“A DAUGHTER’S TRIBUTE”

Eric Butler Sr. is a native Chicagoan with a deep passion for building and strengthening communities. Growing up as one of six brothers, Eric was profoundly influenced by his parents, both of whom were active in the Civil Rights Movement in Chicago. His father was a teacher, and his mother was a homemaker. Both instilled a strong sense of social justice in their children. From a young age, Eric was exposed to the fight for equality, joining in protests as part of Operation Breadbasket, a community organization led by Reverend Jesse Jackson. One of Eric’s earliest memories is participating in a boycott against a grocery store on Chicago’s South Side that allowed African Americans to shop but refused to hire them. The seeds of activism were planted early, and Eric vividly remembers reciting the words, “I am somebody; we may be poor but I am somebody,” alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Jackson at Operation Breadbasket, which would later become Operation PUSH.

 Eric was a first hand observer to the pain and upheaval in Chicago caused by the assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968. Eric recalls his mother’s tears and his father’s anger on that day in history. At just eight years old, Eric also faced a heartbreaking personal loss when his mother passed away in 1971, just one day before his 9th birthday. Reverend Jackson, a close family friend, delivered her eulogy, which only deepened Eric’s connection to the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. Despite the intensity of the civil rights movement waning in the 1970s, Eric continued to advocate for strong, vibrant communities, dedicating his career to public service and community empowerment.

Over the years, Eric’s work has left a lasting impact. He rose through the ranks at the New City YMCA, becoming the Director of Membership Services. His career also includes serving as a Staff Assistant and Chief of Staff to former Alderwoman Helen Shiller, and more recently, working with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services at the Office of the Inspector General, where he has worked for over two decades. Outside of his professional work, Eric is political consultant, working with community-focused candidates and serves as the President of Voice of the People. Through all of his achievements, however, Eric is most proud of his family. A devoted husband for 35 years to his wife Katrina, father to three children, Kristy, Kesha and Eric Jr., uncle of many nieces and nephews, and most recently, a grandpa. Eric finds unimagined joy in his new role as a grandfather, cherishing the next generation of the Butler family. His life stands as a testament to the continued importance of community, activism, and family, especially as we reflect on Black History Month.