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Mayor
Harold Washington
Legacy Committee
Honoring the man, the moment, the movement!
MAYOR HAROLD WASHINGTON
LEGACY COMMITTEE WELCOMES YOU
Washington Week 2025
Operation PUSH
April 12, 10:00 a.m.
Speakers included MHWLC Directors Sasha Daltonn, Peggy Montes, and Dr. Robert T. Starks
950 E. 50th Street, Chicago
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“The Salim Muwakkil Show,” WVON-AM
April 12, 7:00 p.m.
Interview with MHWLC President Loisteen Walker
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“SUNDAY PRAISE,” FM Omni-Channel
April 13, 8:00 a.m. to noon
Hosted by MHWLC Director Sasha Daltonn
Chicago Public Libraries
Screenings of "PUNCH 9"Documentary
April 14, 5:30 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street
April 15, 5:30 p.m.
Back of the Yards Library, 2111 W. 47th Street
April 16, 4:00 p.m.
Budlong Woods Library, 5630 N. Lincoln Avenue
April 17, 2:30 p.m.
Merlo Library, 644 W. Belmont Avenue
April 18, 2:00 p.m.
Altgeld Library, 955 E. 131st Street
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Harold Washington Galleries Tours
Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street
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Happy Birthday, Harold!
April 15 on WVON-1690 AM
Join the conversation!
Rufus Williams Show (8:45 a.m.)
Cleopatra Draper Show (10:45 a.m.)
Matt McGill Show (12:20 p.m.)
The Quarry Event Center
Birthday Party
April 15, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2423 E. 75th Street
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The People's Show with Mark J. Wallace
April 15, 7:00 p.m.
Watch live: YouTube and Facebook Live
with guests: MWHLC President Loisteen Walker, Zenobia Black, Dvorah Crable, Sasha Daltonn, Lucille Dobbins, Jacky Grimshaw, Dr. Barbara Norman, Jane Ramsey, Eddie Read, Anton Seals, Dr. Robert T. Starks, Art Turner, and Monica Faith Stewart.
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Harold Washington College
Reception and Workshop
April 24, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Harold Washington College, 30 E. Lake Street
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Roosevelt University
80th Anniversary Concert
April 24, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive
Black History Month Recalls the Leadership and
Legacy of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington
Harold Washington's tenure as Chicago’s first African-American mayor is deeply embedded in the city's heritage and the larger context of Black history. His electoral victory in 1983 marked a watershed moment for the city and demonstrated the increasing political power of Black Chicagoans and their allies.
While in office, Harold, as everyone in the city affectionately referred to him, actively promoted Black History Month. His commitment was not symbolic but rooted in a compelling need to recognize and address the systemic inequalities impacting his constituents. He believed that educating the public about African Americans’ contributions to the country and humankind, especially during February, would foster a more inclusive and equitable society. His Black History Month initiatives laid the groundwork for ongoing celebrations that endure today.
Under his leadership, Chicago implemented numerous educational initiatives, including collaborations with local schools, museums, and cultural institutions to offer resources and programs that integrated Black history and accomplishments into the broader academic curriculum to foster a more complete understanding of American history.
These events celebrated the past and inspired future generations to take pride in their heritage and strive for equality and justice.
As the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee celebrates Black History Month in 2025, we pause to honor the contributions and legacies of strong African-American leaders like Harold, who dedicated their lives to pursuing a more just and inclusive society.
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Please join us in commemorating the life and legacy of this incomparable civil rights movement pioneer. He was a beacon of hope for countless individuals who sought equality, justice, and dignity.
While we celebrate his leadership and sacrifice, let’s also remember that Dr. King’s dream has yet to be fully realized. We encourage you to continue the struggle for justice, equality, and human dignity. As he once said, "The time is always right to do what is right."
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As the nation celebrates the 96th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth, the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee honors and recognizes Dr. King’s profound and lasting impact on America and the world. His vision for a just and equitable society and his leadership in the civil rights and social justice movements paved the way for landmark voting rights legislation that led to an empowered electorate and victories, such as Harold Washington’s election as Chicago’s first African-American mayor.
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MHWLC Pays Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memories and Praise Abound during Wreath-Laying
Civic leaders and former Washington administration officials led MHWLC's annual wreath-laying ceremony at his gravesite on November 25, 2024, marking the 36th anniversary of his death.
To view the entire ceremony, click here.
The Harold Washington Legacy Scholarship
"The Year of Harold:
A Centennial Celebration
The Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee designated the year 2022 as
"The Year of Harold: A Centennial Celebration" to commemorate Harold Washington's 100th birthday, April 15, 2022.
Photo: Centennial Event Chair Loisteen Walker on the left, MHWLC President Josie Childs on the right
Who We Are
We are a nonprofit organization whose mission and principles are shaped by our unwavering conviction that Harold Washington was one of our nation’s most influential, effective, and transformative mayors. We were founded in 2013 by Josie Childs, a community and political activist and close associate of Harold Washington. Many of our original members worked in his historic 1983 mayoral campaign or his administration or both.
Our mission is to perpetuate and honor the enduring legacy of Mayor Harold Lee Washington. Through education, commemoration, and events, we strive to inspire movements toward a more just and inclusive Chicago, promote social justice, and ensure that Washington’s legacy continues to inspire positive change.
What We Do
How We Work
Through a variety of educational and civic activities, we attempt to immortalize the global impact of Harold Washington’s social, civic, political and economic legacy. We educate the public about his pivotal role in advancing civil rights, housing equality, and voting access.
PAST EVENTS
Voter Registration
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--October 4, 2014
6K VOTER REGISTRATION route walks through the neighborhood where Harold Washington lived and worked and passes sites significant to him.
MHWLC Supports
Future Leaders
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In 2021, the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee was instrumental in establishing a scholarship at Harold's undergraduate alma mater, Roosevelt University, to support students preparing for public sector leadership.
Voter Education
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-- March 16, 2019
One of our community forums held to interview candidates for elected office; this one, held at Bethel Church, featured Chicago's mayoral candidates.
Annual Commemoration
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--November 25, 2020
Our annual wreath-laying ceremony at Harold's gravesite reunites voters, civic leaders, and members to remember him on the anniversary of his death.
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Memorial Plaque Graces City's Main Library
-- November 14, 2014
Members of the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee attended a Harold Washington Library ceremony at which Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel dedicated a plaque now mounted on the exterior of the building. The Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee was instrumental in launching that plaque project.