HR0801 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0801 LRB103 40795 ECR 73664 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize Edward Jung for his dedicated work as president of the Chinatown Museum Foundation (CMF), a non-profit organization governing the Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC); and

WHEREAS, Established in 2005, CAMOC is dedicated to the advancement of the appreciation of Chinese American culture and its contributions as an important part of the American fabric; the museum does this through exhibitions, education, and research to preserve the past, present, and the future of Chinese Americans, primarily in the Midwest; and

WHEREAS, Edward Jung, born and raised in a Chinese-Canadian-American working-class family in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, has long understood the complex dynamics within the evolving Chinese diasporic communities; through his vision and leadership, he has been instrumental in revitalizing CAMOC and preserving Chinese American heritage and history while expanding the public imagination of what it means to be Chinese in America; and

WHEREAS, Edward Jung graduated from St. Therese School in Chicago's Chinatown; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Illinois Chicago and his master's degree in project management from the George Washington University School of Business; professionally, he led global strategic sourcing during his 30-year career at Motorola; and

WHEREAS, Under Edward Jung's leadership, CAMOC has seen steady growth in the past seven years, becoming the home of vibrant exhibitions and programs that celebrate the diverse visions and experiences of being Chinese in America; he oversaw the museum as it weathered through the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to engage the public through virtual programs during shutdowns; he was also instrumental in securing the two-million-dollar restricted Jean T. Lee Memorial Endowment Fund to ensure CAMOC's continued growth and fiscal health; through his guidance, CAMOC has become a reliable resource for educators to implement the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act, passed by the Illinois General Assembly, that incorporates Asian American history in every public K-12 school curriculum in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Edward Jung remains an active civic leader and mentor, giving his time to several local organizations; he is currently serving as president of the Chinese American Civic Council (CACC), a nonprofit organization established in the 1950s that assists new Chinese immigrants with bilingual services and aims to help them navigate new social, cultural, and economic landscapes in Chicago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Edward Jung on his eight years of service as president of the Chinatown Museum Foundation (CMF), and we commend his dedication to preserving the heritage and history of Midwestern Chinese Americans and his vision of expanding the scope of contemporary Chinese American storytelling through exhibitions and programs at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC); and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Edward Jung and the Chinese American Museum of Chicago as an expression of our esteem and respect.