By Gutierrez H.R. No. 748 74R10694 PFG-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Project ARISE was recently selected as one of the 1-2 Best of Texas programs for 1995 by the Corporate Fund for Children 1-3 in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote literacy among 1-4 residents of the Las Milpas colonias in the Lower Rio Grande 1-5 Valley; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Each year the Corporate Fund for Children searches 1-7 communities throughout the state for innovative programs that are 1-8 improving the lives of children and their families; to qualify for 1-9 receipt of this prestigious honor, programs must offer unique 1-10 solutions to persistent social problems, assist traditionally 1-11 underserved populations, respect multiculturally diverse 1-12 populations, and be model programs that other communities can 1-13 emulate; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The Project ARISE program was founded in 1988 by 1-15 Sister Gerrie Naughton of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and 1-16 citizens of the predominately poor and Spanish-speaking Las Milpas 1-17 community, who together identified local residents' lack of 1-18 proficiency with the English language as the greatest impediment to 1-19 their economic and social progress; and 1-20 WHEREAS, To this end, the program has sent its volunteer 1-21 tutors into the homes of local residents and incorporated Mexican 1-22 music, folktales, and dance, as well as the achievements of 1-23 prominent Mexican-Americans in the United States, into its 1-24 activities to aid the learning process and to build the self-image 2-1 of residents by validating their native history and culture; and 2-2 WHEREAS, In addition, a specially designed program for 2-3 preschoolers provides the youngest members of the community with 2-4 the skills necessary to get off to a good start in the public 2-5 school system; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Since its inception, Project ARISE has helped 2-7 hundreds of children and adults in the Las Milpas colonias acquire 2-8 the basic language skills and confidence they need to succeed in a 2-9 new country; and 2-10 WHEREAS, To achieve its mission, this excellent program has 2-11 collaborated with local government, businesses, universities, 2-12 foundations, and civic organizations, as well as the Sisters of 2-13 Mercy of the Americas and the federal VISTA program to support its 2-14 services, and the program also has received the enthusiastic 2-15 assistance of numerous volunteers from throughout the community, 2-16 including Winter Texans and high school students from Arkansas and 2-17 Oklahoma; and 2-18 WHEREAS, Project ARISE joins two other groups in the Valley 2-19 who have been designated Best of Texas programs this year, Planned 2-20 Parenthood of Hidalgo County and the Border Association for 2-21 Refugees from Central America (BARCA), a truly noteworthy 2-22 accomplishment that is directly attributable to local citizens' 2-23 sincere concern for the welfare of others; and 2-24 WHEREAS, A shining example of what a community can accomplish 2-25 through the commitment, hard work, and imagination of its citizens, 2-26 Project ARISE is making a lasting and positive difference in the 2-27 lives of area residents and deserves our highest praise and 3-1 recognition for its many accomplishments at this time; now, 3-2 therefore, be it 3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-4 Legislature hereby congratulate Project ARISE director Sister 3-5 Gerrie Naughton and the program's many dedicated participants and 3-6 volunteers on their receipt of a Best of Texas designation in 3-7 recognition of their outstanding efforts in securing a brighter 3-8 future for residents of the Las Milpas colonias; and, be it further 3-9 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-10 prepared for Project ARISE as an expression of highest regard by 3-11 the Texas House of Representatives.