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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Partners in Prevention has been selected as the 2016 |
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| 6 | 7 | | Citizen of the Year by the Longview News-Journal; and |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, This annual award was created as a way of honoring |
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| 8 | 9 | | the individual or group that has had the most impact on the Longview |
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| 9 | 10 | | area during the previous 12 months; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The inaugural recipient of this prestigious |
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| 11 | 12 | | accolade, Partners in Prevention was recognized for its exceptional |
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| 12 | 13 | | work in addressing the underlying causes of violent crime in the |
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| 13 | 14 | | Longview community; when concerned residents and organizations |
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| 14 | 15 | | began coming together in response to a record number of homicides in |
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| 15 | 16 | | 2015, there was no established mechanism to coordinate these |
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| 16 | 17 | | disparate groups, but Partners in Prevention stepped up to guide |
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| 17 | 18 | | them; its Hope for Youth initiative has been particularly effective |
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| 18 | 19 | | in galvanizing the efforts of local volunteers, as it focuses on |
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| 19 | 20 | | encouraging young people to avoid drugs and gangs and to rededicate |
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| 20 | 21 | | themselves to their education; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Founded in 1991, Partners in Prevention seeks to |
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| 22 | 23 | | inspire hope and build trusting relationships that transform lives; |
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| 23 | 24 | | the dedicated staff and volunteers contribute to such crucial |
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| 24 | 25 | | programs as the Coalition for Drug-Free Youth, the East Texas |
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| 25 | 26 | | Anti-Trafficking Team, Longview Bridges Out of Poverty, and the |
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| 26 | 27 | | Unity and Diversity Committee; moreover, the group organizes a |
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| 27 | 28 | | mentoring program that reaches students in eight school districts; |
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| 28 | 29 | | and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Over the years, Partners in Prevention has received |
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| 30 | 31 | | numerous honors, including the National Night Out Outstanding |
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| 31 | 32 | | Participation Award, the Governor's Volunteer Award, and the |
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| 32 | 33 | | Outstanding Community Partnership in a Small District Award from |
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| 33 | 34 | | the Texas Association of Partners in Education; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Partners in Prevention is making a lasting and |
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| 35 | 36 | | positive difference in the Longview community, and it is indeed |
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| 36 | 37 | | deserving of this most recent honor; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Partners in Prevention on being |
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| 39 | 40 | | named the 2016 Longview News-Journal Citizen of the Year and extend |
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| 40 | 41 | | to all those associated with the organization sincere best wishes |
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| 41 | 42 | | for continued success with their important work; and, be it further |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 44 | | prepared for Partners in Prevention as an expression of high regard |
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| 44 | 45 | | by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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