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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Two decades have passed since the tragic death of |
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Ortralla Mosley, and her mother, Carolyn White-Mosley, has since |
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done extraordinary work to prevent other families from suffering |
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the loss of a loved one to teen dating violence; and |
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WHEREAS, Ortralla Mosley was only 15 years old when she lost |
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her life on May 28, 2003, at the hands of her ex-boyfriend; her |
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death left a deep void in the lives of her family and friends, and in |
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the midst of tremendous grief, Ms. White-Mosley dedicated herself |
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to honoring her daughter's memory and becoming a catalyst for |
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change; she began working with a community safety task force to |
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recommend safety measures to the Austin Independent School |
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District, which led to the development of the first policies to |
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prevent teen dating violence in the state of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Ortralla Mosley's story inspired the creation of the |
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Texas Advocacy Project's Teen Justice Initiative, which provides |
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free legal services to students experiencing dating violence, and |
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the passage of House Bill 121 by the 80th Texas Legislature, which |
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requires all school districts in the state to adopt dating violence |
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policies like those developed by Austin ISD; this groundbreaking |
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piece of legislation has since served as a model for laws in other |
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states; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2010, Carolyn White-Mosley joined together with a |
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group of young activists, including her daughter's friend RaeAnne |
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Spence, to advocate for the establishment of February as National |
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Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month; |
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Ms. White-Mosley continued to push for legislative action on the |
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issue, and in 2013, she met with then-Vice President Joe Biden to |
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support the inclusion of language addressing teen violence in the |
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Violence Against Women Act; recently, she has remained active in |
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her community by overseeing afterschool programs for youth; and |
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WHEREAS, Carolyn White-Mosley has demonstrated an unwavering |
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commitment to building a future where all young people are safe, |
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secure, and free from fear and abuse, and she has touched the lives |
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of countless people through her tireless dedication to this |
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important cause; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Carolyn White-Mosley for her efforts to |
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end teen dating violence and pay tribute to the legacy of her |
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daughter, Ortralla Mosley, on the 20th anniversary of her death; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. White-Mosley as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |