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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Julia C. Hester House in Houston is celebrating |
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its 70th anniversary in 2013, and this significant milestone |
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provides a fitting opportunity to recognize the myriad |
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contributions of this worthwhile organization; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1943, Hester House honors the legacy |
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of educator and activist Julia C. Hester, who opened her home to |
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neighborhood children in Houston's Fifth Ward in an effort to |
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ensure their safety and to encourage them to pursue their |
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education; the organization was established by a diverse committee |
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of religious, civic, and business leaders with a mission to promote |
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youth development and self-empowerment and to support area |
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families; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Hester House provides a range of commendable |
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initiatives, including preschool and after-school programs, youth |
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mentoring, family and social services, and senior citizen |
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activities; through all of these endeavors, the staff works not |
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only to address the immediate needs of individuals and families but |
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to break the cycles of poverty and dependence and to develop |
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personalized, holistic, and long-term solutions that will lead to |
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self-sufficiency; and |
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WHEREAS, Located just northeast of downtown Houston, the |
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organization's 5.5-acre campus consists of a computer lab, a |
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library, meeting areas, classrooms, staff offices, and a food |
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pantry; in 2010, ground was broken for a five-stage capital |
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expansion project that will allow the organization to continue |
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meeting the changing needs of the community in the coming years; and |
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WHEREAS, For seven decades, Hester House has given countless |
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Texans the tools they need to become engaged and productive members |
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of the community, and in so doing, it has greatly enriched the |
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quality of life in the Fifth Ward and the surrounding communities; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Julia C. Hester House in Houston on |
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its 70th anniversary and extend to all those associated with the |
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organization sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Hester House as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |