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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, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Serena |
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| 6 | 7 | | Simmons Connelly of Farmers Branch, a lifelong champion for the |
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| 7 | 8 | | most vulnerable members of society, who passed away on April 22, |
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| 8 | 9 | | 2020, at the age of 50; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The daughter of Harold and Sandra Simmons, the |
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| 10 | 11 | | former Serena Simmons was born in Houston on January 18, 1970; she |
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| 11 | 12 | | graduated at the top of her class at Greenhill School, and she |
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| 12 | 13 | | received a bachelor's degree in classical studies from Brown |
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| 13 | 14 | | University and a master's degree in social work from The University |
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| 14 | 15 | | of Texas at Arlington in 1995; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Admired for her quiet strength and visionary |
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| 16 | 17 | | leadership, Ms. Connelly launched her career as an advocate for HIV |
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| 17 | 18 | | and AIDS patients in Dallas; subsequently, she worked in behalf of |
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| 18 | 19 | | the city's refugee community and established the Human Rights |
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| 19 | 20 | | Initiative of North Texas, an organization that provides free legal |
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| 20 | 21 | | services to people who have suffered human rights abuses; she later |
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| 21 | 22 | | served as director of philanthropy for the Harold Simmons |
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| 22 | 23 | | Foundation; she believed strongly in the power of philanthropy to |
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| 23 | 24 | | drive systemic change, and her passion for early childhood |
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| 24 | 25 | | learning, criminal justice reform, gender equity, and quality |
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| 25 | 26 | | medical and mental health care for all shaped the foundation's |
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| 26 | 27 | | efforts; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Connelly tirelessly supported the advancement |
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| 28 | 29 | | of many other important initiatives as well, such as |
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| 29 | 30 | | trauma-informed therapy and Montessori education, and she |
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| 30 | 31 | | advocated for immigrant rights and those living in poverty; |
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| 31 | 32 | | moreover, she gave of her own resources to Educational First Steps, |
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| 32 | 33 | | Equal Justice USA, and Physicians for Human Rights, among others; |
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| 33 | 34 | | in recognition of her contributions, which also included service to |
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| 34 | 35 | | a number of boards and foundations, she received the 2014 |
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| 35 | 36 | | Distinguished Alumni Award from UT Arlington and was named the 2001 |
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| 36 | 37 | | Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social |
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| 37 | 38 | | Workers Texas Chapter; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Ms. Connelly enjoyed the love |
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| 39 | 40 | | and support of her husband, Tom Connelly, and their two children; |
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| 40 | 41 | | and |
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| 41 | 42 | | WHEREAS, Through her exceptional dedication to social |
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| 42 | 43 | | justice, Serena Connelly made a positive and lasting difference in |
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| 43 | 44 | | the world around her, and she leaves behind a record of service that |
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| 44 | 45 | | her loved ones can remember with pride; now, therefore, be it |
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| 45 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 46 | 47 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Serena Simmons |
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| 47 | 48 | | Connelly and extend sincere condolences to all those who mourn her |
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| 48 | 49 | | passing; and, be it further |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 50 | 51 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 51 | 52 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Serena |
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| 52 | 53 | | Simmons Connelly. |
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