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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF CYNTHIA MORENO
WHEREAS, Ms. Cynthia Moreno will retire from her position as Director of the Conservation & Experiential Programming Department after seven years of service to the Forest Preserves of Cook County on December 26, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moreno has spent 43 years working as a public servant advocating for the rights and well-being of underprivileged communities in Cook County, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moreno started her career at the Illinois Department of Corrections as case manager, then she worked for Chicago’s Department of Human Services as a case worker, working with her sister Diana Fuentes and progressing to be the Assistant Director of Emergency Services from 1979 to 1990. Ms. Moreno later worked at Association House of Chicago as the Child Welfare Division Director, overseeing the management of group homes and shelters for women and children, adults with disabilities and adolescents with disabilities from 1990 to 1998; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moreno also served the Chicago Park District as the Central Region Manager, overseeing 127 parks, playgrounds and greenspaces including Garfield Park and Humboldt Park from 1998 to 2003. She later became the Deputy Director of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services leading a newly created Child Support Division and serving the entire state of Illinois for more than seven years; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Ms. Moreno joined the Forest Preserves and was appointed Assistant to the General Superintendent to support new initiatives welcoming new audiences, partners, and communities. It was later determined that a new department should be formed within the Forest Preserves to coalesce the efforts of the education and recreation teams and that Ms. Moreno had the vision, experience, and drive to lead that department; and
WHEREAS, the Conservation and Experiential Programming (CEP) Department was formed in 2014 and has since been led by Ms. Moreno, achieving a 50 percent increase in the number of public programs and doubling the number of community partnerships. Ms. Moreno managed our five new campgrounds and oversaw new programmatic offerings at these sites resulting in over 240,000 people experiencing nature through camping. She also led the development of many new programs and strategies for engagement, including Youth Outdoor Ambassadors, the Camping Leadership Immersion Course, Community Leadership Workshops, the Greater Maywood Paddling Program, Bird the Preserves (#birdthepreserves), Conservation at Home (Conservation@Home), Cooler in the Forest, Better Beaubien in Action, nature play guidelines, a CEP Interpretive Plan, and The Sand Ridge Campus Initiative; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moreno has always been active in her community, including her work as a member of the Chicago Azteca Lions Club, and she supported campaigns for local leaders in the Chicagoland area and encouraged civic engagement. All of her community outreach with Chicago’s Mexican-American Community was accomplished together with her sister Diana; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moreno has raised two outstanding daughters who serve their country and communities. She is a lifelong Cub’s fan, growing up in the shadow of Wrigley Field, going to spring training, many games, and celebrating the 2016 Cubs World Series win with her Forest Preserves colleagues. And she will never be a Cardinals nor a Blues fan even though she’s moving to St. Louis; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Moreno has a green thumb; shares an affinity with the Monarch Butterfly and its’ travels between the United States and Mexico; rooted deeply in her Mexican heritage; and opening her home and kitchen to all; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Toni Preckwinkle, along with the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners and on behalf of all citizens of Cook County do hereby congratulate Ms. Moreno on a distinguished career in public service and on her retirement. We thank Ms. Moreno for her many contributions to the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to Ms. Moreno in recognition of her career and contributions to the Forest Preserves of Cook County.
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