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.
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.