Several members of the Chicago footwork community testified at a Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting in support of proposed resolution 25-3463, which would designate August as “Footwork Appreciation Month” in Cook County. Speakers told the board the recognition would honor a dance and music culture they say originated in Chicago and provides mentorship and safe activity for young people.

The resolution matters, supporters said, because footwork offers mentoring, opportunities and an outlet for youth in neighborhoods facing violence and disinvestment. “Footwork is our city's original art form and cultural heartbeat,” said Jeron Boyd, identifying himself as “prince Jeron” in the footwork community. “It keeps our youth off the streets and guides them toward purpose, pride, and peace in neighborhoods battling violence, poverty.”

Speakers described a range of community activities that take place in August, from Bud Billiken–area events to picnics, workshops and international exchange. “Every August, Chicago turns up with a lot of events,” Jeron Boyd said. Clinton Gosbury, who testified as DJ Clint, credited the culture with keeping him out of trouble and urged the board to adopt the resolution. “Because of this music, because of the dance, because of the culture, it kept me out of trouble,” he said.

Several witnesses gave longer personal histories. Dr. Shadan Battle described footwork’s origins during the crack‑epidemic era and said the culture provided “a second home” for young Black residents affected by incarceration and dislocation. Miley Melendez and other younger speakers described beginning footwork as children and later teaching and mentoring others. Kent Jones, who runs a media platform documenting the scene, cited audience metrics for his site — saying chicagofootwork.com reached about 600,000 people this year and is on pace for roughly 3,000,000 views — as evidence of the culture’s reach.

Commissioner Tara Stamps, who sponsored the resolution, briefly acknowledged the public testimony later in the meeting and praised the community’s work. The transcript records the resolution being presented and the public testimony in support of it; the transcript does not record a motion or vote on 25-3463.

Discussion type: public comment in support of a presented resolution. Direction/assignment: none recorded. Formal action: proposed resolution 25-3463 presented; no vote or final action recorded in the available transcript.

Ending: Supporters asked the board to make the designation official so that public recognition could reinforce community programming, mentorship and cultural preservation. The transcript shows the resolution presented and multiple speakers’ testimonials, but it does not show a recorded vote or final disposition of the resolution within this meeting’s transcript.