HR1320 - Black Wall Street - Illinois

• Recognizes Black Wall Street - Illinois as a premier organization working to build sustainable black businesses and communities across the state, modeled after the historical Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma

• Acknowledges the historical destruction of black business districts through race riots from 1898 to 1943, including the 1919 Chicago Red Summer Riot and 1921 Tulsa massacre, and their long-term economic impacts on black communities

• Notes that Black Wall Street - Illinois conducted a convention and tour to Tulsa in June 2015 with 25 Illinois business owners and community leaders to learn from the Greenwood District's economic model and success strategies

• Commits to conducting a statewide tour of black business communities starting in July 2016 to identify strengths, generate access to capital, promote local contracting and workforce development, and increase dollar recirculation within black communities

• Directs presentation of a suitable copy of the resolution to Black Wall Street - Illinois members as a symbol of the House's esteem and respect for their community development work