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| 5 | 6 | | |
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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Residents of Austin lost a beloved community leader |
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| 8 | 9 | | with the passing of Heath Donell Creech on February 24, 2025, at the |
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| 9 | 10 | | age of 57; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, A digital media and marketing pioneer, Heath Creech |
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| 11 | 12 | | launched such successful businesses as Soulciti, a trailblazing |
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| 12 | 13 | | online news and cultural source for people of color; his efforts as |
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| 13 | 14 | | an entrepreneur were always community-focused, and he worked |
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| 14 | 15 | | tirelessly to improve workplace diversity and promote leadership |
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| 15 | 16 | | development among minorities in the technology field; over the |
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| 16 | 17 | | years, he collaborated with businesses, nonprofits, and public |
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| 17 | 18 | | figures to ensure representation across Austin's tech ecosystem, |
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| 18 | 19 | | spark meaningful conversations, and drive positive change; he made |
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| 19 | 20 | | a national impact at the South by Southwest conference, resulting |
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| 20 | 21 | | in diversification of programming and attendance; the #BlackAtSXSW |
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| 21 | 22 | | hashtag he coined has helped African Americans connect and expand |
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| 22 | 23 | | their presence at the prestigious event; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Creech was instrumental in founding a number of |
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| 24 | 25 | | influential organizations, among them GriotMedia, the African |
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| 25 | 26 | | American Leadership Institute, the Austin Area Heritage Council, |
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| 26 | 27 | | and MVMT50, a coalition of Black thought leaders in the innovation, |
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| 27 | 28 | | technology, and digital sectors; moreover, he played a key role in |
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| 28 | 29 | | shaping such cultural events as the Urban Music Fest, Jazz Fest, and |
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| 29 | 30 | | the MLK Day Parade; most recently, he was involved with supporting |
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| 30 | 31 | | the Black Men's Health Clinic Outreach Team in raising the profile |
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| 31 | 32 | | of the clinic, which provides education and access to medical care |
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| 32 | 33 | | for an underserved population; he was a mentor to many, and he |
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| 33 | 34 | | enjoyed the love and affection of myriad friends and a close and |
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| 34 | 35 | | devoted family, including his mother, his son, and his siblings; |
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| 35 | 36 | | and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, Although the death of Heath Creech has brought |
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| 37 | 38 | | profound sorrow to those who shared in the richness of his life, he |
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| 38 | 39 | | empowered innumerable people to carry on his vision of building a |
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| 39 | 40 | | better world, and his extraordinary contributions will continue to |
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| 40 | 41 | | resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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| 41 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 42 | 43 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Heath Donell Creech |
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| 43 | 44 | | and extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn his passing; and, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | further |
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| 45 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 46 | 47 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 47 | 48 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Heath |
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| 48 | 49 | | Creech. |
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