By Garcia H.R. No. 932 77R14429 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Dr. Gloria L. Velasquez, educator and award-winning 1-2 author, is appearing in Dallas on May 4, 2001, as a guest author 1-3 with Voces Latinas: Hispanic Reading Series for Young Adults; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The holder of a doctorate in Latin American and 1-5 Chicano literature from Stanford University, Dr. Velasquez is a 1-6 professor of Chicano literature at California Polytechnic 1-7 University in San Luis Obispo; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Her poems and short stories have appeared in many 1-9 journals and anthologies, and a bilingual collection of her poetry 1-10 has been published under the title I Used to Be a Superwoman; she 1-11 is also known for her young-adult fiction, a series that features a 1-12 multi-ethnic group of teenagers who grapple with social and 1-13 cultural issues; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Dr. Velasquez has received a number of accolades, 1-15 including the Premier and Deuxieme Prix in poetry from the 1-16 Department of French and Italian at Stanford and the 11th Chicano 1-17 Literary Prize in the Short Story from the University of California 1-18 at Irvine; moreover, she is the first Chicana to be inducted into 1-19 the Hall of Fame at the University of Northern Colorado; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Voces Latinas, part of the American Library 1-21 Association's LIVE! At the Library initiative, is a four-part 1-22 series of readings that introduces young people to critically 1-23 acclaimed Latino and Latina writers; sponsors for Voces Latinas 2-1 include, in addition to the American Library Association, the 2-2 Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Media Center in Dallas and Arte Publico 2-3 Press at the University of Houston; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Admired both for her literary talent and for the 2-5 strong voice she raises in behalf of social justice, Dr. Velasquez 2-6 has established herself as one of this country's most respected 2-7 writers, and it is a great pleasure to join in welcoming her as a 2-8 featured artist in this admirable program; now, therefore, be it 2-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-10 Legislature hereby honor Dr. Gloria L. Velasquez on the occasion of 2-11 her appearance as a guest author with Voces Latinas: Hispanic 2-12 Reading Series for Young Adults and commend her for her outstanding 2-13 contributions to literature; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-15 prepared for Dr. Velasquez as an expression of high regard by the 2-16 Texas House of Representatives.