RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 4, 2021
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Dorothy Jean Tillman
Body
WHEREAS, affectionately known as “DJ” or “Dorothy Jeanius”, Dorothy Jean Tillman is a fourteen-year-old child phenom from the south side of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Tillman has always thrived in her academic studies. At an early age, she tested into a gifted school where the level of scholastic engagement far outpaced that of her peers. At the age of nine, Ms. Tillman completed high school and by the age of ten, she earned an associate’s degree in psychology from the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois. Shortly thereafter, at the age of twelve, she earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and humanities from Excelsior College in Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, after earning her bachelor’s degree, Ms. Tillman became captivated by information regarding the deteriorating condition of the environment. It was at that juncture that she decided to educate herself on the subject. In 2020, Ms. Tillman earned a master’s degree in environmental science from Unity College in Unity, Maine. With this achievement, she became the youngest environmental and sustainable scientist in the United States; and
WHEREAS, also in 2020, Ms. Tillman created the Dorothy Jeanius STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) Educational Leadership Institute. The impetus behind the STEAM Institute was creating a climate in which adolescents can pair creative arts with technology and where young, black adolescents can learn that it is possible to have a career in one of the STEAM industries. During the apotheosis of the coronavirus pandemic, Ms. Tillman constructed at home STEAM kits to help children stay engaged and continue to be active learners; and
WHEREAS, after visiting Cape Town, South Africa, Ms. Tillman became inspired by the talented youth that she encountered that were lacking the necessary resources to capitalize on their intelligence. Thus, the idea was born to build the “Dorothy Jeanius Stem Lab” in Cape Town. Due to the coronavirus pandemic delaying the construction, Ms. Tillman has been sending her STEAM kits to Africa, hoping to captivate the attention of the youth and extend her mission beyond the boundaries of the United States; and
WHEREAS, in addition to her multitude of other accolades, Ms. Tillman is also a budding author. Her first publication, “Unlock the Jeanius Within”, is intended as a motivational tool to inspire future leaders to maximize their potential and to pursue their dreams; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Tillman is devoting herself to generating change. Her ingenuity, motivation, and intelligence are propelling her onto a course in which she is destined to achieve monumental strides which will no doubt succour the world; 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 Dorothy Jean Tillman; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Dorothy Jean Tillman.
Dated: March 4, 2021