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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Mexican American Cultural Center of El Paso |
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celebrated its grand opening in March 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, Funded by a 2012 quality of life bond program, the |
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center celebrates the traditions and resiliency of border cultures |
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by hosting exhibitions and fostering creative expression; it is |
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guided by the city's Museum and Cultural Affairs Department; and |
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WHEREAS, The Mexican American Cultural Center is dedicated to |
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stewardship of the stories and traditions of the Indigenous peoples |
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of the region as part of collective history; these include Lipan |
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Apache, Mescalero Apache, Chiricahua Apache, Piro, Manso, Suma, |
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Jumano, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, Piro/Manso/Tiwa Indian Tribe of the |
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Pueblo of San Juan de Guadalupe, Rarámuri, and Tortugas Pueblo; in |
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addition, the center raises awareness of the contributions of other |
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tribes whose territories include present-day Texas, among them the |
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Carrizo/Comecrudo, Coahuiltecan, Caddo, and Kickapoo, as well as |
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the peoples of Chihuahua and northern Mexico, who are ancestors of |
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many community members; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the state-designated Downtown Arts |
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District, the MACC neighbors the newly renovated Cleveland Square |
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Park and the El Paso Museum of History; the center occupies a $15 |
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million, 41,000-square-foot space constructed as part of the Main |
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Library, and the two facilities share an auditorium; in addition, |
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the MACC features the Black Box Theatre, a multiuse performance |
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space; it also encompasses two art galleries, a dance studio, an |
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artist-in-residence studio, a crafts studio, and a cooking |
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classroom boasting a full kitchen; a recording studio is designed |
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for collection of oral histories; it will also be available for |
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booking, as will the rooftop terrace event space with its view of |
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downtown; and |
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WHEREAS, The long-awaited advent of the MACC takes El Paso's |
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Downtown Arts District to a new level, and it is sure to provide |
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many exciting opportunities for enrichment to residents and |
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visitors alike in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the opening of the Mexican American |
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Cultural Center and extend to all those associated with the center |
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sincere best 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 MACC as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |