SR1294 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1294 LRB100 17426 MST 32594 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ernest Robert "Ernie" Jenkins, who passed away on January 2, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins was born in Wayside, Mississippi to Willie Jenkins and Corenia Dukes Watson on December 30, 1929; he attended Bowman High School and graduated from Philander Smith College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology; he served in the United States Air Force and completed the requirements for a Master of Social Work at George Williams College, now Aurora University; he married Gloria J. Jenkins; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins started working as a group worker for a branch of Chicago Youth Centers in 1956; he began his career by organizing local communities, focusing on addressing issues resulting from the problem of street gang violence and related inner-city problems; during the late 60s, he became involved with the National Training Laboratory (NTL) and became a sensitivity (human relations) trainer; he eventually became an independent consultant to management and a much sought after voice on related issues; he was retained by the Daniel D. Howard Association as a senior consultant for nearly 10 years and conducted marketing research and human relations training throughout the United States and for several key institutions in the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins later served as Executive Director for Programs West YMCA, Austin YMCA, and the Southside YMCA, the latter of which he was instrumental in building; he joined the staff of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago in November of 1971; his major emphasis was on organizing community groups for self-help purposes; during his tenure as Vice President for Community Development, he co-founded the Westside Association for Community Action (WACA), where he served as CEO until 2009 after "Passing the Torch" to his daughters in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins received numerous honors and awards, including Mt. Sinai Hospital's Distinguished Afro-American Man of Distinction, Frontiers International's Man of the Year Award, the Community Service Award from the South Side Help Center, the Joe Puntil Award from the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, the National Child Labor Committee Lewis Hine Award for Professional Service to Children and Youth, the Blackbook Award which honors one of ten outstanding businessmen and professionals, the Passing the Torch Award from the Black United Fund of Illinois, the Distinguished Service Award from the George Williams College Alumni Association, the Man of the Year Award from Philander Smith College, and a host of other distinguished accomplishments and accolades; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins was a member of the Chicago Temple First United Methodist Church, the Sinai Community Institute, the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY), the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Lawndale Business and Local Development Corporation; he was a member and founder of the Chicago Rat Pack; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins is survived by his daughters, Gloria Corene Jenkins and Lola Jean Jenkins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ernest Robert "Ernie" Jenkins, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ernie Jenkins as an expression of our deepest sympathy.