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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1997, the Greater Austin Crime Commission |
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has contributed to the quality of life in Central Texas with |
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innovative and outstanding public safety programs such as the |
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Longhorn Leaders; and |
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WHEREAS, Developed by the commission and The University of |
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Texas School of Social Work, in cooperation with the UT Athletic |
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Department and the Austin Independent School District, the Longhorn |
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Leaders youth outreach program facilitates dialogue between |
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university athletes and seventh grade students; and |
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WHEREAS, Middle school youth are at a crucial developmental |
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point as they prepare to transition into later adolescence and |
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early adulthood, and at the same time, they face a variety of new |
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stressors, from stronger peer influences to greater access to drugs |
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and alcohol; positive reference groups, however, can go a long way |
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in counteracting potential negative forces, and university |
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athletes are especially effective role models because of their |
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visibility in college sports and their proximity in age to the |
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students; and |
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WHEREAS, During the course of a semester, Longhorn Leaders |
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give several personal presentations at each school, emphasizing the |
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importance of strong goals, academic excellence, and successful |
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life skills; moreover, they promote the values of teamwork, |
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discipline, and living drug-free; athletes receive course credit |
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for participating in the program, which, since fall 2003, has been |
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offered at seven middle schools and three elementary schools in |
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areas all over Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Current and former Longhorn Leaders include |
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LaMarcus Aldridge, D. J. Augustin, Cedric Benson, Jamaal Charles, |
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Kevin Durant, Daniel Gibson, Cedric Griffin, Michael Griffin, |
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Damion James, Seth Johnson, Derek Lokey, Cory Redding, Terrence |
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Rencher, Sonya Richards, Aaron Ross, Kasey Studdard, Limas Sweed, |
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Roy Williams, and Vince Young, to name but a few; and |
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WHEREAS, Encouraging meaningful community interaction |
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between UT athletes, students, parents, teachers, and law |
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enforcement, the Longhorn Leaders program has benefited countless |
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participants, and the Greater Austin Crime Commission is truly |
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deserving of recognition for its exemplary efforts to support |
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public safety and youth development; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby congratulate the Greater Austin Crime Commission on its 10th |
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anniversary and commend all those associated with it for their work |
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to develop and implement public safety programs such as the |
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Longhorn Leaders; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Greater Austin Crime Commission as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |