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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Chin Community Ministry is making a positive |
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| 6 | 7 | | difference in the lives of Lewisville families from western |
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| 7 | 8 | | Myanmar; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, In their homeland, members of the Chin ethnic group |
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| 9 | 10 | | were subject to persecution because of their Christianity and |
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| 10 | 11 | | support for pro-democracy political candidates; many fled |
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| 11 | 12 | | oppression by the ruling military junta, walking hundreds of miles |
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| 12 | 13 | | to refugee camps in neighboring Thailand; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, Approximately 3,500 Chin refugees have settled in |
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| 14 | 15 | | Lewisville over the past 15 years, and the city now has the |
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| 15 | 16 | | second-largest Chin community in the United States; most of the |
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| 16 | 17 | | refugees were impoverished and received little formal education in |
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| 17 | 18 | | their native land, but the Chin Community Ministry assists both |
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| 18 | 19 | | children and adults in gaining the knowledge, skills, and resources |
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| 19 | 20 | | required to make successful transitions; each month, the |
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| 20 | 21 | | organization works with about 500 families; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Guided by executive director Becky Nelson, the Chin |
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| 22 | 23 | | Community Ministry unites the efforts of eight local churches and |
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| 23 | 24 | | numerous people of faith; it provides newly arrived children with |
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| 24 | 25 | | backpacks, clothing, and other supplies so that they can enroll in |
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| 25 | 26 | | school immediately, and it coordinates translator services, |
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| 26 | 27 | | furniture donations, rent subsidies, referrals for financial aid, |
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| 27 | 28 | | medical outreach, transportation, and other assistance needed for |
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| 28 | 29 | | the initial settlement of families; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Additional services offered include family |
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| 30 | 31 | | mentoring, ESL and citizenship classes, a summer reading program, a |
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| 31 | 32 | | home ownership program, and payment of fees for school activities |
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| 32 | 33 | | such as band and athletics; moreover, volunteers engage with Chin |
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| 33 | 34 | | residents to help them assimilate and connect with the wider |
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| 34 | 35 | | community; and |
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| 35 | 36 | | WHEREAS, By identifying and prioritizing the needs of |
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| 36 | 37 | | refugees from Myanmar, the Chin Community Ministry is offering |
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| 37 | 38 | | vital support and encouragement to new residents striving to |
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| 38 | 39 | | achieve the American dream of independence and prosperity; now, |
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| 39 | 40 | | therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 41 | 42 | | Legislature hereby recognize the Chin Community Ministry for its |
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| 42 | 43 | | contributions and extend to all those associated with the |
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| 43 | 44 | | organization sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | further |
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| 45 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 46 | 47 | | prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 47 | 48 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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