HR0537 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0537 LRB094 12589 HSS 47301 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, 2005 marks the 25th year that Project Education Plus (PEP) has been serving the young people, disadvantaged families, children, and senior citizens of the Cabrini-Green Near North area; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1980, the purpose of PEP has been to divert the anger, frustration, and negative attitudes of youth of the Cabrini-Green Near North area into positive learning experiences and constructive activities; and

WHEREAS, It's mission is to enlighten youth on how to take advantage of the educational, technological, and recreational outlets in society and transfer that knowledge into a successful self-sufficient life; and

WHEREAS, Through the Louise Rhine Seniors Program, PEP has branched out to meet the needs of senior citizens residing in Cabrini-Green housing and in the surrounding Near North area; the purpose of this program is to give seniors a socializing base and some activities to do, rather than being shut in; the seniors meet to plan activities, field trips, fundraisers, and social events; during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, seniors are treated to dinner and baskets of holiday items for their families; these activities also serve as an intergenerational component of PEP; and

WHEREAS, Another component of PEP is the SMART Program, which is designed to provide academic enrichment to youth, teens, and adults in the community, and includes an after-school program, a technology program, a summer math and science camp, a high school and college mentoring program, and a recreational program; and

WHEREAS, One of the highlights of the recreational program is the Chicago Demons Basketball Program for boys and girls; teams participate in city, regional, and national tournaments and have visited many major universities as part of their travels; and

WHEREAS, Vince Carter is the founder and executive director of PEP; he also works as a Chicago Public Schools teacher and is the head basketball coach at Von Steuben High School; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Project Education Plus (PEP) and Vince Carter, founder of PEP, on the occasion of the organization's 25th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Project Education Plus and to Vince Carter as an expression of our respect and esteem and with best wishes for the continued success of such an outstanding organization.