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Fformer Fifth Ward Alderman Leon Despres, Who Received a Special Published by the Hyde Park Historical Society Former Fifth Ward Hyde Park-Kenwood is the FAlderman Leon Despres, place that also nurtured and who received a special produced the first female Mrican­ Cornell Awardfrom the Hyde American V.S. Senator in the Park Historical Society at the person of Carol Moseley Braun. 2008 mem bership, dinner, The first black mayor of Chicago, concluded his acceptance the late Harold Washington, statement by reflecting upon was a resident of Hyde Park­ Hyde Parkers w ho had served in Kenwood. On January 20,2009, public office over the years. He President-Elect Barack Obama ended by saying that, {{next year will officially be sworn in as I m ight see a Hyde Parker in President of the V nited States by the White House." OnJ anuary the Chief J ustice of the V nited 20, w hen Hyde Parker and States Supreme Court. H owever, forme·r U. S. Senator Barack he has already begun to publicly Obama takes the oath of office, announce and present his choices this will be true at last. for important positions for his What follows are contributions administration. As he has publicly by several Society members stated very often, he intends to about the significance ofMr. "hit the ground running" on Obama's election victory. issues like foreign policy, jobs, taxes, housing, health, education, ;'ii Timuel D. Black, civil rights etc. As one who before he publicly leader, historian and educator launched his political career, advised him on tactics he could On November 4th, 2008, use in community organizing, I Hyde Park-Kenwood residents know that when he chooses "the and their friends could shout and ground" he wants to "run" on he yell wherever they were that one "runs" very fast in order to reach of their neighbors, V .S. Senator his goals quickly. All along the Barack Obama, had been elected way he has had excellent trainers to be the 44th President of the and coaches to help him succeed. V nited States of America. It was On January 20th, 2009, he will beautiful and thrilling, not only be at the starting point as a long because President-Elect Obama is distance runner to reach the goals a resident of Hyde Park-Kenwood, of peace, harmony, and prosperity is an Mrican-American of mixed not only for citizens of the Vnited racial heritage, and has a brilliant, beautiful wife States, but for other deserving, needy people of the world. Michelle with an American slavery ancestry. Wow! Just We in Hyde Park-Kenwood are also long distance, three generations from slavery to the White House. political runners having produced such liberal stalwarts Such success of both President-Elect Obama and his as Leon Despres, Sruds Terkel, the late Senator Paul wife proves that America can be beautiful, especially if Douglas, Illinois State Representative Bob Mann, retired you live in Hyde Park-Kenwood. U.S. Justice Abner Mikva, former U.S. Senator Carol ~ 4j ~.~ 2 ~!~ ~ O Moseley Braun, and the late Chicago Mayor Harold . ~ Fifth Ward Alderman Lesl ie A. Hairston Washington, just to name a few. President Barack Obama is the beneficiary of the As a long-time supporter of Barack Obama, I share legacies of these great personalities. He faces the the excitement experienced by millions over the challenges not only of the issues he has outlined, but historical significance of this 2008 election. It is an also ofperpetuating and expanding the history and goals important moment in history for African Americans, of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community that started the 5th ward, Hyde Park, Chicago, the U.S., and the him on his historic success. The whole world is watching. rest of the world. I am reminded of the steps Obama took before he ,,~ Barbara Flynn Currie , Illinois State Representative from was elected this year's President-Elect. Obama was the 25th Congressional District since 1979 and House a former 5th ward resident during his campaign for Majority Leader since 1997 both the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate. I have had the great fortune of being able to witness I was thrilled to support Barack Obama when he his historical transition from these positions into the tossed his hat in the ring for State Senator from the presidency. 13th district. Barack handily won the seat in 1996, Hyde Park is illuminated by this historic moment and the political center of his lakefront district was just as former Hyde Park residents Harold Washington Hyde Park. and Carol Moseley Braun were respectively elected Barack's predecessors, Richard Newhouse and Alice as the first Mrican American Mayor of Chicago and Palmer, were pretty impressive. State Representatives the first Mrican American female to the U.S. Senate. serving the same territory included Bob Mann, Abner Though Hyde Park will be more regularly highlighted Mikva, and Carol Moseley Braun. Carol went on to in the newspapers , the true importance of this election become a United States Senator and an ambassador. is Obama's promise to focus on stimulating the Ab served in the United States Congress, on the economy and improving health care. Federal Court of Appeals, and in the White House as This election, I hope, marks a new beginning of General Counsel. voter participation. This election shows that voter Barack was pretty impressive, too. He was a involvement can make change happen. As the 5th thoughtful, dynamic advocate for progressive causes ward Alderman, I would like to see a large voter and, as the nation would discover during the 2004 turnout during city-wide elections as constituents are Democratic National Convention, a supremely gifted the political change makers of society. orator with the potential to inspire the nation to move beyond the divisive, counter-productive politics of Abner J. Mikva , former Illinois representative, U.S. the past. In Springfield, he worked effectively with Congressman, Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals colleagues from all parts of the state and both political for the District of Columbia, and White House Counsel, parties to get things done for our community. 1994-95 And now he's poised to become President of the United States of America. Hyde Park has spawned To those of us who were not born in Chicago, many first-rate political leaders. But to spawn the Hyde Park is not a place as much as it is a state of President of the United States? It's no wonder we're mind. When you choose Hyde Park to live and plant busting our buttons! It 's no wonder we can't get that your flag, you expect a certain kind of mores and smile off our face. community standards. (You better expect them; they Thank you, Barack. And thank you, America. are going to shape the way you live.) For example, you assume that you will pal around with all kinds of . Former Fifth Ward Alderman Leon M. Despres people, many marching to different drummers. They mayor may not influence your drumbeat, but they Hyde Park is not a corner of heaven. But it does are treated as part of the community. While many live attract a population that is somewhat above average well and are financially secure, that is not used as a in social and moral outlook. It has attracted Barack measuring stick in Hyde Park. Community organizers Obama. and working stiffs are given the same platform for In 1948, when the real estate industry's terrible their ideas and contributions as the financial titans racial covenants were struck down, Hyde Parkers who choose to live here. promptly organized and did so successfully to support Politics is a body sport in Hyde Park. People know open housing and sound living standards. It has been their state senators and their aldermen and constantly so ever since. That , plus the parks and lakeshore, review their work product. They too can march to attracted the presidential family and thousands of a lot of different drummers, but their music had others. Hurrah for open occupancy and good living! better be heard or else. Schools, parks and the kind of ~~ w II fer 2 008 / o 0 9 3 ~!~ materials used to protect the shoreli ne from the lake are everybody's concern and few decisions are accepted See ing History in from on high without some kind of protest. Oak Woods Cemetery The place where the Obama family is planning to take a sabbatical is altogether different from Hyde Park. Approximately twenty-five Society members spent But it is much less likely to have the community glue a splendid October afternoon visiting the Oak Woods for anybody moving into town, even as the first family. Cemetery, the most significant historic cemetery on Chicago's South Side. It was founded in 1854, a full . ~ Toni Preckwinkle has served as 4th Ward Alderman five years before Rosehill and Calvary Cemeteries on since 1991. Chicago's North Side. The Cemetery was constructed at 67th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue on sand ridges Barack Obama came into my office in 1992 to topped by mature oaks. Four small lakes: the Lake of talk about voter registration. As a staffer of Project Reverence, Symphony Lake, the Lake of Memories, Vote, he was responsible for the south side and south and Peaceful Lake accent the airy expanse of lawn and suburbs and talked with many elected officials about trees. The Cemetery, along with the Village ofHyde working together. Park, became part the City ofChicago in 1889. The I fo und him to be a smart and talented young man, early cemetery, was served by horse-drawn carriages and focused and dedicated.
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