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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 269
BY REPRESENTATIVES MORENO AND RICHMOND
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To commend Judith Watts of New Orleans upon her retirement from Agenda for Children.
WHEREAS, Judith Watts is retiring after more than twenty-six years of dedicated
service to Agenda for Children, Louisiana's longest standing child advocacy organization;
and
WHEREAS, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, Ms. Watts has called Louisiana home
since 1962, when she relocated here with her family; she began her college education at
Wellesley College and graduated from Newcomb College of Tulane University with a
bachelor of arts degree in 1963; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Watts began her long and illustrious career of dedication to children
in 1972, when she was hired by the Innovative Education Coalition to create and operate the
Teacher Resource Service; she continued her commitment to children as the director of the
Sarah Allen Child Care Center from 1976 until 1978; she brought her vision of improving
the quality of child care to the St. Mark's Community Center, where she started the day care
training program and oversaw child care centers operated by the agency from 1978 until
1987; during her time at St. Mark's, she created the Child Care Resource Service and was
named assistant executive director; and
WHEREAS, along with several other child advocates, Ms. Watts formed Louisiana's
first statewide child advocacy organization, Agenda for Children, in 1984, and through her
distinguished service as president and chief executive officer, she has brought about many
important victories for Louisiana's children and families; and
WHEREAS one of Ms. Watts' and Agenda for Children's earliest victories for
children was leading the fight to require licensing of child care centers, and she has
implemented many programs at Agenda for Children to improve the quality of early
education, starting the first child care resource and referral program in New Orleans, ENROLLEDHCR NO. 269
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developing the positive steps child care provider training program and the child care
technical assistance program, leading the successful effort to require training for family child
care home providers, and advocating for the attainment of millions of additional dollars for
child care for Louisiana's youngest children; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Watts was a critical early supporter of many community
organizations in New Orleans' Central City neighborhood, including the Central City
Renaissance Collaborative, the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, and the Making Connections
Initiative, and she brought together advocates and service providers to form the Children's
Services Collaborative to address the array of unmet needs and challenges faced by children
in New Orleans; and
WHEREAS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Ms. Watts and Agenda for
Children convened the Greater New Orleans Child Care Rebuild Collaborative to assist in
the rebuilding of child care centers, raising several million dollars and assisting in the
building of ten child care centers; and
WHEREAS, under Ms. Watts' leadership, Agenda for Children produces annually
the Louisiana Kids Count Data Book, which provides important parish-level data on the
well-being of children and families across the state; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Watts' vast accomplishments also include important victories in the
area of juvenile justice reform, as she helped lead the fight to close some of Louisiana's most
notorious juvenile prisons and implement significant reforms to the juvenile justice system;
she has continuously raised her voice against racism and oppression by proudly serving on
the board of the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond and has instituted anti-racism
priorities into the mission statement and organizational culture of Agenda for Children; she
has fought for policies and programs that help lift families up from poverty; and she has been
very instrumental in reducing the rate of uninsured children in the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Watts has served on numerous boards as a true leader and visionary
on behalf of the needs of the state's children; and
WHEREAS, for her many contributions, Ms. Watts was honored with the Florette
Angel Award from Voices for America's Children, and in addition to her many professional
accomplishments, she is the loving and proud mother and grandmother of three children and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 269
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six grandchildren and has served as the organist at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in
New Orleans for more than two decades; and
WHEREAS, Judith Watts merits a special measure of commendation for the
tremendous pride and honor she brings to the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
commend Judith Watts of New Orleans for her outstanding accomplishments, does hereby
congratulate her upon her retirement from Agenda for Children, does hereby recognize and
record for posterity her singular contributions to the children and families of Louisiana, and
does hereby extend best wishes for continued success and happiness in all of her future
endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Judith Watts.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE