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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life has drawn to a close with |
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| 8 | 9 | | the death of Tanya Debose of Houston on January 30, 2025, at the age |
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| 9 | 10 | | of 58; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, An advocate for preserving African American history |
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| 11 | 12 | | and culture, Tanya Debose was born on April 4, 1966, and she was |
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| 12 | 13 | | best known for her work in the Independence Heights neighborhood of |
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| 13 | 14 | | Houston; she had deep roots in the community, as her |
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| 14 | 15 | | great-grandfather was one of the early pioneers to purchase land in |
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| 15 | 16 | | what became the first African American municipality in Texas; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Debose founded Preserving Communities of Color, |
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| 17 | 18 | | which focuses on protecting historic communities of color by |
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| 18 | 19 | | transforming them into inclusive cultural destinations; the |
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| 19 | 20 | | initiative consists of an annual conference bringing together |
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| 20 | 21 | | community advocates, civic leaders, scholars, and elected |
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| 21 | 22 | | officials, and it provides support to historic communities of |
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| 22 | 23 | | color, connecting them with tools and resources; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Debose participated in several national |
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| 24 | 25 | | initiatives, including the Historic Black Towns and Settlements |
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| 25 | 26 | | Alliance, where she spearheaded media campaigns aimed at raising |
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| 26 | 27 | | awareness of historic Black towns; in more recent years, Ms. Debose |
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| 27 | 28 | | coordinated a summit with the goal of building a national heritage |
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| 28 | 29 | | corridor across multiple states to connect leaders and promote |
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| 29 | 30 | | awareness of all-Black towns created after the Civil War; she made |
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| 30 | 31 | | efforts to create a statewide consortium of heritage councils with |
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| 31 | 32 | | the goal of fostering the preservation of African American history |
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| 32 | 33 | | and culture in the Lone Star State; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, An engaged activist and an effective community |
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| 34 | 35 | | leader, Tanya Debose earned the lasting respect of all who were |
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| 35 | 36 | | privileged to know her, and she will forever be remembered with |
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| 36 | 37 | | great admiration and affection; now, therefore, be it |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 38 | 39 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Tanya Debose and |
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| 39 | 40 | | extend heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends; and, be it |
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| 40 | 41 | | further |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 42 | 43 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 43 | 44 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tanya |
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| 44 | 45 | | Debose. |
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