SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 244
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize Umoja for the organization's many contributions to the
young people and the schools of the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and
WHEREAS, Umoja, which means "unity" in Swahili, was
founded in 1994 by Luther Perry, a Fort Worth police officer, and
other civic-minded African American men in the community; the
group's goal was to curb gang violence and to help troubled
children by mentoring them and offering special programs in area
schools; and
WHEREAS, During the first year, the group focused on
working with gangs; it then broadened its target groups to
include natural born leaders and students with a variety of
discipline issues and behavior problems; and
WHEREAS, Umoja offers enrichment classes in schools from
the elementary to the high school levels and access to
intervention specialists, advocacy programs, and a myriad of
community resources, such as churches, members of the criminal
justice system, and health agencies; and
WHEREAS, For 19 years, Umoja has provided services to the
Dallas-Fort Worth schools with the goal of improving the
self-esteem, integrity, and leadership skills of the students;
the organization's intervention, mentoring, and training
programs have helped to change the lives of innumerable children;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
83rd Legislature, hereby commend the members of Umoja on their
invaluable work with the young people of the Dallas-Fort Worth
area and on their significant contributions to the area's
schools; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
Umoja as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
Davis
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 19, 2013.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate