HR0395 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0395 LRB104 13919 LAW 26808 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Tuyet Anh Mong Le of Chicago, who passed away on February 8, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Tuyet Le, the daughter of Ke Van Le and Lien Thi Mong Nguyen, was born in Saigon, Vietnam on January 21, 1972; she and her family fled Saigon when the city was captured by North Vietnam in 1975, beginning their journey as refugees, which led them to Milwaukee, Wisconsin; she attended Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin; she majored in fine arts at Northwestern University in Evanston, where she became a young civil rights leader who started organizing classes on Asian American history and began pushing the university for a formal Asian American Studies program; and

WHEREAS, Tuyet Le, a short decade later, was the new executive director of the Asian American Institute, which she turned into the powerhouse known today as Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago (Advancing Justice - Chicago), the region's premier Asian American civil rights organization; she became a force for Asian American advancement, immigrant justice, racial equity, and disability rights; she graded politicians on Asian American inclusion, once failing the Governor and the Cook County Board President to prod them into action; when Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley attempted to remove Asian American contractors from affirmative action for construction projects, she galvanized the community to fight back, winning years later; she inspired a thousand people to brave an epic election-season snowstorm to demonstrate Asian American voting power, helped to organize the first-ever Asian American Caucus of state legislators, and fought to redraw legislative districts to give Asian Americans a voice in democracy; she also became known for her keynote speeches at the Advancing Justice - Chicago annual gala, which evolved into Chicago's "State of the Asian American Community" address over her 18-year tenure; and

WHEREAS, Tuyet Le was well-regarded by the Asian American, immigrant rights, disability rights, and civil rights communities as a gentle, generous, and mighty leader whose kindness was matched only by her integrity; as a wise coach and sage counselor, she was noted for accomplishing things her own way, through kindness and determination, which was vastly different from the hardscrabble world of Chicago politics; and

WHEREAS, Tuyet Le was a strong supporter of several other organizations, including Access Living, the Vietnamese Association of Illinois, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Rockwood Leadership Institute, and Chicago's PBS station, WTTW; and

WHEREAS, Tuyet Le was known to family and friends as an artist, a printmaker, a knitter, a crocheter of warm things, a biting satirist, a pho-club founder, an original member of the British Humor Society, a binge-watcher of cozy mysteries, a jigsaw puzzle fanatic, and a friend to birds and plants; and

WHEREAS, Tuyet Le will be remembered for her dedication and commitment as a leader, her songbird laughter, and her impact on the Asian American community in Chicago and the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Tuyet Le is survived by her siblings, Van Anh M. Le, Thu Anh Le-Schlecht, Huy Q. Le, and Tan H. Le; her many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and her extended chosen family, including Saket Soni, Esther Hurh, Tony Streit, Gary Hsin, Elaine Kuo, Clarita Santos, Steve Merritt, Joanna Su, Elvin Chan, Dayo Gore, Mehrdad Azemun, and Jee Yeun Lee; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Tuyet Anh Mong Le 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 Tuyet Le as an expression of our deepest sympathy.