Honorary Jesse C. White Way

Jesse White is the longest serving Secretary of State in Illinois (1999-2023), 24 years; Cook County Recorder of Deeds (1993-1999); a member of the Illinois General Assembly (16 years). He served in the Chicago Public Schools for 30 years; he served in the Army and in the Illinois National Guard. He also played minor league baseball for the Chicago Cubs. While in college in Alabama, Martin Luther King, Jr. was his pastor.

Before his political career, he was best know for his performance troupe, the Jesse White Tumblers, which he formed in 1959 to teach urban youth the value of athletics and staying in school. His athletes are required to maintain a C-average or better grades and away from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. More than 18,000 youth have come through his program. In retirement from politics he is still actively involved with the Tumblers.

Veteran: Army 101st Airborne Division

Alum
Alabama State University (College) and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
Lincoln Park High School (Waller High School)

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Honorary Jesse C. White Way

100 West to 800 West Division Street

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Approved

Ward: 42

b. June 23, 1934 in Alton, Illinois

Near
Jesse White Field House
412 West Chicago Avenue

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Source

http://jessewhitetumblingteam.com/

WGN-TV Interview: https://youtu.be/yKPimx-0plg?si=emMZjORZar2mNK5i

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_White_(politician)

Illinois Organ and Tissue Donation Program. https://youtu.be/cw54o9HjSrY?si=aHG1ERRtB37Amtgh

Joel Hall - a portrait

Joel Hall - Awakening the dancer in everyone's soul.

Posted by Honorary Chicago on Friday, December 4, 2015

Congratulations Joel!

Honorary Joel Hall Way is outside his dance studio at 5965 N. Clark Street

The Joel Hall Youth Dance Company

"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret...

Posted by Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth on Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Visit Honorary Joel Hall Way outside the Joel Hall Dance Center

Jewel Stradford Lafontant Day in Chicago September 17, 2001

Jewel Stradford Lafontant was a very impressive Chicagoan; throughout her life she was at the forefront of fighting segregation and the mistreatment of individuals in all forms.

Jewel Stradford Lafontant in 1946 was the first African-American woman to earn a law degree from the University of Chicago.  While a student she led protests and took legal action against local restaurants that discriminated against black patrons.

She began her legal career at the Legal Aid Society. In 1963 she won a case before the Supreme Court defending her client against a forced confession while in police custody. This was one of the cases which led to the 1966 adoption of the Miranda warnings to protect the rights of the accused. 

Jewel Lafontant ascended to high ranks in the US government.  In 1955 President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her assistant US Attorney for the Illinois Northern District.  She went on to become the highest ranking woman in President Richard Nixon's administration as US Deputy Solicitor General in 1973.   In 1989 President George H. W. Bush  appointed her ambassador-at-large for refugee affairs at the State Department. 

Jewel Lafontant was on Ebony Magazine's list of the 100 most influential black Americans.  She was also on the board of directors of several large companies and institutions.  She served in leadership positions with the Chicago National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 

The City of Chicago honored her with Jewel Stradford Lafontant Day in Chicago September 17, 2011 on the occasion of the dedication of her honorary street sign Jewel Stradford Lafontant Way. 

Jewel Stradford Lafontant-Mankarious, April 28, 1922 – May 31, 1997.

Born in Chicago
Oberlin College
University of Chicago Law School

NYT Obituary  http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/03/us/jewel-lafontant-mankarious-lawyer-and-us-official-dies.html