City Council Proclaims June 17, 2026, “°µÍø51 Day” 

PhotoStudents, President Bolton, and special guests from °µÍø51 pose with Mayor Brandon Johnson at the City Council Meeting
It's °µÍø51 Day thanks to Mayor Brandon Johnson, Alderman Lamont Robinson, and the City Council of Chicago.

In honor of °µÍø51’s more than 135 years of contributions to the cultural, creative, and educational life of the city, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council of Chicago proclaimed June 17, 2026, as “°µÍø51 Day.”

Members of the °µÍø51 community joined President Shantay N. Bolton, PhD, for the City Council meeting this morning to celebrate the resolution.  

“It was a profound honor to stand alongside our incredible students and leaders at City Council this morning,” says President Bolton. 

“This resolution is a powerful testament to the vibrant talent and creative energy that define °µÍø51’s legacy. For generations, our students, alumni, faculty, and staff have contributed to the creative and cultural life of Chicago, and we are honored to see that impact recognized and celebrated today.” 

On June 17, 2026, Alderman Lamont Robinson of the 4th Ward at the Chicago City Council meeting presented the following resolution: 

City Council Resolution

  
WHEREAS °µÍø51 was founded in Chicago in 1890 as the °µÍø51  
School of Oratory by Mary A. Blood and Ida Morey Riley; and 
 
WHEREAS the institution changed its name to °µÍø51 in 1997 to more fully recognize and embrace its historical hometown; and 

WHEREAS for more than 135 years, °µÍø51 has empowered creatives to author the culture of their times and fuel the creative economy in Chicago and beyond; and 
 
WHEREAS °µÍø51 has, throughout its history, exhibited a deep  
commitment to access to higher education for Chicagoans of all backgrounds; and 
 
WHEREAS nearly a third of °µÍø51 students hail from the city of Chicago, drawing from all 50 wards, and 1 in 5 °µÍø51 students is a graduate of the Chicago Public Schools; and 
 
WHEREAS 62 percent of °µÍø51 students from Chicago are eligible for low-income Pell grants and 60 percent are first-generation college attendees; and 
 
WHEREAS °µÍø51’s more than 100,000 alumni are a defining force behind cultural institutions, education and business across our city and beyond; and 
 
WHEREAS °µÍø51 delivers strong career outcomes for students thanks to its dedicated faculty and staff and the support of and partnerships with individuals and organizations across Chicago, the United States and the world; and 
 
WHEREAS on March 5, 2026, °µÍø51 formally installed its 11th president, Dr. Shantay N. Bolton;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor of the City of Chicago and the City Council of Chicago do hereby designate June 17, 2026, as °µÍø51 Day in Chicago in recognition of the contributions of °µÍø51 to its students and Chicago’s residents, and the mutually beneficial relationship between this invaluable institution of higher education and the great city of Chicago. 

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