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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Tanya Debose has greatly benefited the Independence |
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Heights community of Houston through her activism and advocacy work |
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focused on the preservation of African American history and |
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culture; and |
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WHEREAS, A resident of Houston, Ms. Debose has deep roots in |
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Independence Heights; her great-grandfather was one of the |
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pioneering figures who initially purchased land in the area as part |
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of an effort to create a new community for Blacks; in January 1915, |
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Independence Heights became the first municipality incorporated by |
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African Americans in Texas; the community was annexed to Houston in |
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1929; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Debose is a member of the advisory board of the |
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Prairie View A&M University Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and |
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Justice, and she is the founder of the Preserving Communities of |
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Color Initiative; through its annual conference and other |
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activities, the initiative brings together advocates, scholars, |
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elected officials, and other leaders and serves to connect historic |
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communities of color to a wide range of resources, tools, and |
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support; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Debose is also actively involved with the |
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Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance, and she is working |
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to create a statewide consortium of heritage councils to help |
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protect and sustain African American history and culture in the |
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Lone Star State; moreover, she is an American Leadership Forum |
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Fellow, and she is helping to build a national heritage corridor to |
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focus attention on the all-Black towns that were created after the |
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Civil War; and |
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WHEREAS, Tanya Debose has made a lasting and positive |
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difference in the community of Independence Heights, and it is a |
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pleasure to join in honoring her for her wide-ranging |
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contributions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Tanya Debose for her exceptional efforts |
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in behalf of the historic African American community of |
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Independence Heights and extend to her sincere best wishes for |
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continued success with her important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Debose as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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J. Johnson of Harris |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2286 was adopted by the House on May |
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29, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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