Bill Text: IL SR1294 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Ernest Robert Jenkins.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-01-31 - Resolution Adopted [SR1294 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR1294-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Ernest Robert "Ernie" Jenkins, who passed
away on January 2, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins was born in Wayside, Mississippi to
Willie Jenkins and Corenia Dukes Watson on December 30, 1929;
he attended Bowman High School and graduated from Philander
Smith College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology; he
served in the United States Air Force and completed the
requirements for a Master of Social Work at George Williams
College, now Aurora University; he married Gloria J. Jenkins;
and
WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins started working as a group worker
for a branch of Chicago Youth Centers in 1956; he began his
career by organizing local communities, focusing on addressing
issues resulting from the problem of street gang violence and
related inner-city problems; during the late 60s, he became
involved with the National Training Laboratory (NTL) and became
a sensitivity (human relations) trainer; he eventually became
an independent consultant to management and a much sought after
voice on related issues; he was retained by the Daniel D.
Howard Association as a senior consultant for nearly 10 years
and conducted marketing research and human relations training

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throughout the United States and for several key institutions
in the City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins later served as Executive Director
for Programs West YMCA, Austin YMCA, and the Southside YMCA,
the latter of which he was instrumental in building; he joined
the staff of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago in November of
1971; his major emphasis was on organizing community groups for
self-help purposes; during his tenure as Vice President for
Community Development, he co-founded the Westside Association
for Community Action (WACA), where he served as CEO until 2009
after "Passing the Torch" to his daughters in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins received numerous honors and
awards, including Mt. Sinai Hospital's Distinguished
Afro-American Man of Distinction, Frontiers International's
Man of the Year Award, the Community Service Award from the
South Side Help Center, the Joe Puntil Award from the Illinois
Collaboration on Youth, the National Child Labor Committee
Lewis Hine Award for Professional Service to Children and
Youth, the Blackbook Award which honors one of ten outstanding
businessmen and professionals, the Passing the Torch Award from
the Black United Fund of Illinois, the Distinguished Service
Award from the George Williams College Alumni Association, the
Man of the Year Award from Philander Smith College, and a host
of other distinguished accomplishments and accolades; and

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WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins was a member of the Chicago Temple
First United Methodist Church, the Sinai Community Institute,
the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY), the Illinois Health
Facilities Planning Board, the National Association of Social
Workers, and the Lawndale Business and Local Development
Corporation; he was a member and founder of the Chicago Rat
Pack; and
WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins was preceded in death by his wife,
Gloria; and
WHEREAS, Ernie Jenkins is survived by his daughters, Gloria
Corene Jenkins and Lola Jean Jenkins; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Ernest Robert "Ernie" Jenkins, and extend our sincere
condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
him; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Ernie Jenkins as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.