SR0151LRB103 31616 ECR 59976 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Ruben Olivares of Chicago, who passed 
4away on January 23, 2023; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Ruben Olivares was born on January 24, 1986; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Ruben Olivares was  a skilled community organizer 
7who worked at the Northwest Center, the Belmont Cragin-based 
8community organization; he started as a volunteer, 
9distributing masks and sanitizer to residents in early 2020; 
10he was then hired as a contract worker to assist the City of 
11Chicago's vaccine distribution program, Protect Chicago; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Ruben Olivares later became the program manager 
13of Health Equity for the Northwest Center, where he was part of 
14a team responsible for implementing community outreach around 
15COVID-19 vaccinations, food access, and public safety; he  was 
16a natural fit for the job due to his continued willingness to 
17lend a hand to colleagues and residents in need and to mentor 
18younger staffers; through his diligent efforts, he boosted 
19attendance at one vaccination clinic by more than 200 people; 
20and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Ruben Olivares further organized Belmont Cragin 
 
 
SR0151- 2 -LRB103 31616 ECR 59976 r

1residents around public safety, advocating for those who were 
2worried about crime; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Ruben Olivares also helped run La Canasta Bakery, 
4one of his mother's bakeries, where he worked for years before 
5taking over the establishment; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Ruben Olivares was known for his genuine, 
7thoughtful, affable, and sincere nature, and he was deeply 
8admired by his community; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Ruben Olivares will be remembered as a selfless 
10and dedicated son, husband, and father; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
13Ruben Olivares and extend our sincere condolences to his 
14family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
15further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

17presented to the family of Ruben Olivares as an expression of

18our deepest sympathy.