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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Justice Sunday 2006 campaign recognizes the 
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50th anniversary of the civil rights movement and serves as the 
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trademark for a historic 381-day Call-To-Service, which began 
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December 1, 2005, in honor of the lives and legacies of the 
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late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Rosa L. Parks; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1994, in recognition of that spirit, Congress 
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passed the King Holiday and Service Act, which directed the 
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Corporation for National and Community Service to support local 
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efforts to make the King Holiday a day of service; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Justice Sunday's national theme, "A Charge To Keep 
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We Have: Service Before and Beyond", serves as a precursor to 
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the King Day of Service in uniting people of all races, faiths, 
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and cultures; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Family strengthening must be incorporated with 
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strategies of community support and personal transformation to 
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meet the critical needs of the more than 800,000 youth and 
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adult ex-offenders who are returning to cities and towns each 
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year; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In honor of the late Mrs. Rosa L. Parks, 
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individuals can make a difference by responding to the urgent 
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need for qualified mentors to help facilitate a pathway to 
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freedom for youth engaged in gangs and criminal activities, 
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with particular outreach to children whose parents are 
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incarcerated; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The National Alliance of Faith and Justice, is 
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authorized by grant of Rights from the Martin Luther King 
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Center for Nonviolent Social Change to use the images and 
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quotes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to acknowledge the 
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lifetime of selfless service by Dr. King as a clergy and martyr 
 


 






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for justice; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Justice Sunday 2006 will launch Pen or Pencil: 
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Eyes on the Prize, prompting youth to remain focused and 
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committed to progress and anti-criminal behavior by reflecting 
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upon the immeasurable price of freedom exemplified on film and 
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by heroes and sheroes of the civil rights movement such as Dr. 
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King and Mrs. Parks; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. M. Jeanne Dolphus Cotton, Trinity Universal 
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Center, Inc., Justice Sunday Lake County, Illinois, 
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facilitator, in partnership with the College of Lake County, 
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will conduct the Pen or Pencil project in middle schools in 
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Waukegan and North Chicago; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we proclaim January 15, 2006, as Justice Sunday, and we urge 
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all citizens to consider this day and the year beyond as a 
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tribute to Dr. King and Mrs. Parks through commitment to 
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volunteerism and service around pressing social issues; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Dr. M. Jeanne Dolphus Cotton.