HR0899LRB102 28342 LAW 40213 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate the Soul Children of
4Chicago (SCC) on the occasion of its 40th anniversary; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The SCC is the nation's oldest internationally
6acclaimed, Grammy award-winning, youth gospel choir; the
7501(c)(3) professional youth organization was founded by Walt
8W. Whitman Jr. in 1981, starting with a group of 22 children;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, The SCC strives to provide an incentive for inner
11city youth to remain free of gangs, drugs, and teen
12pregnancies through the use of the creative arts while
13maintaining academic excellence; its mission is to education
14the minds, elevate the spirits, and illuminate the souls of
15youths aged seven through 17 from the Chicago area and
16suburban Cook County; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The SCC prides itself in its outreach efforts by
18giving back to the community; since its creation, the
19organization's youth members have contributed more than 16
20billion volunteer hours; additionally, the organization has
21further helped communities through partnering with a number of
22businesses and groups over the years, including The Olive

 

 

HR0899- 2 -LRB102 28342 LAW 40213 r

1Branch, the Bright Star Community Development, Father Michael
2Pfleger and Saint Sabina's War on Gang Violence, and the
3Truth, Hope & Justice Initiative; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The SCC has extended its outreach efforts abroad,
5from building wells in Monrovia, Liberia to establishing
6global networks through the creation of more than 100 Soul
7Children choirs in multiple countries, including Norway,
8Sweden, Indonesia, Germany, and England and very soon in South
9Africa; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The SCC has touched the lives of thousands of
11Chicago youths who have performed and traveled with the group;
12the organization has played an important role in serving
13Chicago youth from some of the toughest areas in the city,
14helping them develop into successful men and women; the choir
15counts graduates, artists, pastors, community leaders,
16doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and other working
17professionals among its alumni; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The SCC continues to serve the community as a
19non-denominational, non-profit, educational organization
20dedicated to enhancing the lives of youth; the organization
21remains passionate and committed to being the change its
22members desire to create through leading with integrity and
23authenticity, consistently embracing new challenges, promoting

 

 

HR0899- 3 -LRB102 28342 LAW 40213 r

1peace and happiness, and inspiring people all over the world;
2therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
4HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5we congratulate the Soul Children of Chicago on its 40th
6anniversary, and we wish Walt W. Whitman Jr. and his
7organization continued success in the years to come; and be it
8further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the SCC as an expression of our esteem and
11respect.