RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 20, 2017
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Khemarey “Khem” Khoeun for her work in the refugee community
Body
WHEREAS, Khemarey “Khem” Khoeun was born in a Thai refugee camp in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide and arrived to Chicago's Uptown neighborhood just six months later; and
WHEREAS, Khmer was her primary language at home and once she learned English in school, like many immigrant children, she served as translator for her parents who struggled to learn a second language; and
WHEREAS, her parents eventually found a niche for themselves as small business owners and relocated to the southwest suburb of Cicero, a predominantly Latino community; and
WHEREAS, as a child refugee, Khem understands the impact that war and trauma can leave on the family and community, often spanning multiple generations; and
WHEREAS, her experience has been a driving force for her to connect with other immigrant and refugee communities, as part of her own community healing, to understand the collective struggle and identify opportunities to rebuild a culture of progress and achievements for younger generations; and
WHEREAS, Khem received her Bachelor’s degree in social work and has served on the Board of the Cambodian Association of Illinois, worked for one of the largest immigrant-led coalitions in the country, and was honored with the YWCA Outstanding Women Leaders Promise Award; and
WHEREAS, in April 2017, Khem was elected to the Skokie Park District Board and became the first Cambodian-American woman in the country elected to public office; and
WHEREAS, Khem also currently serves as vice president of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Memorial and works at HealthJoy, a healthcare tech company; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, do hereby recognize Khemarey “Khem” Khoeun for her work in the refugee community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Dated: April 20, 2017
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:aw