SR0566 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0566 LRB094 18574 HSS 53913 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Gloria J. Jenkins of Chicago on January 3, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Born and reared in Chicago, Mrs. Jenkins became interested in social work when she started working for Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) in 1965 as a bookkeeper; during her tenure with CYC, she worked as a bookkeeper, secretary, and a group worker; as a group worker, she implemented the "Gun Moll" program for girls who were members of gangs and usually carried weapons for their boy friends; and

WHEREAS, She was responsible for working with a minimum of 15 teen girls, 14 to 18 years of age, teaching etiquette, poise, home economics, and structured sports, including softball and volleyball; during evenings and weekends, she continued her education on a part-time basis; while carrying out her responsibilities as a group worker, she realized that this was the field of work she loved most; and

WHEREAS, During the late 1960s, Mrs. Jenkins attended numerous workshops and training sessions sponsored by the National Training Laboratory (NTL) and worked with her husband, Ernest Jenkins, and Del Jay Kinney of George Williams College, Center for Continuing Education; in this collaboration, they conducted human relations training for employees of major corporations and institutions throughout the Chicagoland area; and

WHEREAS, She joined the staff of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago in 1971 and held several positions, including secretary, program associate, and program executive, prior to becoming the executive director of Urban Programs West YMCA in 1982, where she served in that capacity until November 1993; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Jenkins was a founding member of the Westside Association for Community Action (WACA) and was a board member from the inception (1971) until November 1993, when she accepted the position of Executive Director; during this time, she continued to work with at-risk youth; and

WHEREAS, She was a 1982 graduate of Governors State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in business and a minor in social work; she was a member of the Cook County State's Attorney African American Advisory Committee, Governors State University Alumni Association, and a former president of the Hoffman Estates Chapter of The Links, Inc., an international organization of over 10,000 African-American women whose mission is to provide community service in their respective communities; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Gloria J. Jenkins has been deeply felt by many, especially her husband, Ernest, and her daughters, Corene and Lola; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Gloria J. Jenkins, and we 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 her family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.