A statement from Carole Wood, CEO of Northwestern Settlement
On the behalf of Northwestern Settlement, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome and congratulations to Brandon Johnson in his first week as the new Mayor of Chicago. His inauguration represents the start of a new chapter in the history of our city, one filled with opportunities to build a Chicago that works for all Chicagoans. The challenges we face are formidable, but so is our collective strength when we leverage all the ingenuity, determination, and diversity of our communities.
Among any city’s greatest assets are its young people, who will become tomorrow’s civic and commercial leaders. Everyone has an interest in preparing Chicago’s youth by giving them the resources they need to thrive. Public schools are an essential pillar of this project. We look forward to working with the new administration to rejuvenate our city’s public education system so that our schools serve as bedrocks for their communities, providing not just a quality education but also wrap-around services in the form of mental health counseling, emergency aid, youth engagement programs, and academic support. By delivering these and other vital services to thousands of learners and neighbors every year, Northwestern Settlement is working to make the communities we serve more robust and resilient. Though our programs have evolved since our founding over 130 years ago, our mission has remained the same: providing a holistic network of support that empowers young people and families to thrive.
In his inaugural address, Mayor Johnson called upon “the soul of Chicago” to bring all stakeholders together in the common pursuit of prosperity for all of our citizens, regardless of the particular zip code in which they happen to live. We strongly agree with this sentiment, and stand ready to join the new administration in the effort to build a stronger, more inclusive Chicago.
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