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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Resource Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary |
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in 2023, and this milestone offers a welcome opportunity to |
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recognize its enduring service to the North Texas LGBTQIA+ |
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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 gay and lesbian |
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community; the onset of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 1985 brought a new |
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level of urgency, and the group rose to the challenge by creating |
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the AIDS Resource Center to raise awareness and to offer preventive |
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education, legal services, emergency funding, and essentials such |
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as food and clothing; and |
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WHEREAS, The center launched the Nelson-Tebedo Health Clinic |
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in 1988 to deliver HIV testing, treatment, and clinical drug |
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trials; in the wake of a fire the following year, the clinic and |
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food pantry remained on Cedar Springs Road, while the rest of the |
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organization moved into the former Metropolitan Community Church |
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site on Reagan Street; the Foundation for Human Understanding |
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changed its name to Resource Center of Dallas in 1998 and adopted |
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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 is |
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a leader in HIV/AIDS education and services and provides a full |
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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, THRIVE, |
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United Black Ellument, Women with Pride, and Youth First; moreover, |
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the center recently broke ground on Oak Lawn Place, an 84-unit |
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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 members, |
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assisted by over 1,200 volunteers; more than 62,000 people benefit |
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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 an |
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essential resource in the years ahead; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby congratulate Resource Center on its 40th anniversary and |
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extend to all those associated with the organization sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it 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 by the Texas |
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Senate. |