HR1486 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1486 LRB096 24357 KXB 43936 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate James F. Capraro, the founding Executive Director and CEO of the Greater Southwest Development Corporation, on his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Capraro retired from the position he has held for 35 years on July 2, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Jim, or "Cappy", is the son of Italian Catholic immigrants, and grew up in Marquette Park; and

WHEREAS, After witnessing Dr. Martin Luther King's march in Marquette Park, Mr. Capraro made the decision to work in community development; he was involved in organizing an antiwar movement during college; he later took a job with the Southwest Community Congress to work against block busting and redlining, both of which kept blacks out of neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, He also advocated for the passage of the Federal Home Mortgage Disclosure and Community Reinvestments Acts, leading him to establish the Greater Southwest Development Corporation in 1976; and

WHEREAS, During his time with the Greater Southwest Development Corporation he worked on major development projects, including 3 senior housing projects, the Jewel Osco grocery store, the IMAN health clinic and headquarters, and the rehabilitation of single family properties for first time home buyers; and

WHEREAS, Under his leadership the Greater Southwest Development Corporation was designated by the National Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation as a national model for commercial revitalization organizations and was selected in 2001 by the Chicago Local Initiatives Support Corporation as a recipient of the Outstanding Community Development Organization award; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Capraro continues to work as the Principal of Capraro Consulting and works across the country for National Local Initiatives Support Corporation, promoting comprehensive community development; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jim Capraro for his years of hard work and dedication and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jim Capraro as a symbol of our respect and esteem.