Mayor Johnson Presides Over First City Council Meeting Council Approves Mayor’s Unity Plan

OnWednesday, the City Council approved of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Unity Council Organization Plan, marking a significant milestone in his administration’s commitment to delivering tangible outcomes for the people of Chicago. The innovative Unity Plan introduces a comprehensive framework designed to foster collaboration among aldermen from diverse backgrounds while aligning the Mayor’s office and City Council around shared priorities and values.

“As elected leaders, our primary responsibility is to ensure that our government is structured to effectively serve the people,” stated Mayor Johnson. “This plan empowers the most diverse group of Council chairs in our city’s history and unites us across geographical boundaries and political spectrums.”

Mayor Johnson’s Unity Plan introduces 20 committees providing avenues for addressing critical issues facing the city. By appointing aldermen from a wide range of political affiliations as committee chairs, the plan promotes inclusivity and ensures equitable representation for all communities.

The Unity Plan includes the following aldermen in prominent leadership positions within City Council:

• Ald. Pat Dowell, Chair of the Committee on Finance

• Ald. Jason Ervin, Chair of the Committee on the Budget and Government Operations

Continue from page 17 thinking. She noted, “I did one a couple Sundays ago at the Kentucky Derby.. It was hosted at the iconic Black owned club there, Joe’s. My friends, girls that I attended elementary school with were there. It was a special kind of reunion amongst friends .”

I inquired about one of the poems that really resonated with me, “The Baby.” The poem captures so eloquently the relationship between her, her sisters and cousins who were older testifying to the gap of 10-years between her the youngest’s before her. They were in school walking and talking, being young ladies. Dr. Adams voice permeated with love and joy in remembrance of her girl family, all of whom she recalls as being worthy to imitate. They were bright, bubbly, brilliant and bodacious. “ I wanted to be

• Ald. Maria Hadden, Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy

• Ald. Michelle Harris, Chair of the Committee on Committees and Rules

• Ald. Brian Hopkins, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety

• Ald. Daniel La Spata, Chair of the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety

• Ald. Matt Martin, Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Government Oversight

• Ald. Greg Mitchell, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Public Way

• Ald. Emma Mitts, Chair of the Committee on Contracting, Oversight and Equity

• Ald. Matt O’Shea, Chair of the Committee on Aviation

• Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, Chair of the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards

• Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez, Chair of the Committee on Health and Human Relations

• Ald. Michael Rodriguez, Chair of the Committee on Workforce Development and Audit

• Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Real Estate like them.”

Dr Adams, never short on words breathes in and finalizes her story about “Baby,” expressing, “All of our experiences are different and unique one from the other even though we may experience the same thing at the same time. I know that I grew up following in the footsteps of my siblings and cousins who were extended sisters, I essentially was babied by them. I was the baby.”

I mean they don’t tell the baby that at some point in time the baby becomes the oldest when the older become elders, I had to manage the caretaking and the burying of my older sister and cousins/ family. Yeah, That was the impetus for that particular poem.

Dr. Adams, says directly to today’s youth, “Focus on who you are. Again, because coming up in today’s environ-

• Ald. Deb Silverstein, Chair of the Committee on License and Consumer Protection

• Ald. Nick Sposato, Chair of the Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation

• Ald. Chris Taliaferro, Chair of the Committee on Police and Fire

• Ald. Jeannette Taylor, Chair of the Committee on Education and Child Development

• Ald. Andre Vasquez, Chair of the Committee on Immigration and Refugee Rights ments, there’s nothing quite like what we have here. You know, and when I think about our kids who have lived the life we created for them—they had cultural institutions that nurtured them compared to others who had education with no cultural reference, history or context, absent of the nurturing and the academic clarity that helps to root young people. Our children were provided for with the confidence of family and extended community support. We prepared our children for leadership. I believe in you—” there’s no stopping you now.”

The Author’s Favorites

Dr. Adams says of her own writing, “I like different ones (poems) for different reasons. Like the ones about my girls, you know? Because, some have passed on and then there’s that moment, I real-

• Ald. Gil Villegas, Chair of the Committee on the Economic, Capital and Technology Development ize that most of my best friends are longer here so there’s one that says, “I want all my girls,’” and another that says, “I want to call you.”

The implementation of Mayor Johnson’s Unity Plan marks several historic firsts, including the appointment of the first Black woman as Finance Committee chair, the first Latinaleading a committee, and a record-breaking seven Latinx aldermen serving as Chairs.

Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th) will serve as President Pro Tempore, while Ald. Stephanie Coleman (16th) assumes the role of Assistant President Pro Tempore. Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) will make history as the first Black Vice Mayor.

I also like those that address social issues, particularly, “We Need More Neighbor in the Hood” and “Jacked Up.” They capture how I was what is going on in our world as I experience it.” Both are, must reads when you pick up your book.

There was so much more I wanted to discuss, but the time had come. Akua Lanu, Director of Northeastern’s Center for Inner City Studies, introduced Dr. Adams and the Pilar Audain who conducted the community conversational interview. It lands differently when the truth comes from one who walks the talk! ”And that’s All She Wrote.” . . .

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