HR0733 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0733 LRB099 14111 MST 38150 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Paul G. Stewart Center of the Peoples Consumer Co-Operative; and

WHEREAS, The Peoples Consumer Co-Operative (PCC) was organized in 1937 as a cooperative buying club by a group of young, professional African-Americans; in 1937, it was very difficult for African-Americans to purchase quality goods and services; the PCC provided the vehicle for African-Americans to purchase quality goods in bulk in order to offer them to its members at discounted prices; the PCC later formed a credit union that assisted its member in purchasing single-family homes and multi-family buildings that were converted to housing cooperatives and condominiums; and

WHEREAS, The PCC got involved in government-assisted housing in the early 1970s; it sponsored and developed 893 affordable housing units for senior and family households; the developments are named after Paul G. Stewart, the second African-American certified public accountant in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The Paul G. Stewart Center has nearly 1,200 residents; it is a community with opportunities for belonging, sharing, and interdependence; it is an environment that is rich in social and cultural activities; and

WHEREAS, Since 1975, each new building and each new individual resident has been welcomed with the same warmth and quickly becomes integrated into the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the 40th anniversary of the Paul G. Stewart Center of the Peoples Consumer Co-Operative and wish them many more successful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the residents of the Paul G. Stewart Center as an expression of our esteem and respect.