SJ0067 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0067 LRB096 12696 AJO 26340 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Great Migration, a long-term movement of African Americans from the South to the urban North, transformed Chicago and other northern cities between 1916 and 1970; and

WHEREAS, Chicago attracted slightly more than 500,000 of the approximately 7 million African Americans who left the South during these decades; and

WHEREAS, Before the Great Migration, African Americans constituted just 2 percent of Chicago's population, but by 1970 African Americans constituted 33 percent of Chicago's population; and

WHEREAS, What had been in the nineteenth century a largely southern and rural African American culture became a culture deeply infused with urban sensibility in the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, What had been a marginalized population in Chicago emerged by the mid-twentieth century as a powerful force in the city's political, economic, and cultural life; and

WHEREAS, The Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Project Steering Committee has worked with Congressman Bobby Rush on federal legislation for the Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area (NHA) and the Great Migration Centennial will serve as one of the benchmarks for the National Heritage Area which focuses on preservation, tourism & economic development, conservation, recreation, education & interpretation; and

WHEREAS, The Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Project Steering Committee has identified 10 Major Promise Programs for the next century which include:

1. Great Migration Public Art;

2. In Motion: African American Migration Experience;

3. Great Migration Trail: Rails to Trails Conservancy Project;

4. The Rosenwald Building;

5. The Chicago Blues Museum;

6. The Pullman Porter Great Migration Blues Trail;

7. Leadership Development Institute;

8. Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships;

9. Black Metropolis Social Innovation Fund; and

10. Bronzeville Postmark and Postal Sub-station; and

WHEREAS, The Great Migration Centennial celebrates the promise that Chicago once offered a people in search of a better life 100 years ago; and

WHEREAS, The theme adopted by the Black Metropolis National Heritage Project Steering Committee, "Creating a New Promise", acknowledges the hope that has been restored through the new political administration and addresses the need for the greater Chicagoland region to deliver on its promise and create a new social compact for the future; and

WHEREAS, To succeed in the 21st century global competition for jobs, prosperity, and quality of life for all, we must have inspiring and well-accepted plans to produce action; and

WHEREAS, The Great Migration Centennial will challenge children and adults throughout the region to make choices today that will define the way we live for the next century; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Great Migration Centennial Commission is created; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Commission shall include the President of the Senate or his designee and the Speaker of the House of Representatives or his designee, each serving as one of the co-chairpersons, the Governor or his designee, one vice-chairperson appointed by the co-chairpersons, all of whom shall serve as the Executive Committee and 25 appointed members, with the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives appointing 5 members each; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the appointed members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses if funds allow; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the appointed members shall be from diverse backgrounds so as to reflect the diverse citizenry of Illinois working together for a common democratic cause, and that their individual qualifications shall include varying educational, professional, and civic experiences that bring different perspectives and cooperative outlooks to the Commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the purpose of the Commission is to plan for the Great Migration Centennial to be commemorated and celebrated from January to December 2016 and to:

1. Elevate the centennial of the Great Migration to a high profile bi-partisan event;

2. Recognize the Great Migration as the largest migration to ever occur in North America;

3. Stimulate and encourage the creation and growth of programs about the Great Migration;

4. Highlight and publicize the institutions in the State that are connected to the Great Migration and their impact;

5. Work with coordinated statewide groups commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Great Migration; and

6. Encourage communities and citizens to support and get involved in the commemoration; and be it further

RESOLVED, The Great Migration Centennial Commission serves to promote a deeper knowledge, understanding and engagement in the life and times of the African American Migration Experience, through conferences, publications, preservation of historic sites, and local, statewide and national observances as well as arts projects, forum, travel & tourism promotions and year long celebration activities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission's preliminary goals are to develop:

1. a national honorary committee of historians, educators, authors, politicians, celebrities and other notables;

2. educational curriculum, events, tours, exhibits and programs at the elementary, high school, secondary, graduate and post-graduate level;

3. a signature entertainment event for fundraising and broadcast purposes;

4. an educational symposium with university partners, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Illinois Arts Council, as well as private foundations and other philanthropic organizations;

5. a year-long cultural promotional event calendar supported by travel packages and other travel or tourism incentives; and

6. a logo and trademark design for official use on all Centennial commissioned related merchandise, apparel and products officially licensed; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall meet as frequently as necessary, at the call of the co-chairpersons; and be it further

RESOLVED, The Commission shall have the option of creating a Council of Advisors and any working groups or committees it deems necessary; and, be it further

RESOLVED, The Commission shall have the option to collaborate with any Federal or local commissions designated to recognize the Great Migration Centennial commemoration via internet links, shared exhibits, activities and programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, The Commission shall work with and establish opportunities with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor's Office of Special Events and Cultural Olympiad 2016; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall, while working in coordination with and with the assistance of Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Project Steering Committee, broaden outreach by using established channels, including publicly supported media and electronic, computer-assisted communication systems, and elicit voluntary assistance from educational, legal, civic, and professional organizations and institutions, as well as, notable individuals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That no later than December 31, 2010, the Commission shall report to the General Assembly and the Governor on its planning progress to commemorate and celebrate the Great Migration Centennial; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Governor of the State of Illinois.