Bill Text: IL SJR0003 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Creates the Illinois Great Migration Centennial Commission to work toward the commemoration and celebration of the Great Migration Centennial.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2012-05-15 - Adopted Both Houses [SJR0003 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SJR0003-Enrolled.html

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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3
WHEREAS, The Great Migration, a long-term movement of
African Americans from the South to the urban North,
transformed Chicago and other northern cities between 1916 and
1970; and
WHEREAS, Chicago attracted slightly more than 500,000 of
the approximately 7 million African Americans who left the
South during these decades; and
WHEREAS, Before the Great Migration, African Americans
constituted just 2 percent of Chicago's population, but by 1970
African Americans constituted 33 percent of Chicago's
population; and
WHEREAS, What had been in the nineteenth century a largely
southern and rural African American culture became a culture
deeply infused with urban sensibility in the twentieth century;
and
WHEREAS, What had been a marginalized population in Chicago
emerged by the mid-twentieth century as a powerful force in the
city's political, economic, and cultural life; and
WHEREAS, The Black Metropolis National Heritage Area

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Project Steering Committee has worked with Congressman Bobby
Rush on federal legislation for the Black Metropolis District
National Heritage Area (NHA) and the Great Migration Centennial
will serve as one of the benchmarks for the National Heritage
Area which focuses on preservation, tourism & economic
development, conservation, recreation, education &
interpretation; and
WHEREAS, The Black Metropolis National Heritage Area
Project Steering Committee has identified 10 Major Promise
Programs for the next century which include:
1. Great Migration Public Art;
2. In Motion: African American Migration Experience;
3. Great Migration Trail: Rails to Trails Conservancy
Project;
4. The Rosenwald Building;
5. The Chicago Blues Museum;
6. The Pullman Porter Great Migration Blues Trail;
7. Leadership Development Institute;
8. Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships;
9. Black Metropolis Social Innovation Fund; and
10. Bronzeville Postmark and Postal Sub-station; and
WHEREAS, The Great Migration Centennial celebrates the
promise that Chicago once offered a people in search of a
better life 100 years ago; and

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WHEREAS, The theme adopted by the Black Metropolis National
Heritage Project Steering Committee, "Creating a New Promise",
acknowledges the hope that has been restored through the new
political administration and addresses the need for the greater
Chicagoland region to deliver on its promise and create a new
social compact for the future; and
WHEREAS, To succeed in the 21st century global competition
for jobs, prosperity, and quality of life for all, we must have
inspiring and well-accepted plans to produce action; and
WHEREAS, The Great Migration Centennial will challenge
children and adults throughout the region to make choices today
that will define the way we live for the next century;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Great Migration
Centennial Commission is created; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the members of the Commission shall include
the President of the Senate or his designee and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives or his designee, each serving as
one of the co-chairpersons, the Governor or his designee, one

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vice-chairperson appointed by the co-chairpersons, all of whom
shall serve as the Executive Committee and 25 appointed
members, with the Governor, the President of the Senate, the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of
the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives appointing 5 members each; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the appointed members shall serve without
compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and
necessary expenses from non-public sources if funds allow; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the appointed members shall be from diverse
backgrounds so as to reflect the diverse citizenry of Illinois
working together for a common democratic cause, and that their
individual qualifications shall include varying educational,
professional, and civic experiences that bring different
perspectives and cooperative outlooks to the Commission; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the purpose of the Commission is to plan for
the Great Migration Centennial to be commemorated and
celebrated from January to December 2016 and to:
1. Elevate the centennial of the Great Migration to a
high-profile bi-partisan event;
2. Recognize the Great Migration as the largest

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migration to ever occur in North America;
3. Stimulate and encourage the creation and growth of
programs about the Great Migration;
4. Highlight and publicize the institutions in the
State that are connected to the Great Migration and their
impact;
5. Work with coordinated statewide groups
commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Great
Migration; and
6. Encourage communities and citizens to support and
get involved in the commemoration; and be it further
RESOLVED, The Great Migration Centennial Commission serves
to promote a deeper knowledge, understanding and engagement in
the life and times of the African American Migration
Experience, through conferences, publications, preservation of
historic sites, and local, statewide and national observances
as well as arts projects, forum, travel and tourism promotions
and year-long celebration activities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission's preliminary goals are to
develop:
1. a national honorary committee of historians,
educators, authors, politicians, celebrities and other
notables;
2. educational curriculum, events, tours, exhibits and

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programs at the elementary, high school, secondary,
graduate and post-graduate level;
3. a signature entertainment event for fundraising and
broadcast purposes;
4. an educational symposium with university partners,
the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment
for the Humanities, the Illinois Arts Council, as well as
private foundations and other philanthropic organizations;
5. a year-long cultural promotional event calendar
supported by travel packages and other travel or tourism
incentives; and
6. a logo and trademark design for official use on all
Centennial commissioned related merchandise, apparel and
products officially licensed; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission shall meet as frequently as
necessary, at the call of the co-chairpersons; and be it
further
RESOLVED, The Commission shall have the option of creating
a Council of Advisors and any working groups or committees it
deems necessary; and be it further
RESOLVED, The Commission shall have the option to
collaborate with any federal or local commissions designated to
recognize the Great Migration Centennial commemoration via

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internet links, shared exhibits, activities and programs; and
be it further
RESOLVED, The Commission shall work with and establish
opportunities with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
and the Mayor's Office of Special Events; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commission shall, while working in
coordination with and with the assistance of the Black
Metropolis National Heritage Area Project Steering Committee,
broaden outreach by using established channels, including
publicly supported media and electronic, computer-assisted
communication systems, and elicit voluntary assistance from
educational, legal, civic, and professional organizations and
institutions, as well as notable individuals; and be it further
RESOLVED, That no later than December 31, 2012, the
Commission shall report to the General Assembly and the
Governor on its planning progress to commemorate and celebrate
the Great Migration Centennial; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Historic Preservation Agency, subject
to appropriation, shall have responsibility for, and may
provide technical assistance and administrative support to,
the Commission in its efforts; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That any such appropriation may be refunded to
the Historic Preservation Agency, should the Commission choose
to do so; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
delivered to the Governor of the State of Illinois.