HR0586 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0586 LRB104 16991 ECR 30405 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois proudly recognizes artists, educators, and cultural institutions whose work enriches our communities, preserves our shared heritage, and uplifts young people across our state; and

WHEREAS, Chicago is internationally recognized as the home of modern Blues music, a tradition built by legendary musicians who have transformed the city into a global cultural capital; and

WHEREAS, Fernando Jones, a Chicago native, is an award-winning, multi-instrumentalist, educator, historian, and cultural ambassador who has dedicated his life to preserving, teaching, and advancing the Blues art form, and he has stewarded this mission with distinction for more than three decades; and

WHEREAS, The Blues Kids of America brand was created on the South Side of Chicago in 1989 on the principle of developing a local program that could be scaled nationally and internationally; and

WHEREAS, The Blues Kids Foundation was formally established in 2009 to expand this mission, and 21 years after its inception, Blues Camp achieved that vision in 2010 by becoming a world-class, internationally recognized youth music education program; and

WHEREAS, The Blues Kids Foundation produces Blues Camp, a free, week-long and intensive learning experience held annually in Chicago that brings together youth from diverse backgrounds to train with world-class musicians, build confidence, gain performance experience, and learn the cultural and historical foundations of the Blues; and

WHEREAS, Blues Camp has become one of the premier youth music education programs in the nation, serving thousands of students since its inception and showcasing the best of Illinois' commitment to the arts, community engagement, and youth empowerment; and

WHEREAS, Through Blues Camp and other year-round initiatives, Fernando Jones and the Blues Kids Foundation have created safe, transformative, and intergenerational spaces that inspire creativity, strengthen communities, and ensure the Blues tradition remains alive for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, The work of Fernando Jones and the Blues Kids Foundation contributes to Illinois' cultural economy, enhances Chicago's global reputation as a center for music innovation, and provides life-changing opportunities for young people across the state and nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the week of July 5 through July 10, 2026 as Blues Kids Week in the State of Illinois in recognition of the annual Blues Camp in Chicago and in celebration of Illinois' rich Blues legacy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize Fernando Jones and the Blues Kids Foundation for their extraordinary contributions to music education, cultural preservation, and youth development; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Fernando Jones and the Blues Kids Foundation as a symbol of our esteem and respect.