Actress, Evanston Native Set To Get Honorary Street Name

EVANSTON, IL — The Human Services Committee is set to approve a recommendation Monday to honorarily name a block of Church Street "Tina Lifford Way," after the Evanston native and actress who has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows.

Lifford was born in 1954 and spent the first decade of her life at a home on the corner of Church Street and Hartrey Avenue, across from Evanston Township High School's Lazier Field, according to the application for honorary street name status.

It said Lifford was first introduced to theater and discovered a love of acting while attending Foster School. She performed in school productions throughout her time at Evanston schools, later attending Washington School and Chute Middle School, before her family moved to Los Angeles at age 10.

Lifford's first on-screen role was as a stenographer in a 1983 episode of Hill Street Blues, according to the Internet Movie Database. She appeared in 13 episodes of "Knots Landing" through 1988, stared in the NBC series "Parenthood," had the lead role in Fox's "South Central," portrayed Winnie Mandela in Showtime's "Mandela and de Klerk" and is currently co-starring in Ava DuVernay's "Queen Sugar," set to begin its fourth season on OWN.

Lifford was nominated for a 2018 NAACP Image Award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for "Queen Sugar" and a 1996 ACE Award for best actress in a dramatic special or series for "America's Dream."

In addition to acting, Lifford is a playwright, author and CEO of the Inner Fitness Project, which focuses on wellness and encouraging young women to pursue their dreams.

Under the city's honorary street program, aldermen are allowed one honorary designation each year. Street name signs are displayed for a 10-year period. The program was established in 1996 and is administered by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. The cost of creating three signs — one on either end of the block and one to be given to the honoree — is about $200, according to city staff.

The application was filed by 5th Ward Ald. Robin Rue Simmons and Morris "Dino" Robinson, Jr., founder of Shorefront.

In 2013, Lifford returned to Evanston for a limited run of her original play, "The Circle," at the former Foster School auditorium.

“I am a product of this community.” Lifford told Shorefront at the time. “It is only right that I give back to it.”

Now the community is looking to return the favor. The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Board unanimously approved Rue Simmons' application, which requires full City Council approval.