| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Tanya Debose has greatly benefited the Independence |
|
|
Heights community of Houston through her activism and advocacy work |
|
|
focused on the preservation of African American history and |
|
|
culture; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A resident of Houston, Ms. Debose has deep roots in |
|
|
Independence Heights; her great-grandfather was one of the |
|
|
pioneering figures who initially purchased land in the area as part |
|
|
of an effort to create a new community for Blacks; in January 1915, |
|
|
Independence Heights became the first municipality incorporated by |
|
|
African Americans in Texas; the community was annexed to Houston in |
|
|
1929; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Ms. Debose is a member of the advisory board of the |
|
|
Prairie View A&M University Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and |
|
|
Justice, and she is the founder of the Preserving Communities of |
|
|
Color Initiative; through its annual conference and other |
|
|
activities, the initiative brings together advocates, scholars, |
|
|
elected officials, and other leaders and serves to connect historic |
|
|
communities of color to a wide range of resources, tools, and |
|
|
support; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Ms. Debose is also actively involved with the |
|
|
Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance, and she is working |
|
|
to create a statewide consortium of heritage councils to help |
|
|
protect and sustain African American history and culture in the |
|
|
Lone Star State; moreover, she is an American Leadership Forum |
|
|
Fellow, and she is helping to build a national heritage corridor to |
|
|
focus attention on the all-Black towns that were created after the |
|
|
Civil War; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Tanya Debose has made a lasting and positive |
|
|
difference in the community of Independence Heights, and it is a |
|
|
pleasure to join in honoring her for her wide-ranging |
|
|
contributions; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commend Tanya Debose for her exceptional efforts |
|
|
in behalf of the historic African American community of |
|
|
Independence Heights and extend to her sincere best wishes for |
|
|
continued success with her important work; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Ms. Debose as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
|
|
House of Representatives. |