LWVIL Juneteenth Celebration

Thursday June 19th 7:00pm - 8:00pm, Virtual

Celebrate Juneteenth with LWVIL and special guest Van Gilmer, civil rights activist, renowned vocal soloist, composer, choral director, and music director at the Bahai House of Worship. Come to hear inspirational music and Mr. Gilmer’s stories of civil disobedience at the Greenville South Carolina lunch counters in the 1960’s. Join together with League family in fellowship for this virtual program to commemorate the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the Civil War. This is a free event but requires registration.

Register HERE

 Help Shed Light on Cook County Government

Become an OBSERVER! The Cook County Observer Corps members each follow a specific Cook County Board Committee. Some Committees meet every month; others only periodically. You can observe in person at the County Board Room, live via streaming on your computer, or on Comcast Channel 900, or after the fact via the videos of the meetings.

Help is needed for the following Committees: Audit, Finance, Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations, Asset Management, and Transportation. We already have one observer for each of these Committees, so you would be sharing observing duties, meaning this would not be even a monthly commitment. Training will be provided.

Like more information? Contact the League at info@lwvcookcounty.org

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting

May 6, 2025 at the Botanic Garden

•   The Commissioners approved the purchase of 37.04 Acres at 20278 Cottage Grove Ave, Glenwood, to create a Forest preserve near Sweet Woods, with closing costs of $2,970,000.00.
•  The Botanic Garden and the Zoo get capital Improvement monies from the Referendum. The Botanic Garden is growing and providing seed and plugs for restoration sites.

Cook County Board of Commissioners 

Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee 

May 14, 2025

• The Committee approved all the proposed appointments on the agenda, including the appointment of Dr. Kiran Joshi as the Chief Operating Officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). Several of the Commissioners gave glowing statements about Dr. Joshi and his past work with the County and how glad they were to have him assume this position. Dr. Joshi said that his goal is to have the CCDPH be the best health department in the country.
• The appointment of Alexandra Lara to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) Advisory Board was followed up by comments from Comm. Degnan concerning the transition of the JTDC into 2 programs - a day program and an in-house program - and how important the Advisory Board will be to assist in this transition. 

Cook County Board of Commissioners

Asset Management Committee

May 13, 2025

The Bureau of Asset Management presented its annual report on the Build Up Cook Program, highlighting their work in underserved communities. The Committee also approved a resolution declaring indoor air and indoor environmental quality as a public health crisis.

• The Bureau is using ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act) funds to provide resources to underserved communities for badly needed infrastructure projects such as fire hydrant replacements and sewer and stormwater projects.
• The projects are managed by Asset Management staff, using County contractors.
• One project highlighted was being able to help the Village of Robbins when a supply water main broke. The Bureau of Asset Management worked with other Cook County Departments to get it quickly repaired.
• The Bureau is also using funds for workshops so that community employees develop the skills to manage projects and obtain financing through grants.

Upcoming Meetings

All Local League members are invited to participate in these interest group meetings