RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 2, 2019
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners Honoring the Asian American Coalition of Chicago (As Revised)
Body
WHEREAS, founded in 1983, the Asian American Coalition of Chicago (AACC) represents over 16 cultures including Bangladeshi, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Thai, and Vietnamese; and
WHEREAS, the mission of AACC is to encourage equal opportunity and empowerment in the areas of government, education, economic development, and international affairs in order to empower all Asian Americans; and
WHEREAS, each year AACC hosts its annual Asian Lunar New Year Gala (Gala) which celebrates the heritage, diversity, history, and culture of the hosting organization. Nine of the sixteen communities rotate the responsibility of hosting the Gala. The Gala is the largest commemoration of Asian American culture in the Midwest; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the Gala, the AACC hosts several events in the Chicagoland area to nurture awareness and tolerance of the Asian American community. One such event is the Asian American Festival which is held during Asian American Heritage Month (May); and
WHEREAS, the 2019 Gala was hosted by the Filipino American community. Aurora Abella-Austriaco served as the chair of the Gala; and
WHEREAS, Aurora Abella-Austriaco earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University. Since her matriculation, she has been and continues to be a leader in the Asian American Community.
WHEREAS, Aurora Abella-Austriaco is a founding member of the Filipino American Bar Association and a past board member of the Asian American Bar Association. Additionally, Ms. Abella-Austriaco was the first female president of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers’ Association; 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 and honor the significance of the Asian American Coalition of Chicago; 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 Aurora Abella-Austriaco.
Dated: May 2, 2019