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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Bardoli Global is an organization that is dedicated |
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to changing the face of America among people the world over by |
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encouraging student leaders of color to participate in study-abroad |
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programs; and |
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WHEREAS, In today's global world, international exchange is |
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critical to the foreign policy, national security, and economic |
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competitiveness of the United States; however, only one percent of |
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all eligible American students of any ethnicity study abroad, and |
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while African American, Hispanic, and Native American students make |
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up over 30 percent of the undergraduate enrollment in the United |
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States, only 9.5 percent of such students attend school overseas; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Anthony Jewett and Michael Williams II, the founders |
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of Bardoli Global, believe that international exchange is |
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especially vital for minority students who strive to be leaders in |
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the political, social, or economic growth of our communities; and |
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WHEREAS, Named for the site of a historic 1937 meeting in |
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India between Mahatma Gandhi and several prominent African American |
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leaders who later helped to inspire the American civil rights |
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movement, Bardoli Global holds as its goal to send 25,000 American |
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students of color abroad by 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Targeting college campuses, community groups, and |
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churches to encourage minority students to study abroad, the |
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initiative seeks to break down barriers for such students by |
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helping them with the application process, academic planning, |
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financial aid, and travel preparation; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognized by the Echoing Green Foundation as one of |
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the world's 15 best emerging social enterprises, Bardoli Global has |
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selected its inaugural group of scholars and fellows, known as the |
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"Houston 100," to embark on study-abroad opportunities this summer |
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and fall; participants are drawn from Houston Community College, |
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the Houston Academy for International Studies, KIPP Houston High |
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School, Prairie View A&M University, Rice University, St. John's |
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Downtown UMC, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, |
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and the University of Houston Downtown; and |
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WHEREAS, By promoting and supporting a global education for |
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students of color, Bardoli Global is making a unique and |
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significant contribution to the betterment of this state and |
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nation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby congratulate Bardoli Global and members of the Houston 100 |
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for their pioneering work in fostering international understanding |
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through study abroad and extend to them sincere best wishes for |
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great success with this worthwhile endeavor; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Bardoli Global as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |