SR0751 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0751 LRB101 15064 MST 64159 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jennifer Artis; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Artis was born to Richmond Artis and Bernice Overstreet in Savannah, Georgia on May 14, 1946; she received baptism in the Catholic church and was an honorary member of Victory Christian International Ministries; her family moved to Chicago when she was two years old, and she graduated from Marshall High School; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Artis was the Director of Community Services/Public Affairs for Franciscan St. James Hospital for 20 years; she was a medical assistant at Michael Reese; in addition, she ran a free clinic at St. Basil in Chicago; she served on the advisory board for the South Suburban Cook County Bureau of Health Services and participated in the Cook County I/We Plan Community Assessment; she was a commissioner of the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues and a board member of the Southland Ministerial Health Network; she was on the advisory board of Catholic Charities; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Artis was instrumental in creating the Crossroads Coalition in 1977, a coalition of over 90 participants representing community, faith-based, and civic organizations, where she served as president; she founded the Southland Health Care Forum, a healthcare workforce training organization, and was the organization's chief executive officer; she helped establish the first free all volunteer health clinic in Englewood in 1982 and helped in the creation of federally qualified clinics, including LeClaire Courts Housing Development in Marquette Park in 1988 and the Family Health Society in 1996, a clinic developed for St. James and area Rotarians to address the issues of the working poor; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Artis founded the Senior Provider Network in 2006 to address a host of senior issues and provide a forum for collaboration and resource referrals; she was involved with the Southland Chamber of Commerce and served on advisory boards for Prairie State College and Governors State University; she served on the board of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Artis was elected trustee for the Village of Richton Park in 2008; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Jennifer Artis created the Southland Community Care Partners (SCCP) and served as its president; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Artis received the Michael R. Monteleone Community Service Award in 2012 from Prairie State College; and

WHEREAS, Jennifer Artis is survived by her daughter, Joi Artis; her son, Joe Artis; her grandchildren, Jai Semaj Williams and Jia Milan Williams; her sister, Romona Artis; her brothers, Antonio Artis, Gregory Artis, Tommie Artis, and Ronald Artis; and numerous friends, families, colleagues, and mentees; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jennifer Artis 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 Jennifer Artis as an expression of our deepest sympathy.