HR0771 LRB097 20114 KXB 65493 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION

HR0771 LRB097 20114 KXB 65493 r
1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3		Representatives are proud to recognize individuals and
4		organizations that have contributed to the welfare of the State
5		of Illinois and its citizens or have distinguished themselves
6		through significant personal achievement; and
7		WHEREAS, Michelle Obama is the first African-American
8		first lady of the United States of America, standing by her
9		husband, the first African-American President of the United
10		States of America, while raising their 2 children, Malia and
11		Sasha, and spearheading many national campaigns for important
12		causes; and
13		WHEREAS, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama was born January
14		17, 1964, in Chicago to Fraiser and Marian Robinson; Michelle
15		skipped the second grade, was a gifted student and graduated
16		from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago's West Loop
17		as class salutatorian; and
18		WHEREAS, Michelle Obama graduated from Princeton
19		University cum laude in 1985 with a B.A. in Sociology and a
20		minor in African-American studies and earned a Juris Doctor
21		from Harvard Law School in 1988, where she took part in
22		demonstrations demanding more minority students and

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1		professors; and
2		WHEREAS, Michelle Obama worked as an associate in the
3		Chicago branch of the law firm Sidley Austin in the area of
4		marketing and intellectual property; in 1989, she met her
5		future husband, Barack Obama, a summer intern whom she was
6		assigned as an adviser; and the couple married at Trinity
7		United Church of Christ on October 18, 1992; and
8		WHEREAS, After her husband became U.S. Senator from
9		Illinois in 2004, Michelle Obama followed a strict schedule to
10		be home with her children as often as possible, never leaving
11		them for more than one night and 2 days per week; and
12		WHEREAS, Michelle Obama launched a career in public
13		service, serving as an assistant to Mayor Daley and then as the
14		assistant commissioner of planning and development for the City
15		of Chicago; in 1993, she became Executive Director for the
16		Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit
17		leadership-training program that helped young adults develop
18		skills for future careers in the public sector; in 1996, she
19		joined the University of Chicago as associate dean of student
20		services, developing the University's first community service
21		program; she then worked for the University of Chicago
22		Hospitals beginning in 2002, as executive director of community
23		relations and external affairs; in May 2005, she was appointed

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1		vice president of community relations and external affairs at
2		the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she continues
3		to work part-time; she also manages the business diversity
4		program and sits on 6 boards, including the prestigious Chicago
5		Council on Global Affairs and the University of Chicago
6		Laboratory Schools; and
7		WHEREAS, As the 45th First Lady of the United States,
8		Michelle Obama has focused her attention on issues such as the
9		support of military families, helping working women balance
10		career and family, encouraging national service, and teaching
11		children healthy eating and healthy living habits; and, she has
12		put her beliefs in action by volunteering at homeless shelters
13		and soup kitchens in the Washington, D.C. area and making
14		appearances at public schools, stressing the importance of
15		education and volunteer work; and
16		WHEREAS, Michelle Obama's service and values serve as a
17		model and inspiration for African-American girls; she leads by
18		example for the benefit of all young Americans by finding a
19		balance between advocacy, work, family, health, and both public
20		and private life; therefore, be it
21		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
22		NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
23		we honor the pioneering achievements of the 45th first lady and

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1		the first African-American first lady of the United States of
2		America, Michelle Obama; and be it further
3		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4		presented to First Lady Michelle Obama as a symbol of our
5		esteem and respect.