HR1342

LRB096 22591 GRL 41898 r





  
1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3
Representatives are pleased to congratulate the 107 graduates 
4
of the Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Chicago for all 
5
graduating from high school and getting accepted into college; 
6
and
  
 
7
    WHEREAS, The Urban Prep Academy for Young Men is an 
8
all-male, all-black high school in Chicago's Englewood 
9
community; Urban Prep's mission is to provide a comprehensive, 
10
high-quality college preparatory education to young men that 
11
results in all of the academy's graduates succeeding in 
12
college; and
 
13
    WHEREAS, Urban Prep Academies is a non-profit organization 
14
founded in 2002 by Tim King and a group of African-American 
15
education, business, and civic leaders; the group opened their 
16
1st school, the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in 
17
Englewood, in 2006; in 2009, they opened their 2nd school in 
18
East Garfield Park; in 2010, the group will open their 3rd 
19
school in Chicago's South Shore community; and
 
20
    WHEREAS, The students of the Urban Prep Academies believe 
21
in the academy's creed: "We believe. We are the young men of 
22
Urban Prep. We are college bound. We are exceptional-not 
 


 






HR1342
- 2 -
LRB096 22591 GRL 41898 r




1
because we say it, but because we work hard at it. We will not 
2
falter in the face of any obstacle placed before us. We are 
3
dedicated, committed and focused. We never succumb to 
4
mediocrity, uncertainty or fear.
We never fail because we never 
5
give up. We make no excuses. We choose to live honestly, 
6
nonviolently and honorably. We respect ourselves and, in doing 
7
so, respect all people. We have a future for which we are 
8
accountable. We have a responsibility to our families, 
9
community and world. We are our brothers' keepers. We believe 
10
in ourselves. We believe in each other. We believe in Urban 
11
Prep. WE BELIEVE."; and
 
12
    WHEREAS, Of the 107 African-American seniors at the Urban 
13
Prep Academy for Young Men, only 4% of the graduates could read 
14
at their grade level when they were freshman; 82% of the 
15
students came from low-income families; and
  
 
16
    WHEREAS, The Urban Prep Academy for Young Men managed to 
17
get all of the seniors accepted into 72 colleges around the 
18
nation through its innovative, pro-active stance on education; 
19
before the male students started their first freshman class 4 
20
years ago, each student was assigned a college counselor; the 
21
students then took double periods of English and spent 72,000 
22
more minutes in the classroom than their peers at regular 
23
Chicago public schools; the students also visited the esteemed 
24
Northwestern University; and
  
 
 


 






HR1342
- 3 -
LRB096 22591 GRL 41898 r




1
    WHEREAS, The Urban Prep Academy for Young Men's counselors 
2
will also provide comprehensive support for the students 
3
throughout their college years; and
  
 
4
    WHEREAS, These young men serve as models of hard work, 
5
integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
6
Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
7
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
8
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
9
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we congratulate the 107 
10
graduates of the Urban Prep Academy for Young Men for their 
11
success and wish them continued success and happiness in the 
12
future; and be it further
  
 
13
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
14
presented to the 107 graduates of the Urban Prep Academy for 
15
Young Men as a symbol of our esteem and respect.