H.R. No. 504
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The annual State Civics Fair, a nonpartisan,
community-based event celebrating youth civic engagement, took
place on March 5, 2021; and
WHEREAS, The State Civics Fair is hosted by the Annette
Strauss Institute for Civic Life, a division of the Moody College of
Communication at The University of Texas at Austin; since 2002, the
institute has coordinated the innovative civic education program
Speak Up Speak Out, which challenges third grade through high
school students to work together in groups to identify community
problems, develop solutions, and vie for the opportunity to present
their ideas to community leaders at the State Civics Fair; the
winning teams receive funds to use toward implementing their ideas;
and
WHEREAS, Approximately 9,000 students, 175 educators, and 92
schools have participated in the Speak Up Speak Out program since
its inception; over the past year, around 700 young Texans worked to
identify and brainstorm ways of addressing various civic issues,
including waste management, social isolation, and public safety;
and
WHEREAS, Out of all of this year's participants, 117 were
invited to showcase their solutions at the State Civics Fair; the 27
teams hailed from elementary, middle, and high schools in nine
cities, and each of their members earned distinction for themselves
through their hard work, initiative, and thoughtfulness; and
WHEREAS, The Speak Up Speak Out program is helping young
people to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need
to become the engaged citizens and leaders of tomorrow, and the
Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life is to be commended for its
ongoing commitment to this important endeavor; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 2021 State Civics Fair, honor
this year's talented participants, and extend sincere thanks to the
staff of the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life for the
guidance and support they have provided to our future leaders.
Talarico
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 504 was adopted by the House on April
9, 2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House