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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Salvador Balcorta of El Paso has distinguished |
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himself as a tireless civic leader committed to building a stronger |
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and healthier community for his fellow residents; and |
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WHEREAS, Raised in the Segundo Barrio of El Paso, Mr. |
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Balcorta was exposed to poverty and inequality at a young age, and |
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he was compelled to serve his community and to improve the quality |
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of life for the citizens of the border region; as a teenager, he |
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began working for the Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, recruiting new |
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members into the organization; and |
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WHEREAS, La Fe began in 1967 as a makeshift clinic, and it was |
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a struggling nonprofit institution for many years, but with the |
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dedication of its staff and the generous support of a number of |
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local, state, and national entities, including civic leaders, |
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businesses, and religious groups, the organization grew |
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significantly; it later became one of the first community health |
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centers in Texas to receive accreditation, and by 1992, when Mr. |
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Balcorta became its CEO, La Fe had a clinic with 66 employees and a |
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$3 million budget; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure, Mr. Balcorta has |
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overseen several major developments for the agency, and it now has |
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an estimated operating budget of $23 million, as well as a staff of |
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400 health professionals, artists, educators, social-justice |
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outreach workers, economic development specialists, and youth |
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mentors; moreover, La Fe has remained true to its mission of |
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assisting area residents, yet it has also realized its broader |
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vision of becoming a multiservice organization, and today it |
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includes 22 medical, housing, social services, and cultural sites |
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throughout El Paso County; in addition, La Fe has been praised for |
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its holistic approach, and it has been recognized as a successful |
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model for comprehensive community improvement; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Balcorta has also established La Fe as a major |
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player in the redevelopment plans for the city of El Paso, and he |
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envisions further expansion of the services provided by the |
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organization; among the future projects are a middle school, a |
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culinary arts training kitchen, a credit union, a legal center, and |
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a 91-unit apartment complex designed to serve low-income families |
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and working professionals; and |
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WHEREAS, With the utmost dedication to the people of El Paso, |
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Salvador Balcorta has helped ensure that the Centro de Salud |
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Familiar La Fe remains a vital resource for the community, and he |
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may indeed reflect with great pride on his notable achievements and |
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contributions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Salvador Balcorta for his outstanding |
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efforts in behalf of the residents of El Paso and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for continued success with his important work; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Balcorta as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |