| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1764 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Girls Empowerment Network has made a lasting and |
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| 6 | 6 | | positive difference in the lives of countless Texas youth; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, Originally called the Ophelia Project, Girls |
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| 8 | 8 | | Empowerment Network was created in 1996 by a group of concerned |
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| 9 | 9 | | mothers; inspired by the book Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves |
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| 10 | 10 | | of Adolescent Girls, the women focused on ways to address the issues |
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| 11 | 11 | | of increasing teenage pregnancy rates and the growing number of |
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| 12 | 12 | | girls experiencing disordered eating, low academic achievement, |
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| 13 | 13 | | mental health concerns, and substance misuse; today, the network |
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| 14 | 14 | | operates offices in Houston and Austin and continues to equip youth |
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| 15 | 15 | | with the tools they need to develop confidence, resiliency, and |
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| 16 | 16 | | healthy self-esteem; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Serving girls in the 3rd through 12th grades, Girls |
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| 18 | 18 | | Empowerment Network employs a self-efficacy curriculum that |
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| 19 | 19 | | stresses the "Six Cs"--collaboration, communication, confidence, |
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| 20 | 20 | | coping skills, creativity, and critical thinking--and its mission |
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| 21 | 21 | | is furthered through summer camps and conferences; in addition, the |
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| 22 | 22 | | network places a strong emphasis on education, partnering with more |
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| 23 | 23 | | than 60 Texas schools to improve outcomes, sponsoring professional |
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| 24 | 24 | | development for teachers, and conducting parental outreach |
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| 25 | 25 | | initiatives; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, The organization's Spark Change Project is one of |
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| 27 | 27 | | its newest programs; launched in 2020 in collaboration with the |
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| 28 | 28 | | Excellence & Advancement Foundation, the project serves girls of |
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| 29 | 29 | | color, assisting them in becoming advocates for positive social |
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| 30 | 30 | | change; as part of that process, youth address local policymakers |
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| 31 | 31 | | about such issues as mental health and the need for safe and |
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| 32 | 32 | | supportive school environments; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Girls Empowerment Network is truly deserving of |
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| 34 | 34 | | special recognition for its important work, and all those |
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| 35 | 35 | | associated with the organization may reflect with pride on their |
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| 36 | 36 | | exemplary efforts; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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| 38 | 38 | | Legislature hereby commend Girls Empowerment Network for its |
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| 39 | 39 | | achievements and extend to the group's staff, administrators, and |
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| 40 | 40 | | volunteers sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 41 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for the |
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| 42 | 42 | | network as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of |
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| 43 | 43 | | Representatives. |
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| 44 | 44 | | A. Johnson of Harris |
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| 45 | 45 | | ______________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 47 | 47 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1764 was adopted by the House on May |
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| 48 | 48 | | 25, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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| 49 | 49 | | ______________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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