HR0934 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0934 LRB099 18217 MST 42586 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Vanessa Ann Rich of Chicago, who passed away on December 27, 2015 at the age of 64; and

WHEREAS, Vanessa Rich served as the City of Chicago Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Family and Support Services; and

WHEREAS, Vanessa Rich had a long and dedicated career with the National Head Start Association (NHSA); she joined Head Start in 1965 as a youth volunteer in the first summer program offered in Rock Island District 41; she taught in the Rock Island Head Start program; in 1972, she became the teacher and director for Galesburg's Head Start Operation for Pre-School Education (HOPE), a one-classroom, 30-student program; in 1974, she joined Head Start Directors from around the country at the first National Head Start directors meeting in Chicago, where she became a member of several organizational committees, including Conference and By-laws; she later became President of the Illinois Directors Association and represented Illinois on the Directors Board; in the early 1980s, she moved to Chicago after her one-room program had developed into a multi-county program, serving over 200 families; and

WHEREAS, While in Chicago, Vanessa Rich joined the Training and Technical Assistance provider for Region V CSR, Incorporated; she served as Lead Consultant and Director for 4 years; in the late 1980s, she took a position with City Colleges of Chicago as Dean of Adult Learning and continued to serve Head Start at State, regional, and national levels; she continued to work and serve on numerous Association committees and boards; she served as President of Center Circle, Inc. and provided training, technical assistance, and support to programs in all 50 states and territories; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her career, Vanessa Rich worked in many positions with many organizations and received numerous accolades, including 1979 International Year of the Child - Carter Administration; Department of Health Education and Welfare Policy Caucus (1977) Jim Robinson; NHSA Head Start Performance Standard Committee (1995); International Association of Business Communicators Golden Quill Award for Multilingual Communication - Head Start Increasing Latino Enrollment (2005 & 2006); Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Community Involvement Award (2011); served as a Head Start reviewer; Chicago Association for Education of Young Children - Head Start representative; Illinois Association for Education of Young Children - Head Start representative; Chicago Coalition of Site Administered Child Care Program for outstanding commitment to improving the quality of child care in Chicago; Children's Defense Fund Advisory Board; National Head Start Academy Instructor; Director Illinois Downstate Coordinated Campaign for Clinton/Braun; County Liaison for Obama for Senate Committee; Legislative Committee NHSA Parent Affiliate Organizing Committee (1974); Region V Outstanding Head Start Director; City College Woman of the Year; Illinois Head Start Association Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award; Illinois Head Start Association Silver Anniversary Service Award; board member for Illinois Head Start Association, Friends Association, and Directors Association; board member Region V Association; past President Illinois Director Association; keynote National Parent Association; Early Learning Council (Governor Appointee); Illinois Child Care Advisory Council (Governor Appointee); Day Care Action Council - Head Start representative; Illinois Health System Agency - Head Start representative; provided testimony for Illinois General Assembly; provided testimony for Knox County Board of Supervisors; member of the President Clinton Crime Commission Summit; NHSA Strategic Planning Committee; NHSA Monitoring Task Force; NHSA Champions of Change; Illinois Race to the Top Ad Hoc Planning Committee; NHSA Government Affairs Committee; NHSA Performance Standards Committee; convened and sponsored the Head Start Policy Project; and

WHEREAS, Vanessa Rich was the beloved mother of Seth Justin Rich (Veronica) and Vyctoria Jamie Kranz (Gregory); the loving sister of Richard Hudson (Aloyce), Ronald Hudson (Ree), and Crystal Hudson-Jones (Keith); the proud grandmother of Alecia, Brittney, Maritza, James, Zachary, Seth Xavier, Isaiah, and one great-grandchild, Edwin; the aunt to many nieces and nephews; and friend to all; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Vanessa Ann Rich, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Vanessa Rich as an expression of our deepest sympathy.