Advocates urge Cook County to recognize doulas and mark National Agriculture Day

Speakers at the Cook County Board’s public comment period urged elected officials to recognize two community priorities: doulas and local agriculture.

"My name is Brenda Solorzano, and I serve as a manager of policy and advocacy at Family Focus," Brenda Solorzano said, testifying in support of resolution 260867 to commemorate World Doula Day and Doula Week in Cook County. Solorzano thanked Commissioner Miller for efforts to improve maternal health and for spearheading the county’s first doula program at Cook County Health. She described doulas as providers of "emotional support, education, and advocacy" who help address disparities in maternal outcomes and said Family Focus’s programs have expanded to serve "hundreds of families across Chicago, Cook County, and surrounding areas."

Bono Heinzen, representing the Cook County Farm Bureau, spoke in favor of resolution 206952 recognizing National Agriculture Day and said the bureau looks forward to partnering with the county to bolster local food access and provide local food to local families.

Both speakers framed their appeals as recognition and partnership requests rather than requests for specific new appropriations or regulatory changes. The transcript records the resolution numbers as stated by speakers; additional details on texts or fiscal impacts of those resolutions were not provided in the public comment record.