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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The nonprofit organization Miles of Freedom |
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provides invaluable services to individuals and families in the |
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Dallas area who have been impacted by incarceration; and |
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WHEREAS, Miles of Freedom was founded by Richard Miles, who |
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spent 15 years in Texas prisons on a wrongful conviction for murder; |
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he was free on bond for two and a half years before he was finally |
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exonerated by the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals in 2012, and |
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during that time, he experienced firsthand the difficulties that a |
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person who has been incarcerated may face in finding a job and a |
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place to live; and |
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WHEREAS, Miles of Freedom works to offer support and dignity |
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to such individuals in South Dallas through a series of |
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initiatives; the group's three-month Job Readiness Workshop equips |
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participants with training in financial literacy, resume building, |
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interview training, and other life skills, and its graduates are |
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provided with job placement assistance; the Men/Women of Future |
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program mentors young people affected by incarceration, either as |
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inmates or as family members of inmates; and |
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WHEREAS, This noteworthy organization also offers a shuttle |
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service twice a month to prisons in the Tennessee Colony area for |
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the families of those who are incarcerated, and it provides job |
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opportunities through its lawn care business; and |
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WHEREAS, Through its unique and compassionate approach to |
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breaking the cycle of incarceration, Miles of Freedom has made a |
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positive and lasting difference in many lives, and the staff and |
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leadership of the organization may take pride in all that they have |
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accomplished; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Miles of Freedom on its efforts in |
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behalf of individuals impacted by incarceration and extend to all |
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those associated with the group sincere best wishes for continued |
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success in their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Miles of Freedom as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |