HR0167 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0167 LRB095 11474 KXB 32490 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor Lillian Perry for her hard work and dedication to the people of Aurora; and

WHEREAS, In the 1950s Lillian Perry made her way north from Dawson, Georgia; she settled in Aurora, where she worked and raised her daughter Darlene Perry; after moving, Lillian began a life-long commitment to service and advocacy on behalf of justice, equality, dignity, integration, and civil rights, she is a product of the Civil Rights Movement; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, her commitment to government and community service led her to the position of special assistant to Aurora's late Honorable Mayor Hill; during her tenure as special assistant, she encouraged Mayor Hill to start a Human Service Department; Lillian Perry was actively involved in efforts that led to the creation of the Kane County Health Department; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, funds became available for neighborhood street improvement; the program was called the Community Development Block Fund, which was very important to Lillian's community because residents' homes had been flooding with water and these funds helped eliminate problems related to flooding; the project called for the homeowners to invest some of their own money into the project; Ms. Perry armed herself with a pen and application forms and went door to door in the neighborhood in an effort to make the program a reality; it succeeded because of her efforts and hard work; and

WHEREAS, Lillian has committed her time, energy, and experience to create a better community for all the citizens of Aurora, especially minority and senior citizens, through ongoing political and social activities; countless Aurora citizens have been aided by projects and programs which were created and supported by Lillian's boundless spirit, such as the Citizens for Neighborhood Improvement, Blacks in Politics, Aurora Youth Job Program, and the East Side Special Service Area; and

WHEREAS, Lillian retired from Sealmaster Bearing after working there for 30 years; in her constant quest for knowledge, she attended classes at Waubonsee Community College and later attended Roosevelt University; and

WHEREAS, Lillian can be found on a daily basis addressing issues that affect the African-American community, engaging local, county, and State officials in conversation and action; this drive and commitment led to her position at State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia's office as a Senior Citizen and African American liaison; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Perry has been giving back to the community for 48 years; because of this commitment she has been the recipient of a number of awards, including: a Certificate of Special Recognition from the City of Aurora, a Community Service Award from Gayles Memorial Baptist Church, a Certificate of Achievement from Roosevelt University's Labor Education Program, recognition from Women of Distinction from the YWCA, and an award from the Friends of Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center for Distinguished Black Community Leadership; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Perry has lived a life of achievement and has worked to make Aurora a better place to live; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Lillian Perry for her dedication and giving to the people of Aurora; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Lillian Perry as a symbol of our respect.