[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 50 (Friday, March 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E229-E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOSIE BROWN CHILDS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JONATHAN L. JACKSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 17, 2023

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Josie Brown Childs, a true pioneer and civil rights champion who passed 
away on February 13, 2023, at the age of 96. She left an indelible mark 
on Chicago and beyond.
  Childs began her career in public service in the 1950s, working for 
the City of Chicago and later as an events coordinator under Colonel 
Jack Riley. She went on to serve Mayor Harold Washington as an aide, 
working on his mayoral campaigns and at City Hall in the Special Events 
and Cultural Affairs departments from 1983 to 1990.
  One of Childs' most significant achievements was founding the Mayor 
Harold Washington Legacy Committee in 2013, dedicated to preserving 
Washington's legacy through voter registration initiatives, an annual 
wreathlaying ceremony at his Oak Woods Cemetery tomb, and a Roosevelt 
University scholarship. Her tireless efforts to ensure the continued 
legacy of Chicago's first African American mayor were truly remarkable 
and helped to make a lasting impact on the city.
  Childs dedicated her life to public service and promoting African 
American cultural and historical awareness. She worked with The Chicago 
Urban League, the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, Rainbow PUSH, and many 
other organizations to improve the lives of others and advance the 
cause of civil rights.
  Her life and legacy will continue to inspire future generations to 
pursue their dreams and positively impact their communities. We owe it 
to her memory to continue fighting for justice and equality. On behalf 
of the people of Illinois' First Congressional District, I offer my

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deepest condolences to Childs' family and friends. We honor her life 
and legacy today and always, and we will never forget the 
groundbreaking, history-making work she accomplished.

                          ____________________