HR0779 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0779 LRB094 16209 HSS 51453 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Justice Sunday 2006 campaign recognizes the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement and serves as the trademark for a historic 381-day Call-To-Service, which began December 1, 2005, in honor of the lives and legacies of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Rosa L. Parks; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, in recognition of that spirit, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, which directed the Corporation for National and Community Service to support local efforts to make the King Holiday a day of service; and

WHEREAS, Justice Sunday's national theme, "A Charge To Keep We Have: Service Before and Beyond", serves as a precursor to the King Day of Service in uniting people of all races, faiths, and cultures; and

WHEREAS, Family strengthening must be incorporated with strategies of community support and personal transformation to meet the critical needs of the more than 800,000 youth and adult ex-offenders who are returning to cities and towns each year; and

WHEREAS, In honor of the late Mrs. Rosa L. Parks, individuals can make a difference by responding to the urgent need for qualified mentors to help facilitate a pathway to freedom for youth engaged in gangs and criminal activities, with particular outreach to children whose parents are incarcerated; and

WHEREAS, The National Alliance of Faith and Justice, is authorized by grant of Rights from the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change to use the images and quotes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to acknowledge the lifetime of selfless service by Dr. King as a clergy and martyr for justice; and

WHEREAS, Justice Sunday 2006 will launch Pen or Pencil: Eyes on the Prize, prompting youth to remain focused and committed to progress and anti-criminal behavior by reflecting upon the immeasurable price of freedom exemplified on film and by heroes and sheroes of the civil rights movement such as Dr. King and Mrs. Parks; and

WHEREAS, Dr. M. Jeanne Dolphus Cotton, Trinity Universal Center, Inc., Justice Sunday Lake County, Illinois, facilitator, in partnership with the College of Lake County, will conduct the Pen or Pencil project in middle schools in Waukegan and North Chicago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we proclaim January 15, 2006, as Justice Sunday, and we urge all citizens to consider this day and the year beyond as a tribute to Dr. King and Mrs. Parks through commitment to volunteerism and service around pressing social issues; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. M. Jeanne Dolphus Cotton.