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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., founded at Howard | ||||||
| 3 | University on November 17, 1911, stands as a beacon of | ||||||
| 4 | excellence in service, education, and leadership within the | ||||||
| 5 | African American community and beyond; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, The biennial Omega Psi Phi Conclave is a | ||||||
| 7 | gathering of thousands of fraternity members and guests to | ||||||
| 8 | celebrate brotherhood, fellowship, and a shared commitment to | ||||||
| 9 | manhood, scholarship, perseverance, and uplift, making it one | ||||||
| 10 | of the largest and most impactful gatherings of African | ||||||
| 11 | American leaders, professionals, and innovators in the world; | ||||||
| 12 | and | ||||||
| 13 | WHEREAS, Chicago has long been a hub for African American | ||||||
| 14 | culture, history, and progress, and the city is home to | ||||||
| 15 | numerous leaders of national and global significance, | ||||||
| 16 | including Omega Psi Phi members Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dr. | ||||||
| 17 | Benjamin Elijah Mays, and Benjamin Lawson Hooks; and | ||||||
| 18 | WHEREAS, Chicago's near south side neighborhood, a cradle | ||||||
| 19 | of African American history and innovation, and the city's | ||||||
| 20 | robust infrastructure, which includes McCormick Place, the | ||||||
| 21 | largest convention center in North America, makes Chicago | ||||||
| 22 | uniquely qualified to host an event of such magnitude and | ||||||
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| 1 | prestige; and | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, Chicago is a city of firsts, with a history of | ||||||
| 3 | hosting world-class events and conferences, including the NATO | ||||||
| 4 | Summit, the NBA All-Star Game, and countless other gatherings | ||||||
| 5 | that have drawn global attention and acclaim, showcasing the | ||||||
| 6 | city's capacity for excellence in hospitality and logistics; | ||||||
| 7 | and | ||||||
| 8 | WHEREAS, Hosting the 2028 Omega Psi Phi Conclave in | ||||||
| 9 | Chicago would provide a significant economic boost to the city | ||||||
| 10 | and the State, while also offering Omega Psi Phi an | ||||||
| 11 | opportunity to engage the local community through service | ||||||
| 12 | initiatives, mentorship programs, and cultural events that | ||||||
| 13 | align with the fraternity's core principles; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, The selection of Chicago would honor Omega Psi | ||||||
| 15 | Phi's historical ties to the city, including the academic and | ||||||
| 16 | professional contributions of its founders, such as Dr. Ernest | ||||||
| 17 | Everett Just, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of | ||||||
| 18 | Chicago, and Professor Frank Coleman and Bishop Edgar Love, | ||||||
| 19 | who also studied in Chicago; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 20 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 21 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 22 | we strongly urge the Supreme Council of Omega Psi Phi | ||||||
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| 1 | Fraternity, Inc. to select Chicago as the host city for the | ||||||
| 2 | 2028 Omega Psi Phi Conclave, recognizing the city's | ||||||
| 3 | unparalleled history, infrastructure, and alignment with the | ||||||
| 4 | fraternity's mission of service and uplift; and be it further | ||||||
| 5 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
| 6 | delivered to the Supreme Council of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, | ||||||
| 7 | Inc., the Governor of Illinois, the Mayor of the City of | ||||||
| 8 | Chicago, and the Illinois Office of Tourism. | ||||||