SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 548
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize Casa Marianella on the grand occasion of the
organization's 25th anniversary; and
WHEREAS, Casa Marianella opened its doors in Austin on
January 6, 1986; the project was initiated by the Austin
Interfaith Task Force for Central America in response to the
arrival in Austin of refugees fleeing from Central America; and
WHEREAS, The project was named for a human rights lawyer in
El Salvador, Marianella Garcia Villas, who was slain in 1983;
when the wars in Central America began to resolve in the late
1980s, there were fewer refugees, and the Casa began to provide
shelter and services to more immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Casa Marianella offers beds, food, clothing, and
English classes and serves political refugees and immigrants
mainly from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Cuba, and
Nicaragua; and
WHEREAS, The original facility used by Casa Marianella was
donated to the organization by Ed Wendler and is located on
Gunter Street; in 2003, a new facility, Posada Esperanza, was
opened to provide emergency shelter and support to homeless
immigrant women and children; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Casa Marianella presents the Ed
Wendler Award to a person or group in recognition of their
outstanding work on current social issues; this year's honoree is
the Grassroots Leadership Texas Field Office, which will be
recognized at Casa Marianella's annual benefit dinner on March 31,
2011; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
Legislature, hereby commend all associated with Casa Marianella
for their outstanding service to the refugee and immigrant
community and extend best wishes to them on the occasion of the
organization's 25th anniversary; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in
honor of Casa Marianella.
Watson
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 17, 2011.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate