COVID-19 Next Steps & Legislative Updates
Friday, September 18, 2020 — 1pm on Zoom
Join Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer and 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. for this webinar and interactive panel discussion. Registrants can submit questions for elected officials before the panel, by emailing Rachel Rubinson: rrubinson@oldtownchicago.org.
About the Panelists
About Bridget Gainer:
Noted by MSNBC’s Chuck Todd as a rising star in Illinois politics, Commissioner Gainer was elected to the Cook County Board in 2010. With an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a strong background in finance, Commissioner Gainer’s first act as a County Commissioner was to create Cook County’s first Pension Committee. As Chairman, Commissioner Gainer led the charge to find a pension reform solution that was fair to both taxpayers and workers. To keep the public engaged, Commissioner Gainer launched an open-data pension website (OpenPensions.org) where press, the public and County employees could go for details on plans and proposals. The result was a working group of labor and government officials who drafted one of the state’s first collaborative pension reform bills.
Commissioner Gainer created the Cook County Land Bank, the region’s most comprehensive response to reduce the amount and impact of vacant land and abandoned buildings throughout Cook County. Bringing together realtors, private developers, civic and social leaders, Commissioner Gainer’s work to create the Cook County Land Bank has been noted in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Crain’s Chicago Business.
In addition to Commissioner Gainer’s work with finance and foreclosure, she is creating a new asset for regional workforce development by bringing together community colleges, high schools and businesses to reimagine apprenticeships. Commissioner Gainer believes that if the United States is going to be a leader in the global labor market we have to ensure our job training today looks more like the economy of tomorrow. Commissioner Gainer believes rather than just focusing on the skills gap we have to fight the training gap by bringing employers into the workforce development process.
Finally, Commissioner Gainer has devoted special interest to the women and children in the County’s criminal justice system. She eliminated the practice of separating new mothers awaiting trial from their newborns, led the fight to ban shackling pregnant detainees during delivery, created the first citizen advisory Board for the Juvenile Detention Center and continues to lead the fight to reduce the number of non-violent offenders in County Jail.
Most recently, and with the support of United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Commissioner Gainer launched Off The Sidelines in Chicago to encourage more young women to ‘take their ideas to action.’ The organization has quickly grown to over 2,500 members.
About Walter Burnett, Jr.
Walter Burnett, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois; his family lived in the former Cabrini Green Housing Complex. His father was the local precinct captain in the area and often took Walter with him to work the precinct; planting the seeds that would ultimately sprout into a successful political career. Burnett first ran for office in 1995. As Alderman, his objective to serving constituents and representing a diverse community has been about balance. He has an outstanding reputation of treating everyone fair.
Burnett attended both Harold Washington College and the University of Illinois at Chicago before earning an Associate Degree and a Certificate in Mechanical Drafting from Southeastern Illinois University. He went on to earn his Bachelor Degree from Northeastern Illinois University.
Burnett is the Chairman of Pedestrian and Traffic Safety and a sitting member of eight committees; Budget and Government Operations; Rules and Ethics; Education and Child Development; Finance; Health and Environmental Protection; Public Safety; Special Events, Cultural Affairs & Recreation; and the Zoning Committee.
Burnett was appointed Committeeman of the 27th Ward Organization by his mentor, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, and former Committeeman of the 27th Ward.
Burnett also serves on the Board of the following organizations: John Howard Association of IL., Neighbor Space, Financial Straight Talk, Choose Chicago (Tourism), Northwestern University Settlement House Board, Harold Washington College advisory board, St. Leonard’s Ministries advisory board, Family Guidance Center board, Haymarket Center advisory board. Burnett is also a member of St. John Masonic Lodge, Shriners, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; and a former member of the Elks and Near North Kiwanis.
Burnett is a strong advocate for affordable housing in the City of Chicago and all developments within his ward are required to have an affordable component to the project. He has developed a strong reputation as an advocate for affordable housing and continues to be a leader on this issue.
Burnett is a member and Deacon at First Baptist Congregational Church; he is married to Darlena Williams-Burnett, President of Chicago Neighbors United; and on the board of Partners in Community Building (P.I.C.B.). They have two sons; Jawaharial “Omar” Williams and Walter Redmond, and three grandchildren.