| 10 | 16 | | |
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| 11 | 17 | | |
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| 12 | 18 | | |
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| 13 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Natale Christian, an esteemed behavioral health specialist, has retired from her position as the executive director of the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board; and |
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| 14 | 20 | | |
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| 15 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Natale Christian holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Howard University and a master's degree in psychology from the New School for Social Research and is a licensed professional counselor with more than 40 years of experience in the field of behavioral health; and |
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| 16 | 22 | | |
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| 17 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Natale Christian has served in various senior positions over her 27 years with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board and was named executive director in 2016, becoming the first woman and the first African American to lead the agency; and |
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| 18 | 24 | | |
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| 19 | 25 | | WHEREAS, as executive director of the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, Natale Christian oversaw an organization that annually serves more than 12,000 individuals affected by mental illness, substance use disorder, and developmental disabilities with a staff of 700 employees and a budget of $73 million; and |
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| 20 | 26 | | |
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| 21 | 27 | | WHEREAS, in recognition of her leadership and experience, Natale Christian has received gubernatorial appointments to serve the Commonwealth on the Board of Counseling, the Board of Health Professions, and what was formerly known as the Substance Abuse Services Council; and |
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| 22 | 28 | | |
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| 23 | 29 | | WHEREAS, beyond her work in the field of behavioral health, Natale Christian has served her community as a trustee at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Newport News and as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Hampton branch of the NAACP; and |
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| 24 | 30 | | |
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| 25 | 31 | | WHEREAS, with an extraordinary commitment to the health and well-being of others, Natale Christian has made a profound and lasting impact on countless lives; now, therefore, be it |
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| 26 | 32 | | |
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| 27 | 33 | | RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Natale Christian hereby be commended on the occasion of her retirement from the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board; and, be it |
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| 28 | 34 | | |
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