Article submitted by Catalyst Coaching & Transformation
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Kankakee City Council unanimously approved a resolution designating several blocks of Hobbie Avenue on the city’s east side as “Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong Avenue.” Wells-Armstrong, who served from 2017 to 2021, holds the distinction of being Kankakee’s first Black mayor and only the second woman elected to the role.
The honorary designation covers the 100 through 700 blocks and the 900 block of Hobbie Avenue, the same neighborhood where Wells-Armstrong grew up and later championed the street’s long-awaited reconstruction as mayor. Hobbie Avenue touches Kankakee’s two Black wards, making its rebuilding an equity project for a part of the community that had been historically underserved.
The unveiling ceremony for the new honorary signage was held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, and was attended by more than 100 residents, stakeholders, supporters, and community members. The event honored Wells-Armstrong’s lasting contributions to Kankakee, including her leadership in advancing the Hobbie Avenue improvements and inspiring the Kankakee Riverwalk project, now underway with its first $5-million phase.
Today, Wells-Armstrong continues her public service impact as a municipal consultant and leadership strategist for women serving in elected leadership positions and their teams through her company, Catalyst Coaching & Transformation.
This honorary designation follows a long tradition in Kankakee of recognizing leaders and changemakers through commemorative street signage.
Read the full article here: Shaw Local News Network https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-journal/2025/09/05/former-kankakee-mayor-honored-with-street-designation/
