RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 2024
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing ALMA Chicago
Body
WHEREAS, since 1994, October has been recognized as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) History Month. The celebration, which began in Missouri, is now embraced throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, in honor of LGBT History Month, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is recognizing ALMA Chicago; and
WHEREAS, originally founded in 1989 as the Association of Latino Men for Action, ALMA Chicago was created during the AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) epidemic to provide supportive services for gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning Latino men. Often faced with language barriers and cultural bias, the founders of ALMA Chicago felt that this demographic needed assistance; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, the name of the organization was formally changed to the Association of Latinos/as/xs Motivating Action. The name change coincided with the mission of the organization being expanded to serve a broader community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and gender nonconforming Latinx individuals; and
WHEREAS, ALMA Chicago distinguishes itself from other HIV/AIDS focused organizations by specifically focusing on services that other agencies do not provide. The current policy priorities of ALMA Chicago include healthcare and public health, immigration, legal and justice reform, and homelessness and housing; 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 our staff, do hereby recognize ALMA Chicago and the work that it does within the Latinx LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and people with other identities) 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: October 17, 2024