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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF CONSERVATION
WHEREAS, International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day and celebrated annually on May 1st, has its roots in Chicago and commemorates the historic struggle of workers who have organized for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the eight-hour workday; and
WHEREAS, although May Day began in industrial spaces, labor rights movements have since grown to account for workers in the fields of agriculture, land preservation, environmental education, and conservation; and
WHEREAS, the Forests Preserves of Cook County is a great source of pride for the county, standing as a pillar of ecological restoration, environmental education, recreation, and protection of wildlife and nature; and
WHEREAS, the Preserves would not be able to maintain its 70,000 acres of land without its dedicated 1,600 annual employees - including policy experts, ecologists, administrative workers, programming and education specialists, maintenance workers, restorationists, on the field workers, first responders, and a myriad of volunteers; and
WHEREAS, the Preserves sits on the lands of the Council of Three Fires - the Ojibwa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi - as well as the Miami, HoChunk, Menominee, Sauk, and Meskwaki peoples who for decades preserved, cultivated, and managed the land we know today. As stewards of their land, the Preserves honors and uplifts Indigenous labor; and
WHEREAS, Black Americans have also formed an important part of the Preserve’s labor movement history, such as the African American Civilian Conservation Corp who were instrumental in engineering the Skokie Lagoons; and
WHEREAS, farmers in Illinois also play an important role in the history of public lands by protecting habitats, restoring ecosystems, and leveraging agricultural techniques to improve soil health; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves of Cook County has land currently utilized by farmers to grow crops that prevent the growth of invasive species while conservationists create restoration plans and cultivate resources for the area; and
WHEREAS, as the preserves grow, the role of workers and volunteers also grows, both in responsibility and in numbers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Forest Preserves of Cook County honors the role the labor movement has played in the history of public lands and will continue to celebrate the contributions of workers for the greater good of our environment and human life.
BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board, and the Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, celebrate the past and present workers whose contributions are invaluable for the conservation of our natural lands.
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