our esteem and

21respect.