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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Since 2014, Yoga N Da Hood and its founder, Ebony |
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Smith, have helped introduce underserved residents of Dallas and |
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other communities to the many benefits of yoga; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Smith, an Oak Cliff native and full-time yoga |
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instructor, created the program to make yoga more affordable and |
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accessible to everyone, particularly people of color who are often |
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underrepresented in yoga classes; she began practicing yoga seven |
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years ago to prepare herself for childbirth and was impressed by the |
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impact it had on both her health and her mental focus; today, she |
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hosts approximately four free classes per week; she also enjoys |
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teaching free weekly classes and compassion workshops to Girls |
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Inc., an organization that provided her with guidance and |
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mentorship during troubled times in her childhood; and |
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WHEREAS, Yoga N Da Hood is now offered as an after-school |
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program in more than two dozen Dallas-area elementary schools; it |
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was recently named the 2019 recipient of the Pegasus Prize by the |
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Dallas Foundation, which includes a $50,000 grant that will help |
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the organization train 300 more yoga teachers and expand the |
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program's reach from 310 to nearly 3,000 students; and |
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WHEREAS, Through Yoga N Da Hood, more Texans of all ages and |
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backgrounds are discovering the power of yoga to promote health, |
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ease stress, and improve their overall well-being, and Ebony Smith |
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may take well-deserved pride in having touched many lives through |
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this outstanding program; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Ebony Smith for her work to bring yoga to |
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underserved communities through Yoga N Da Hood and extend to |
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Ms. Smith 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 Ms. Smith as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |