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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Valley Initiative for Development and |
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| 6 | 7 | | Advancement (VIDA) is celebrating its 25th anniversary year in |
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| 7 | 8 | | 2021, and this milestone in its history truly merits special |
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| 8 | 9 | | recognition; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, This community-based nonprofit organization was |
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| 10 | 11 | | established in 1995 by faith and business leaders in the Lower Rio |
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| 11 | 12 | | Grande Valley to empower the region's underserved residents by |
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| 12 | 13 | | providing them with the education and training they need to qualify |
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| 13 | 14 | | for good, high-paying jobs; the initiative also addresses the need |
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| 14 | 15 | | of area employers for a skilled workforce; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, VIDA's career counselors and case managers address |
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| 16 | 17 | | financial matters, family issues, and the time management concerns |
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| 17 | 18 | | of each student, and they conduct group sessions on such topics as |
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| 18 | 19 | | resume preparation, interviewing techniques, and study skills; |
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| 19 | 20 | | guest speakers also instruct program participants on a variety of |
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| 20 | 21 | | topics, including home buying, investing, and planning for |
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| 21 | 22 | | retirement; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Working with educational institutions such as South |
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| 23 | 24 | | Texas College and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, VIDA |
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| 24 | 25 | | places its students in one-year certificate programs and two-year |
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| 25 | 26 | | associate degree programs in such subjects as allied health, |
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| 26 | 27 | | manufacturing, technology, business, and education and social |
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| 27 | 28 | | services; in addition, students may train for careers as police |
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| 28 | 29 | | officers, paralegals, web developers, dental hygienists, and |
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| 29 | 30 | | vocational nurses, among many other fields; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, A recent Pathways for Advancing Careers and |
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| 31 | 32 | | Education (PACE) evaluation shows that 98 percent of VIDA |
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| 32 | 33 | | participants took part in some education and training, while 55 |
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| 33 | 34 | | percent obtained a credential or a degree; compared to a control |
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| 34 | 35 | | group without access to the program, VIDA participants enrolled in |
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| 35 | 36 | | college at a greater rate, earned more college credits, and earned |
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| 36 | 37 | | more degrees and certifications; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Since its inception, VIDA has demonstrated |
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| 38 | 39 | | remarkable success at training skilled workers for high-demand |
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| 39 | 40 | | jobs, and in so doing, it has helped to develop the next generation |
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| 40 | 41 | | of engaged and productive citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 42 | 43 | | Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 25th |
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| 43 | 44 | | anniversary year of the Valley Initiative for Development and |
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| 44 | 45 | | Advancement and extend to all those associated with the program |
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| 45 | 46 | | sincere best wishes for continued success in their important work; |
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| 46 | 47 | | and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for VIDA as an expression of high regard by the Texas House |
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| 49 | 50 | | of Representatives. |
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