RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 17, 2022
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners expressing our gratitude to Commissioner Josina Morita
Body
WHEREAS, on November 8, 2016, Josina Morita became the first Asian American elected to serve on the Board of Commissioners for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (District); and
WHEREAS, born in San Francisco, California, Commissioner Morita attended Berkeley High School. Following graduation, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and international race relations from Pitzer College in Claremont, California. She also earned a Master’s degree in urban planning and public policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago; and
WHEREAS, while at the District, Commissioner Morita has served as the Chairman of the Budget and Employment Committee, the Information Technology Committee, and the Maintenance and Operations Committee. She has also served as the Vice Chairman of the Engineering Committee and the Monitoring and Research Committee; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Morita led the District in celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month to express support of the Asian American community and honor Asian American women elected officials; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Morita is a dedicated public servant both at the District and in the broader world. In addition to her numerous responsibilities as a Commissioner, she has also served as: the Director of the United Congress of Community and Religious Organizations; a member of the State of Illinois’ Racial Profiling and Data Oversight Board; a member of the Asian American Employment Plan Council; a member of the City of Chicago’s Commission on Equity; a board member of the Woods Fund of Chicago; a board member of the Asian American Action Fund of Greater Chicago; a delegate to the Democratic National Convention; a Jim Edgar Fellow; a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow; and chair of the Asian American Caucus in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Morita has received several awards and honors including being named one of Chicago’s “35 Under 35” by the Community Renewal Society; the Emerging Leader Award from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform; and the Breaking Barriers Award from the Chicago Foundation for Women. Commissioner Morita’s human rights and social justice work has been recognized by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the Japanese American Citizens League; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Morita is leaving the District to serve on the Cook County Board of Commissioners as the representative for the 13th District; 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 express our gratitude to Commissioner Josina Morita for her dedication to the District and the residents of Cook County; 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 and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Commissioner Josina Morita.
Dated: November 17, 2022