You might not leave, you can pick that car up, but let your child run out in the street and the car run over.
You can pick that car up because that's what faith will do for you and that's what love will do for you.
So we have to love our people and this Aspire Center is the right name.
It is to aspire for greatness, like we have greatness in our dreams
and we have to show our greatness so we can leave a legacy for our children.
Our children see more than buffoonery on TV, buffoonery on social networks.
They can see us building their community, building their schools, building our businesses,
giving them jobs, encouraging them.
And this building, when you look at this building, we have faith to build it.
And because of faith, you see that Aspire Center.
So we're going to aspire to be a Moor by faith.
by faith. We're going to
give our own money. So
Donnell Shields called off
some names. What he didn't say
is that those people donated
$20,000 within two months.
And this was not selling
catfish dinners.
This was basically people coming in there
giving $2,000 and $1,000
and $1,000.
And we took that money over and gave it to
Westside Health Authority.
And I'm going to tell you, I have to tell you, because one name
was not called this morning.
him and he's very shy but that's my husband he's up here with this vietnam hat on and he gave and
he gave the most he gave 2 500 let's give him a hand and i want to tell y'all something else
i did promise him that he was going to have a brick with his name on it i think he came looking
for the brick thank you for some of our legacy this is legacy right here legacy and faith
which was taught to us
and so that's how we're going to continue the new generation
I'm going to be real quick
and of course, you know, I told you we're going to have a church in here
and Ms. Reed kicked it off with a gospel song
but we got to thank God for this
Amen, Hallelujah
Glory be all to God
because seven years ago
we didn't have direction
we didn't have resources
but God made it happen
we had a lot of discouragement and a lot of doubters
but when God got with us
and that team started moving
We made it happen
So this project is unique
Because it brought all the community together
From the churches to the elected officials
To the community residents
To the organizations
Organizations even like Body Hand Club
I thank you for supporting this project
From the very beginning
Adam Alonzo and Bill
We are all partners
We thank everybody for coming together
I'm just going to tell a quick story
Of how this all happened
So with faith
about seven years ago, it was at a backyard barbecue at Midway Park, close to your house,
Congressman. And we were just chopping up and people, there were
some ideas for developing this spot. But it was important to the
people in the neighborhood that this development is
built by community members and from a community plan. And that's
how me and Darnell connected, right? We applied for the Chicago
Prize together based on the feedback we heard from the
quality life plan from community meetings
from people so we had to listen
first and when we
listened we came up with this concept
of fire sentence so all the people
like Pastor said earlier
whether you prayed, you gave
you supported, give yourselves a
hands of applause. I particularly want
to thank our Alderman Chris Tomfaro
because this wouldn't happen without him
his leadership at the 29th
Board has been amazing
and he was the one who signed off
on us getting his property
So we thank you, sir.
I also want to thank our architects, Lamar Johnson, and particularly Max.
Because when we was looking at developing this property, we hired consultants with that $20,000.
And we thought we were going to tear the building down.
Well, Lamar Johnson came, he's invited with the site, and said, it's got good bones.
It's got good bones.
And that resonated with me because in Austin, we have good bones.
We've got to stop giving up on each other and look at the promise when we invest in each other.
We can all inspire. So, Lamar Johnson, thank you.
LaShawn Ford isn't here today. He's in Africa, but we thank him so much.
When we first came and said we wanted to develop this building, LaShawn Ford got GCEO to give us $10 million.
Well, thank you, Sean, of the Ancestors in Africa.
I'll tell you, Sean.
And upon that financial commitment with the state, you know, the Chicago Prize,
we were able to start putting the funding package together.
So we started to have a capital stack.
And we've developed a property.
A capital stack is very important to see how much you can do with a property, right?
And so with that capital stack, Lori Leifert and the city came right on board.
Let's see some here.
and not only did we just like not give us money for the building but they helped build this
beautiful pop fit that's on the corner the pop spaces are a unique innovation that was with the
former mayor so thank you and i gotta say it takes us all and so i just want to mention i i do thank
my wife and family dr monique reed you can't come home late nights and she said where you been
i'm doing this thing on central medicine yeah right no she supported from the very beginning
and give me all the flexibility that I need.
I want to thank our board of directors.
Where's my board at?
West South Authority board.
Bob and Gerald and Deborah and Calissa.
I thank you for being flexible with us
to give me the strength to move forward
on such a unique investment
because it was a risk, so I thank my board.
I also got to thank the WHA staff.
WHA staff, where you at?
West side.
In particular, Rosie Dawson.
Rosie, where you at?
Rosie's the leader out here
She's been hiring young people
And keeping this site clean for more than 4 or 5 years
Right Rosie? Maybe 7
Keeping it clean, I mean thank you
But I'm just so honored to be here
Today on June to celebrate
The Aspire Center
Because we're declaring freedom
Freedom from poverty, freedom from oppression
Freedom from economic
Distraints, freedom from disease
Freedom from violence
Freedom from addiction
and anything else that's plagued our community
for too many years, we are free.
Somebody touch their name and say, I am free.
I was going to do that, Pastor. I am free.
Thank God Almighty.
And actually, that's what we're going to end with.
In the words of Dr. Martha King,
free at last, free at last.
Thank God Almighty.
We're free at last.
Thank you so much.
I'm going to call Tessa from Loretta
to say a couple remarks.
She is the CEO president of Loretta Hospital just down the street here.
So she's one of the partners that we are going to link with to continue planning for our neighborhood to bring more health and wellness.
So give Tessa a round of applause.
Thank you. Good morning.
State Representative Camille Lilly could not be here today,
But we wanted to be sure that she could share some of her sentiments in her role with the Illinois legislator as chief external affairs officer for Loretto Hospital and as board member for the Westside Health Authority.
I am Taysa Anowishke, president and CEO for Loretto Hospital on behalf of the hospital.
Happy Juneteenth.
And congratulations on this historic milestone.
Emmett Elementary is now our Aspire Center.
Thank you to Congressman Danny Davis, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Representative Ford, Commissioner Stamps, Senator Leifert, Senator Harmon, Alderman Talia Farrow, and Assistant Majority Leader Camille Lilly for always standing up and showing out for the West Side.
We thank you for outstanding with this community, guiding it with love, strength, and purpose.
A special thank you to Morris Reed and the Westside Health Authority and its board for manifesting the community's vision.
Morris Reed, Jackie Reed, the Westside Health Authority, and many partners work hand-in-hand with the community
and other community-based organizations, including Austin coming together,
and across all levels of government to bring us here today for a new MA campus called Aspire,
a center of care, human development, and hope shaped by what we, the people, said we needed.
Your commitment to this endeavor exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and resilience that defines our community.
community. As we gather here for this ribbon-cutting ceremony, we are not only celebrating the
reopening of a physical space, but we are celebrating the dreams, ambitions, and potential
of so many people who walk through the doors. The Aspire Center aims to bridge the gap between
education, employment, and although we are not here yet, we're coming, health care, providing
our community members with the tools to be healthy and live fulfilling lives. Loretto
Hospital and its board is looking forward to bringing outpatient and specialty services
to the center. These services will support improved health outcomes for the community
on this campus that we envision and develop by the community itself. As we cut the ribbon
today, let it symbolize not just an opening, but a promise to invest in our greatest asset,
our people. I invite you all to join us in spreading the word about the opportunities
available here. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change, empowering lives and
strengthening the community as a whole. Let us embrace this moment with enthusiasm for the future
and the possibilities that lie ahead.
Today we witness the power of persistence, partnership, and people.
So on behalf of Loretto Hospital, its board of directors and State Representative Lilly, thank you.
Thank you all so much.
Give another round of applause for Darnell and Morris and the work they have led to get us here.
All right, we want to take a moment right now to ask our Cook County Board Commissioner for the very first district, Commissioner Tara Stamps to the stage, and Alderman Tyler Farrell for two-minute remarks as the mayor is on the way.
Give it up as she comes.
I'm going to keep this at two minutes, but I must say, oops, can you bring me my other glass?
I'm a woman of a certain age.
You know, you're making costume changes.
Put one pair on, you need the other.
Okay, so you'll get it.
Keep on living.
That's what I'm going to say.
As a veteran Chicago public school teacher and a proud member of the Chicago Teachers Union,
I was a part of that fight when 50 schools closed, primarily in black communities on the west and south side.
And I was a part of that fight when our words and our pain went unnoticed, when our tears were not dried, when parents would show up at community meetings and they were summarily dismissed.
We know that public school is the first thing and the only thing that enslaved Africans that were brought to this country demanded of the American government, and that was public education.
so to close 50 schools is beyond insult it is a stab wound it is a gunshot to the very vision
the hope of the slave and so for me to be able to be on this stage and be honored and be in the
shadow of this amazing woman uh we call Jackie um and to see this building and as the brother said
who had good bones and have life breathe back into those bones and thus life breathe back into
this community is beyond an honor it is the hope of our ancestors and when she said we put our own
money up first I need all of us to hear that we must participate in our own rescue accede our
future we must find our future stop looking for somebody else to come and save us we got the cake
and nothing to do with my that get left me a minute but
It was on my heart. I love you Jackie Reed and if you a young person or young-ish person and
get up, get what I am, get what I elders. We need to build intergenerational communication
and relationship because God has empowered you with the energy but he's given them the wisdom
and when you marry wisdom with energy and vision you are unstoppable. Anything can be done.
But it cannot be done if we do not reach back and protect our children.
It cannot be done if we don't cede it to their children.
And so I'm going to say this, and I said it before, and I'm going to keep saying it.
Whatever happens in the not-too-distant future, they're our future.
So it will be our responsibility, good, bad, different, or right or wrong, because they belong to us.
Not one, not some.
So we have a communal, we have a village responsibility to make sure that we take care of our children.
Because without taking care of them now, we have nothing to look forward to later.
And then all of this work is for naught if we don't have somebody to pass the baton to.
All right, here we go.
If my pipes was working, I'd give you a little back up, Jackie Rita.
I have a song in my hallelujah, Jesus.
in support of a vision that has become a reality.
The Aspire Center right here on the corner of Central and Madison.
And did y'all know there's plans to keep building up Madison?
She didn't tell y'all, she got another spot up Madison.
So there's a plan to keep building and resurrect Madison to its former glory.
This is more than brick and mortar.
It is a promise kept to a community that has waited for too long
for meaningful investment and transformative opportunity.
The Aspire Center represents hope. It represents possibility. It represents the future of the West Side.
Cook County is proud to have played a role in supporting this incredible institution, one designed to empower entrepreneurs, equip our youth, and serve as a hub for innovation, creativity, and healing.
It is a place where families will gather, where leaders will be developed, and local talent will be nurtured and unleashed.
This is what it looks like when public resources are used to lift people up, not leave them behind.
When government doesn't just govern, but it listens and it learns and it leads with the people.
Let us be clear.
This center did not appear overnight.
It was born out of decades of advocacy, organizing, and unwavering belief that our community deserves more.
And today we celebrate that belief by becoming tangible, rooted in justice, rooted in love, and rooted right here in neighborhood.
So to all who made this possible, thank you.
To the visionaries and the builders and the believers and the prayer warriors, thank you.
And to our community, this is for you.
May the Aspire Center always remind us of the greatness that lives here and that the best is yet to come because we see you, we hear you, we believe in you, we value you, and you belong right here. Don't go nowhere. This is home.
Good morning, everyone. Happy Juneteenth.
I have the honor of delivering brief remarks on behalf of Cook County Board President Tony Preckwinkle
in support of Commissioner Stamps, in support of all the great, great work brought together with the Aspire Center.
Congratulations. I'm the executive director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, or JAC, and we get to support and be a shareholder in breaking chains that link slavery to mass incarceration and bring about our aspirations for liberation with the support of the elected officials, the leadership that is here.
I'm grateful to be a witness to this work. Madam President, as a history teacher joining Commissioner Stamps looking at a school repurposed to be that light, is pretty excited to be here at 3 o'clock, just FYI.
But for me, I just will take the remaining
...a brief moment to speak about Cook County government's investments.
Westside Health Authority, where are you at?
Jane Adams Resource Corporation, where are you at?
Thank you, Jane.
I'm confident there are others that we get to be a shareholder of,
but we have active grants with the support of Commissioner Stamps,
the County Board, President Preckway-Pill,
with these anchor tenants defining the work here at Aspire Center
that we want to continue to be able to support.
I also want to acknowledge Team Sharon Mitchell, the Cook County Public Defender's Office, if you're raising your hand over here.
We have a Freedom Defense Center humanizing the work of defense, recognizing that the work is in the communities most impacted, not in the courtrooms or in cages.
And so with that, the Aspire Center is really holding a strong example for all of us mere mortals trying to get the work done.
On this Juneteenth, I'm taking back the wind of inspiration, faith, and love that you've shared
back into the work of Cook County alongside the leadership here, and I'm very grateful.
Congratulations, everyone.
I said that I would not scream into the mic if you guys are like me.
It's pretty loud this morning.
Before I start, let me acknowledge my good friend from the West Side in the 27th Ward.
Oh, I apologize.
The 28th Ward.
My colleague Alderman Jason Irving, his wonderful wife and our city treasurer, Melissa Connierzer.
It's an honor to speak with you this morning and to be here as we celebrate Juneteenth.
Juneteenth's legacy is built in a fight for freedom, a fight for equity, and a fight out of love.
All so that we can be here celebrating today.
And I want to kind of echo something that Ms. Reese said earlier.
This is a fight that's really rooted in love.
That's rooted in a love not just for the city of Chicago, but a love in people.
And I've always said that when you love people, you get a different result.
You get a better result.
I want to thank Darnia Shields of Austin coming together and Morris Reed of Westside Health Authority
for my early education in community.
We don't often tell the whole story behind this project,
but the whole story actually includes a meeting with Maureen and Mr. Dwayne Trust
to teach me about the value of community,
the value of how we can build on a community when we come together.
But I came, when I became alderman, I came with a vision of this building, Emmett Elementary School, that didn't include community.
They quickly sat down with me.
I'm going to tell the whole story, but within two minutes.
They quickly sat down with me to help me realize that we have to build this, not just for the community, but by the community itself.
So I thank you, Morris, for that early education. Because of that, we're able to look beyond the dreadfulness that we saw on the intersection of Madison and Central, and we're able to look at hope at the intersection of Madison and Central.
Just last week, the mayor joined us, well, a couple of weeks ago,
the mayor joined us for ribbon-cutting on Soul City Corridor.
Another vibrant, another vibrant development in the Austin community.
Just yesterday, we cut ribbon on a $35 million health care center
brought to the Austin community by Rush Health Care.
Just a couple of years ago, just south of here,
build openness, development for youth and family services.
We are a community that's growing.
We are a people that has to continue to best invest in community.
And I thank you, Mr. Mayor, for being a part of the dream of the West Side
so that we can look into tomorrow for a better future.
Your efforts are not unnoticed.
And I know it's difficult being in your position,
but your efforts in building the strength of the black community
is not unnoticed keep fighting for us keep fighting for your home the Austin community and I'll say this that's
fight that's not just built on a love for Chicago, but it's a fight that's built on love for the
people in this city. God bless you all. Thank you. Hey, good morning, everyone. My name is Sean
Garrett, and I have the privilege of being the CEO of United Way of Metro Chicago. Thank you.
Very kind of y'all. More importantly, I am the president of the fan club for Darnell Shields
and Austin coming together and Morris and Westside Health Authority. So I'm grateful that they let
Let me hang out with them every once in a while.
So today's a really exciting day,
and we're grateful to have been with you through this journey.
And Darnell, I heard you earlier asking and saying,
you know, we're grateful for everyone who's been here,
but the next test is where we go next,
and that's what we're here to be with you
and the next step as we move forward
because we're really proud of what you've done here.
This is one of many things that are in that quality of life plan.
You've already done a lot of those things,
but we have a lot more ahead of us,
and our commitment is to stay with you
every step of that way the way we have been to this point and we're here to
celebrate today but frankly this is just the kickoff for what comes next and so
on behalf of everyone again anyway we have a number of our team like we are
so proud to be part of this incredible effort you all have an incredible team
and most importantly there's an incredible community because this is
the community's vision this is the community's plan and all of us are just
stewards to help make it happen and so really just grateful for that one of the
key partnerships though that really helped make this happen that we're
incredibly proud to be a part of is our partnership with BMO. BMO, we definitely
give them a big round of applause. Whenever someone in this city asks for help to get
something done, BMO is already there doing the work and we're incredibly proud
to be their partner. They have done so much for us at United Way but so much
across this region. The fact that they're not just an investor here but they're a
partner in the building just speaks to who they are and what they're about and
And so I'm incredibly proud that we get to introduce my good friend, Eric Smith, who's the U.S. Vice Chair of BMO.
I see my friend Daryl Hackett here as well.
If you look around, there's a ton of folk from BMO here.
And they're here because they care about the partnership, they care about the work, and they care about this community.
And so grateful to be with you all.
I'm really proud of this partnership.
So congratulations to everyone.
Turn it over to you, Eric.
Good morning, everyone.
It's truly an honor to be here to represent our colleagues from BMO.
to celebrate the grand opening of the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation.
We want to really be a part of the community in a way that helps to promote a thriving economy that works for all.
And we're truly thankful for this opportunity.
This is a tremendous day as we celebrate Juneteenth
because we recognize that we have to invest in communities in a comprehensive way
that provides capital and a way that will allow us to make the investments for the future.
And at BMO, we believe in our purpose to boldly grow the good in business and life.
And we're now thankful for the many opportunities that we've had for collaboration and partnership to achieve that.
I'd first like to thank Darnell Shields for his visionary leadership.
It's his leadership that inspires us and inspires us to open doors of opportunities for all.
I'd also like to thank Sean Garrett for his opportunities of leadership
to bring folks together for convening for both the public and private sector.
I'd like to thank Mayor Brandon Johnson for his unwavering support and commitment.
And I'd like to thank Mayor Lori Lightfoot for her vision to invest in communities
in a way that inspires us to recognize that we can't just invest in downtown and in the Gold Coast,
but that we have to invest in those communities that have been left behind.
And so on this day, we are especially thankful because the Aspire Center is a powerful proof
that neighborhood-led transformation is possible, and it underscores our belief
and the power of collaboration and community-based investment
to drive positive change for our future.
With that, I'd like to hand it over to Regan Brewer,
who's the president of the Jane Addams Resource Corporation.
Thank you.
Mel made me cry earlier, so I'm going to try not to get too emotional up here.
I've been doing a lot of crying since January 20th, so...
Hopefully today, my heart is full, and it was tears of joy.
So I am Regan Brewer-Johnson, the president of the Jane Addams Resource Corporation,
or as we're more affectionately known as JARC.
I have had the pleasure of working at JARC for the past 17 years,
so I've been on this journey with Austin coming together for a number of years,
and I have had the pleasure of serving as JARC's president for the last four.
So, throughout my tenure at JARC, I've had the honor of participating in a lot of events,
ribbon cuttings, hosting elected officials, and the like.
But today is really unique, because I'm not just here as a representative of JARC.
Today, JARC is part of a larger vision for the West Side, and it's the culmination of
the vision of two leaders who I greatly admire, Darnell and Morris.
Yes, I'm also a fangirl of the Darnella Morris crew.
So it's really their perseverance and dedication
that's made today a reality.
I really don't know two other people
who could have moved the mountains that it took
to pull off such a bold vision.
At JARC, we believe that people who work
should not live in poverty,
and we support individuals and their families
in pursuit of a better life.
and we present them with opportunities to achieve their goals and the way that
we work to accomplish this mission is through training for the advanced
manufacturing sector we believe that good jobs and careers in advanced
manufacturing can be a catalyst that moves people out of poverty and into
the middle class so please while you're here make sure to stop by our training
center you can check out some really cool machines that we have machine
demos, and you can learn a little bit more about how things are made. So excited doesn't even begin
to describe how I feel about being part of this momentous occasion. Again, I'm going to try not
to tear up. We're thrilled to be here with all of you, and we can't do this work alone, but together
we can build an ecosystem that will help Westside residents achieve their dreams. And in spite of
all the turmoil that's going on in the world
today, the Aspire Center will be a beacon
of hope. And on behalf of everyone
at DARK, we just can't wait to get started.
Thank you.
Hello, I'm Max Combiage. I'm an architect
at Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
I get to speak briefly
and I'll try to give you one minute just on behalf
of the design and construction team.
Thank you all so much for being here.
I want to give a big shout out to Lamar Johnson
for taking us on a tour of the West Side
six years ago and getting us in front
of this building to meet Darnell and see
to close Emmett School.
And then a huge thank you to Morris and Darnell
for your passion for this project
and for putting your trust in us
to help you achieve your vision.
I remember the first time we were here,
it was 10 degrees outside.
It was maybe negative 10 inside.
It was cold.
All the paint was peeling.
The ceilings were falling down.
The floors were peeling up.
And it was just really sad to see
this community asset sitting here abandoned.
And that's why we were so thrilled
when Morris and Darnell trusted us
to help them see their vision
for the Esquire Center.
So we started by taking the fence down on the outside
and building this pop-up park to let people know
that incredible things were coming.
And then we turned the building around to face the corner
and built this beautiful lobby for you all
to open to the community, invite people in.
And then we filled it with tenants
that are going to do incredible things for this community.
So this has been the most challenging project of my career
for sure, but absolutely the most rewarding project.
It's kind of bittersweet to see it come to an end, honestly,
but I'm so thrilled to see you all here today and it's excited to see you in the building and can't
wait to come back to see the incredible things happening years from now at the Aspire Center
so thank you all good morning or should I say afternoon we're on our way to afternoon now
my name is Cassandra Norman I am a resident a proud resident here in the Austin community
I've been here 40 years plus, and I have observed this community from a protective lens as well as a proactive lens.
My protective lens has been as a Chicago police officer where I served here for 25 years.
Nowhere but here, I reside here and I still volunteer.
with many organizations here, so I'm a real Austin Knight.
I haven't made 50 years yet, 40 plus.
I just want you all to know that this Aspire Center will be a beacon of hope and love for
our community to work, live, and also to thrive for generations to come.
That's what this building represents to me.
When I drive past here almost every day, I look and I watch the progression grow and grow and grow.
And as Rashida said, we smile when we walk past here, when we drive past here to see the accomplishments that have come.
And knowing what's going to happen for the future.
So I just want you all to know that this facility will be here to support and provide services to this community,
the residents, the community leaders, businesses, and industry, all here at one location.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all of the people that made this possible.
I know everybody's been thanked, but I would like to thank everyone on behalf of the community, and that would be to thank our donors, our funders, our elected officials, and the community as a whole.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Good morning, everyone.
A special shout out to Darnell Shield and Morris Reed.
What a great day today, but it's always a great day when Madison and Central take center stage as a center of public-private investment.
And more importantly, investment in people that live, work, and raise families right here in Austin.
$41 million is a huge testament to the vision and commitment of Westside Health Authority, Austin Coming Together, Jane Addams Resource Corp, Alderman Talia Farrell, and our very own Mayor Brandon Johnson.
As planning commissioner, I'll note that more than $12 million is sourced from Madison Austin too, which was created specifically for projects just like this.
Projects that train people for the jobs of tomorrow, and jobs that pay living wages.
This is how we build better together today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
I should also mention that the Austin Ford Quality of Life Plan did an amazing job creating the context for the Aspire Center to evolve.
As well as the adjacent pop fit, which you heard earlier, that served as a down payment on the building improvements to come.
The reimagining of this entire block is proof of concept that planning, vision, and creative financing can support a destination-oriented neighborhood for all Chicagoans that they expect and that they deserve.
right here at Madison and Central, where tactical urbanism will thrive for centuries,
especially as the front door is open to an aspiring new era.
Now I'd like to invite our fearless leader, our North Star, our mayor,
Mayor Brandon Johnson, to the stage.
What's up, West Side? Happy Juneteenth.
What an incredible way to celebrate the emancipation and complete liberation
of the people who are responsible for the evolution of this democracy.
Thank you, Commissioner Boatwright, for your leadership and your commitment.
She's doing an amazing job.
She really is doing an amazing job across this city
of ensuring that economic development really becomes a reality.
Boy, it feels so good to be in your own neighborhood.
This is the shortest distance that I've ever had to commute to get to work today.
We could just build a whole city office partnership inside.
We could just be attending the fifth floor on Madison.
Thank you.
We should talk about that.
Let's see what that rent looks like.
It might be cheaper than renting a space downtown.
Budget director, we should look into that, Chairman Irvis.
It's going to make your job easier.
Thank you to our city council members, Jason and Chris.
They're two incredible human beings.
It's really cool to have two brothers on the west side.
Actually, three. Married, raising families. This notion that somehow black men are not leading. What a lie.
I mean, come on, y'all. Darnell, Morris. I don't feel like giving my speech anymore.
I'm going to use my three and a half minutes just to talk about the fact that we have black men on the west side of Chicago leading people.
One more time. On Juneteenth, we are celebrating the fact.
Now, let me see what my speech writer put over here today.
Let me see.
Westside Health Authority.
Thank you.
Thank you, Eric, too, from BMO.
Eric and BMO, what did I say?
BMO, thank you.
They're also working with us as we build safer communities.
Let me just announce something, too, on Juneteenth.
Homicides are down 28% in the city of Chicago.
Homicides, shootings, shooting victims, violent crime is down as a whole.
When I was running for office, they said that we could not build a safe, affordable city.
Well, look at us now.
A safer, more affordable big city.
And the Aspire Center is really a part of a larger collective struggle for our liberation.
That's why my last few words here, I want to thank, you know, Ms. Jackie Reed.
First of all, besides her and Congressman Davis, they've had to work with like eight or nine different mayors to get one on the west side.
You're welcome, both of you.
Finally got y'all a west side mayor.
Listen, we love Harold. We love Lori.
I'm just saying, the west side is...
Okay, something, something else.
You know, this $40 million, over $40 million project is really an inspiration.
I want to say this last thing.
You know, I've said that investing in black is not a criminal act.
But let me tell you what is criminal and violent.
You know, other cultures are always taught never to forget.
We have to always remember.
It's a difference.
That's a word there.
Pastor, Pastor Empteen, I've got something going here.
That's a word.
We always have to remember.
When the Emanuel administration closed down this school and 53 others,
that was a violent act against black people.
See, listen, y'all, we have to name when the harm is done.
Because you don't get a spire without understanding the history of this building.
These brothers did not just come up with this idea about workforce.
We lost jobs to black women when this thing was closed.
There are black children who were displaced, of which 223 of them have never been accounted for since the school closings.
And when we talk about the Maafa and the number of black folks that never made it on the other side,
think about the black children that we don't even know where they are.
It was a violent act to shut this thing down.
But I am so glad that black folks do not crack, especially when it comes to dealing with violent acts.
This is a true testament to what our ancestors dreamed of.
In the workforce development hub and manufacturing training center,
50 new jobs and creating opportunities for over 500 new households to be able to build generational wealth.
I will just say this, the door was slammed on us when this school was closed.
but with the support
And the help of our ancestors and these incredible leaders, we have not only busted this door wide open, we are creating more opportunities for posterity.
And so I want to express, you know, I have to read a few things on here.
I want to express my deep appreciation for all of the community groups and the members who have transformed this space and have made it a place where we can build a future.
I'm so proud that we are investing in our city, a $1.25 billion bond investment for economic development and housing.
It is the largest investment in the history of Chicago, and we're just getting started.
God bless you all. God bless the West Side. God bless the greatest freaking city in the world, the city of Chicago. Thank you all.
I'd be remiss as the mayor spoke about these incredible black women who educated children in this building.
They are here today.
If you are here and you taught and you worked and you toiled and led at Emmett School, please stand and be recognized and acknowledged.
This moment does not happen without you.
Thank you so much.
This is the moment we have all been waiting for.
According to Morris, it's been at least 70 years that we have been waiting for this moment.
Here's what we're going to do.
We're going to head over to the building so that we can witness the ribbon cutting together.
And at 1230, we're going to come back here to celebrate the grand marshals of this great affair.
12 o'clock, we're going straight over to the building to cut the ribbon.
1230 meet back in the pavilion
as Darnell will celebrate
the grand marshals of this great affair
my name is Rashida Grant Washington
I'm the executive director for
K. Ryan Center for the Arts Foundation
and a proud daughter of the
Austin neighborhood
thank you so much
That lens is great.
The lens?
Yeah, that's a good lens.
It's a Canon Cinema lens.
It's got really, really fine-tuned focus wheel
and then the manual light iris.
I got eyes on Darno.
Darno, you have spots right there.
Yep.
The man's here.
No, we're doing filming for United Way.
I like this.
Woo!
I like this.
I can't!
I like this.
The home park is located in auchie
Samhain
The home park is located at the office
The home park is located in a garage
.
That's a very good one.
I like the color.
I like the color.
I like the color.
I like the color.
okay
okay
So what did you do?
Which one definitely came from the price tag on the grill.
Here we go.
We have to wait for a minute.
. . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
OK, let her back, let her back, let her back, hold on, let her back.
OK, how are you doing, my man?
You'll see, sir.
OK.
OK.
OK.
OK.
OK.
I don't know, they're not.
Is that my name?
Everyone take one step back.
You've got to make it tighter.
You've got to make it tighter.
Yeah.
On the parade.
And then everyone on the parade.
Running.
Look, something's going on.
I'm going to hear some in the back on this side.
We got to talk to everyone about the third floor, I got it.
Awesome, this is just a little with us.
Are you guys sitting over here?
Get nice and tight if you are.
This is it right here.
Okay.
Can I get more right here?
Look here, look here, look here.
All right, we're going to cut on three.
One, two, three.
That was a dress rehearsal for real this time.
One, two, three.
But you can hear a lot.
You get the picture out of Ripley.