HR0328 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0328 LRB098 12007 MST 45525 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize the Hands of Peace program as it celebrates its 10th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Hands of Peace is a unique interfaith program that brings together Israeli, Palestinian, and American teens for dialogue and friendship; it was created in 2002 by Gretchen Grad of Glenview in order to help create peace-building leaders of the future; and

WHEREAS, More than 300 teens from around the world have participated in Hands of Peace, including more than 150 Illinois teens, and more than 200 Illinois families have hosted participants; and

WHEREAS, Hands of Peace founding sponsor, Glenview Community Church, current sponsors the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Evanston, the Islamic Foundation North of Libertyville, and numerous other Illinois civic organizations and religious institutions, have supported Hands of Peace; and

WHEREAS, Hands of Peace helps build teens' leadership and conflict-resolution skills, increases their critical thinking skills and decreases their stereotyping, fear and distrust, while empowering teens to create positive changes in their own communities; and

WHEREAS, Hands of Peace is celebrating its 10th anniversary year in 2013; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we are pleased to recognize the Hands of Peace program as it celebrates its 10th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Hands of Peace program as an expression of our esteem and respect.