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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Intercultural Development Research Association |
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(IDRA) launched its Education Policy Fellows Program in November |
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2020; and |
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WHEREAS, IDRA is dedicated to promoting equal educational |
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opportunity by strengthening public schools that prepare all |
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students to reach their dreams; and |
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WHEREAS, students of color make up more than 70 percent of the |
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Texas public school population, yet even as the state grows more |
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diverse, advocates of color are often not included in formulating |
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decisions that impact these children; and |
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WHEREAS, the IDRA Education Policy Fellows Program was |
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created to prepare advocates of color to join a network of advocates |
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committed to improving racial equity in education; and |
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WHEREAS, During the 87th Legislative Session, the inaugural |
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cohort of IDRA Education Policy Fellows worked with coalitions, |
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students, and families to craft a community-centered education |
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policy agenda, guided community advocacy sessions, researched and |
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crafted education policies, created and led advocacy campaigns, and |
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published issue briefs; and |
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WHEREAS, The four inaugural policy fellows are Dr. Altheria |
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Caldera, Araceli Garcia, Thomas Marshall III, and Christina Muñoz; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Caldera is a scholar, writer and equity activist |
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who began her professional career as a middle school English |
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teacher; and whose fellowship work focused on expanding access to |
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postsecondary education, particularly for students of color, and |
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ensuring successful outcomes; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Garcia, the daughter and granddaughter of |
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Mexican immigrants, grew up on the South Side of San Antonio; and |
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concentrated on expanding educational opportunities for emergent |
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bilingual students and immigrant students; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Marshall holds a bachelor's degree in English |
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with a minor in youth development studies from Clemson University; |
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and focused on student and family advocacy, including policies to |
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ensure digital equity; and |
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WHEREAS Ms. Muñoz, a Latina, recently received her master's |
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degree in quantitative methods in the Department of Educational |
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Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin; and worked to |
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promote education policies that ensure an equitable response to |
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COVID-19; and |
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WHEREAS, The outstanding advocates in the fellowship program |
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have gained valuable experience during the 87th Legislative |
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Session, and their connection to communities of color helps ensure |
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that the students most impacted by education policies are central |
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to decision-making; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Intercultural Development Research |
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Association and the inaugural cohort of its Education Policy |
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Fellows Program and extend to all those associated with the |
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organization sincere best wishes for continued success in their |
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important endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the organization and the fellows as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |