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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 3
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WHEREAS, Resource Center is celebrating its 40th |
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anniversary in 2023, and this milestone offers a welcome |
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opportunity to recognize its enduring service to the North Texas |
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LGBTQIA+ community and all people affected by HIV; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1983 as the Foundation for Human |
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Understanding, the organization's initial goal was achieving |
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recognition and equal rights for members of the area's gay and |
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lesbian community; the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1985 |
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brought a new level of urgency, and the group rose to the |
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challenge by creating the AIDS Resource Center to raise awareness |
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and to offer preventive education, legal services, emergency |
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funding, and essentials such as food and clothing; and |
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WHEREAS, The center launched the Nelson-Tebedo Health |
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Clinic in 1988 to deliver HIV testing, treatment, and clinical |
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drug trials; in the wake of a fire the following year, the clinic |
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and food pantry remained on Cedar Springs Road, while the rest of |
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the organization moved into the former Metropolitan Community |
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Church site on Reagan Street; the Foundation for Human |
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Understanding changed its name to Resource Center of Dallas in |
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1998 and adopted its present name in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, as a United Way agency, Resource Center |
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operates the John Thomas LGBT Community Center, named in honor of |
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its first executive director, and a Health Campus providing |
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nutritional services, including a food pantry and hot meals, as |
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well as HIV case management and insurance assistance; the center |
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is a leader in HIV/AIDS education and services and provides a |
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full spectrum of STI screenings, treatments, and prevention |
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information; in addition, the center connects clients with |
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behavioral, dental, and mental health care; among its numerous |
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initiatives are GenderBrave, Grupo Orgullo Hispano, Fuse, |
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THRIVE, United Black Ellument, Women with Pride, and Youth First; |
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moreover, the center recently broke ground on Oak Lawn Place, an |
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84-unit senior housing development; and |
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WHEREAS, One of the nation's largest LGBTQIA+ community |
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organizations, Resource Center has a staff of more than 70 |
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members, assisted by over 1,200 volunteers; more than 62,000 |
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people benefit from its programs annually; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past four decades, Resource Center has |
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improved the lives of countless North Texas residents, thereby |
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strengthening families and communities, and it is sure to remain |
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an essential resource in the years ahead; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby congratulate Resource Center on its 40th |
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anniversary and extend to all those associated with the |
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organization sincere best wishes for the future; 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 the center as an expression of high regard from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Johnson, West |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on June 6, 2023. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |