1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 795 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes great 1-4 pleasure in recognizing Salvador Balcorta for his many worthwhile 1-5 contributions to the City of El Paso and the State of Texas; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, on 1-7 November 15, 1953, he was brought to El Paso, Texas, where he 1-8 grew up in El Segundo Barrio; and 1-9 WHEREAS, After living in tough conditions for most 1-10 of his young life and because of the gangs, drugs, violence, and 1-11 unemployment he saw all around, Salvador became a social activist 1-12 at 14; and 1-13 WHEREAS, A leader in the Mexican American Youth Association 1-14 (MAYA), a Chicano organization with 500 members, he learned the 1-15 effectiveness of bringing together gangs and other youth as a group 1-16 to combat some of the social issues of the day; and 1-17 WHEREAS, At 19, Salvador began his life's work in health as 1-18 an outreach worker for the Father Rahm Clinic, and he played an 1-19 active role in the planning and organizing of the clinic; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Co-founder of Partido De Los Pobres, an organization 1-21 to assist community development and to formulate health, housing, 1-22 and nutrition programs, he was only 21 when he began this group; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Beginning as a clerk in the public health field at 2-1 age 23, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of Community 2-2 Health Services; during his tenure there, he was involved with 2-3 setting up a community grass roots initiative which won praise 2-4 and state and national recognition for the local health department; 2-5 and 2-6 WHEREAS, In 1992, Mr. Balcorta became Executive Director of 2-7 Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe; he has served in numerous ways 2-8 to help combat society's problems; he was chairperson of the local 2-9 United States Mexico Border Health Association Binational Council 2-10 for four years and served as a member of a national substance abuse 2-11 and AIDS planning committee for two years; and 2-12 WHEREAS, The President of the Texas Association of 2-13 Community Health Centers Board of Directors, he is the founder 2-14 and past chairperson of the Community Alliance Promoting Educational 2-15 Alternatives and is currently involved in a national alliance to 2-16 end gang warfare; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Appointed by the Governor of Texas to serve on the 2-18 Governor's Advisory Committee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs, 2-19 he is president of the board of directors of the Centro Cultural 2-20 Mexicano; and 2-21 WHEREAS, The residents of El Paso, El Paso County, the 2-22 State of Texas, and the entire country have benefitted greatly 2-23 from the work of Salvador Balcorta, and he is most deserving of 2-24 legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-25 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-1 75th Legislature, hereby commend and applaud the exceptional 3-2 accomplishments of Salvador Balcorta; and, be it further 3-3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him 3-4 as an expression of the high regard of the Texas Senate. 3-5 Shapleigh 3-6 ______________________________________ 3-7 President of the Senate 3-8 I hereby certify that the above 3-9 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-10 on May 21, 1997. 3-11 ______________________________________ 3-12 Secretary of the Senate 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 Member, Texas Senate