Cook County Board Meeting Recognizes Doula Day, Agriculture, and Community Leaders on March 12, 2026
Cook County Board Meeting Recognizes Doula Day, Agriculture, and Community Leaders on March 12, 2026
The Cook County Board of Commissioners convened on March 12, 2026, for a regular meeting that included public testimony, recognitions, and the adoption of consent calendar items. The meeting began with a land acknowledgement, followed by public speakers addressing maternal health, community violence intervention, and local agriculture. Commissioners also honored the 105-year-old Estelle J. Long family, celebrated Women's History Month, and recognized Centro San Bonifacio for 35 years of service.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Brenda Solorsano (Manager of Policy and Advocacy, Family Focus) and Heidi Pearson (Director of Marketing and Communications, Family Focus) spoke in support of Resolution 260867, commemorating World Doula Day and Doula Week in Cook County. Solorsano emphasized that doulas help ensure mothers and birthing people are heard, respected, and treated with dignity, and noted that national research indicates a higher risk of birth complications for Black and brown parents. She thanked Commissioner Miller for spearheading the first Doula program at Cook County Health.
- Bona Hainson (Cook County Farm Bureau) spoke in support of Resolution 260952, recognizing National Agriculture Day, and expressed interest in forming a partnership with Cook County to support local food access.
- Dennis White (public speaker) criticized Democratic commissioners for not being present, and argued that ICE enforcement should not be called inhumane, citing attacks by undocumented immigrants on American citizens. He called for stricter immigration enforcement.
- Dr. Sandy Norman (violence intervention worker) urged commissioners to fund community violence intervention (CVI) programs, noting that many grassroots organizations doing the work do not receive adequate support. She emphasized that she walks blocks, stands on corners, and gets guns off the street, and asked commissioners to use their power to help communities.
- Taiwan Sims described a personal legal case involving a police report filed March 22, 2023, an order of protection that was denied, and a parental allocation case going to court on March 19, 2026. He alleged a pattern of abuse and urged commissioners to take action.
- Lisa Julin did not appear when called.
- Zoe Lee, Jessica Jackson, and George Blakemorne were listed as following speakers, but their testimony was not recorded.
- A later speaker (unidentified) criticized Commissioner Daly for leaving and Commissioner Preckwinkle for not being present during public testimony, and alleged corruption and election rigging. The speaker also argued that only women can have children and criticized the term "birthing parent."
Presentations & Recognitions
- Commissioner Degnan acknowledged the 100th anniversary of the Shannon Rovers, a pipe and drum band known as ambassadors of Chicago and immigrants.
- Commissioner (unidentified) honored the Estelle J. Long family: Estelle J. Long lived to be 105 years old, was a Rosie the Riveter who riveted C-54 transport fuel tanks at age 24, worked 40 years for the City of Chicago (starting at the Board of Health and ending in the Comptroller's Office as an accountant), and was a civil rights advocate who fought for integration at her high school prom and against "Willis wagons" in Chicago Public Schools. Her family spoke about her advocacy for youth and community.
- Commissioner Degnan presented a Women's History Month tribute, acknowledging the fight for equality, the underrepresentation of women in government and leadership, and the gender wage gap. She noted that for the first time in history, the Cook County Board of Commissioners has a woman majority, and praised the women on the board as diverse, courageous, resilient, and highly accomplished.
- Commissioner Basket honored Centro San Bonifacio for 35 years of service on the Northwest side, providing health care access and support to Latino migrant families. The executive director and founder accepted the recognition, stating that Latinos belong in Cook County and are here to stay.
Consent Calendar
- Commissioner Lowry moved approval of the entire consent calendar, seconded by Commissioner Britain. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
- Commissioner Trevor moved and seconded a separate motion (item not specified), which also carried unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- The consent calendar was approved unanimously.
- Resolutions 260867 (World Doula Day and Doula Week) and 260952 (National Agriculture Day) were supported by public testimony and presumably adopted, though no separate vote was recorded.
- No other substantive decisions or votes were recorded in the transcript.
Adjournment
- The meeting adjourned following the consent calendar votes.
Meeting Transcript
The consent calendar of the Cook County Board will come to or will reconvene. Madam Secretary Secretary. Yes, sir. The clerk will revisit your role. I believe Commissioner Stamps needs to be added. Please add when Commissioner Stamps comes in. We'll add her to the roll call. So we have a we do have a quorum set. And um Commissioner and I will do the pledge. Liberty and Justice. Commissioner. Up and the goose head is green. Cook County resides on lands that have been home to indigenous people for thousands of years. The Pottawatomi, Ojibwe, Ottawa, and dozens of nations were the custodians and caretakers of this land for centuries before European colonization. Truth and acknowledgement are critical to building understanding and mutual respect across all cultures, traditions, and heritages. By reading the statement, Cook County recognizes the past wrongdoings as well as present harm upon people, tribal lands, and governments. We honor the indigenous people, past and present, and pause to remember the acts of violence, displacement, colonization, and removal of the original inhabitants of this land. With this land acknowledgement, Cook County commits to learning more about and doing better to support the county's native and indigenous residents as we work towards equity for all of Cook County. We'll continue on with we'll continue with uh public speakers and the Secretary Well Brian. Thank you, sir. Members of the public who wish to testify have upwards and 24 hours before the schedule start of the meeting. Speakers will have three minutes to address the body. We'll be alerted when they have one minute, 30 seconds, and when time has expired. Translation services are available for this meeting if you need assistance. Please put forth a request in a team chat or see a staff member in the boardroom. Persons authorized to provide public testimony should not use vulgar abusive, discriminatory profane, or otherwise inappropriate language when addressing the body. Failure to act appropriately or failure to adhere to the time requirements may result in expulsion from the meeting and or disqualify a person from providing future testimony. Any uh written comments have been added to the meeting record. If you are in the room, please come to the public speaking mic. Sarah Brown's still here. Diane Brown. Brenda Solozana, Solazana. Come to the mic. Liz Manella. Liz, are you here? Bona Hansalone. Are you still connected, Bona? All right, you may begin. Good afternoon. My name is Brenda Solorsano, and I serve as the manager of policy and advocacy at Family Focus. I'm joined today by my colleague Heidi Pearson, Director of Marketing and Communications at Family Focus, and I'm honored to speak in support of resolution 260867 commemorating World Doula Day and Doula Week in Cook County. Thank you again, Commissioner Miller, for your efforts related to improving maternal health outcomes in Cook County, including spearheading the first Doula program at Cook County Health. This recognition is an important step toward acknowledging the central role dualists play in maternal care. Is there still more people from their presence helps ensure that mothers and birthing people are heard, respected, and treated with dignity during one of the most critical moments and likely most physically traumatic moments of their lives. Just as we celebrate new lives being born every day, family focus supports the celebration of doulas who help bring new life into the world while keeping mothers safe. At Family Focus, we see the impact of this work every day. Our programming includes community doula training, wellness navigation, and integrated family support services that walk alongside families throughout pregnancy and early childhood. With the support of public investment and community partnerships, we have expanded this work to serve hundreds of families across Chicago, Cook County, and surrounding areas. One minute. National research indicates a higher risk of birth complications for black and brown parents.
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