SR2177 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Phillip Jackson of Chicago, who passed away on November 4, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Phillip Jackson was born into and resided in public housing in Chicago; he attended 11 Chicago public schools and graduated from Roosevelt University with honors and a degree in philosophy; he studied education at the National College of Education; and

WHEREAS, During his career, Phillip Jackson served as Vice President and Director of Operations for one of Chicago's oldest and largest chain of booksellers, President of EF/MS, a family-run business, Assistant Budget Director for the City of Chicago, Chief of Staff for the Chicago Public Schools, Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority, Chief for Education for the City of Chicago, and CEO for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago; at the time of his death, he was the founder and chairperson of The Black Star Project, which was designed to help children and students realize their educational and life potential; and

WHEREAS, The Black Star's signature initiatives include the national annual Million Father March that organized approximately one million fathers in more than 600 cities to take their children to school on the first school day, Saturday University, a system of free community-based learning centers designed to remediate and augment the reading, writing, and math skills of students in grades kindergarten through high school, and most recently, "All Things Economic," financial literacy programs; and

WHEREAS, Phillip Jackson received national attention for his work to eliminate the racial academic achievement gap; he was honored as an Education Champion of Change for America by The White House, a Champion of Social Justice by the Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy, the Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Monarch Man of the Year in Education by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, a Reclaim Our Youth Honoree by Operation Push, the Education Man of the Year for the Bud Billiken Parade, the Illinois Educator of the Year for the 7th Congressional District of Illinois, and the Ricky Birdsong Father of the Year Award for the State of Illinois by the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative; he was also named as one of the Chicago Defender's "50 Men of Excellence" and received the Cook County State's Attorney's Community Empowerment Award; and

WHEREAS, Phillip Jackson dedicated his life to educating poor urban children in the United States, providing opportunities, and improving the quality of life for others; his life was a true testament to what is possible with hard work, perseverance, and dedication to a cause; he was an exemplary model of leadership for countless numbers of people and a true servant of the people; and

WHEREAS, Phillip Jackson is survived by his four sisters; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Philip Jackson and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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