SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 244

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to recognize Umoja for the organization's many contributions to the young people and the schools of the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and

WHEREAS, Umoja, which means "unity" in Swahili, was founded in 1994 by Luther Perry, a Fort Worth police officer, and other civic-minded African American men in the community; the group's goal was to curb gang violence and to help troubled children by mentoring them and offering special programs in area schools; and

WHEREAS, During the first year, the group focused on working with gangs; it then broadened its target groups to include natural born leaders and students with a variety of discipline issues and behavior problems; and

WHEREAS, Umoja offers enrichment classes in schools from the elementary to the high school levels and access to intervention specialists, advocacy programs, and a myriad of community resources, such as churches, members of the criminal justice system, and health agencies; and

WHEREAS, For 19 years, Umoja has provided services to the Dallas-Fort Worth schools with the goal of improving the self-esteem, integrity, and leadership skills of the students; the organization's intervention, mentoring, and training programs have helped to change the lives of innumerable children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby commend the members of Umoja on their invaluable work with the young people of the Dallas-Fort Worth area and on their significant contributions to the area's schools; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Umoja as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

Davis

________________________________

President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 19, 2013.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate