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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The annual State Civics Fair, a nonpartisan, |
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community-based event celebrating youth civic engagement, took |
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place on March 5, 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, The State Civics Fair is hosted by the Annette |
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Strauss Institute for Civic Life, a division of the Moody College of |
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Communication at The University of Texas at Austin; since 2002, the |
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institute has coordinated the innovative civic education program |
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Speak Up Speak Out, which challenges third grade through high |
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school students to work together in groups to identify community |
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problems, develop solutions, and vie for the opportunity to present |
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their ideas to community leaders at the State Civics Fair; the |
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winning teams receive funds to use toward implementing their ideas; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Approximately 9,000 students, 175 educators, and 92 |
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schools have participated in the Speak Up Speak Out program since |
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its inception; over the past year, around 700 young Texans worked to |
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identify and brainstorm ways of addressing various civic issues, |
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including waste management, social isolation, and public safety; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Out of all of this year's participants, 117 were |
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invited to showcase their solutions at the State Civics Fair; the 27 |
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teams hailed from elementary, middle, and high schools in nine |
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cities, and each of their members earned distinction for themselves |
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through their hard work, initiative, and thoughtfulness; and |
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WHEREAS, The Speak Up Speak Out program is helping young |
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people to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need |
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to become the engaged citizens and leaders of tomorrow, and the |
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Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life is to be commended for its |
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ongoing commitment to this important endeavor; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 2021 State Civics Fair, honor |
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this year's talented participants, and extend sincere thanks to the |
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staff of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life for the |
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guidance and support they have provided to our future leaders. |