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TO DECLARE APRIL 13, 2017, AS "COLUMBIA URBAN LEAGUE DAY" IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN RECOGNITION OF COLUMBIA URBAN LEAGUE'S EXEMPLARY WORK IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
Whereas, on April 13, 1967, Mrs. Alice Hurley and the late Mr. Anthony Hurley, along with a group of dedicated, progressive citizens, established the Columbia Urban League; and
Whereas, the Columbia Urban League has remained steadfast in its mission to provide occasions for the citizens of its communities to achieve civil rights, social justice, economic empowerment, and equal opportunity through good and bad times; and
Whereas, the organization has diligently carried out its mission for more than fifty years by providing visionary leadership and being a conduit for unity, inclusion, social justice, and positive change in its capacity as a nonprofit nonpartisan organization of the city of Columbia, Richland County, and the State of South Carolina; and
Whereas, along with the University of South Carolina College of Social Work and State agencies, the Columbia Urban League launched the National Black Family Summit which provided family intervention training for human service, social workers, practitioners, and others who serve disadvantaged families; and
Whereas, the Columbia Urban League has been in the forefront in addressing youth development and violence prevention through its Stop the Violence community mobilization initiatives; and
Whereas, it has also promoted the improvement of race relations by playing an integral role in organizing the historic and inaugural King Day at the Dome Rally, one of the largest movements bringing together more than fifty thousand people for the removal of the Confederate Flag from the State House Dome and Chambers in the State in January 2000; and
Whereas, the organization has published "The State of Black South Carolina: An Action Agenda for the Future," an essential resource guide providing relevant information and research on the black experience, for more than twenty-seven years; and
Whereas, the league gained national recognition for receiving the Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award for Advancing Racial Equality from the National Urban League and for helping to establish evidence-based best practice models for closing the achievement and education gap in African American children; and
Whereas, the city of Columbia, the Midlands area, and the State of South Carolina have all benefited tremendously from Columbia Urban League's more than fifty years of service to African Americans' historically underserved community and the community as a whole; and
Whereas Columbia Urban League has been a strong advocate for economic development and corporate social responsibility. The organization has led the effort to provide meaningful and first-time work experience to more than ten thousand youths, including foster care in Richland and nine other counties in the Palmetto State; and
Whereas, having maintained an immaculate reputation as an organization of integrity, civility, and social justice, the Columbia Urban League has served on the 4-2-1 committee that led to the election of the first African American to be appointed to the Columbia City Council; and
Whereas, the Columbia Urban League deserves recognition for its outstanding service to the city, county, and State for its steadfast commitment. James T. McLawhorn, Jr., has been a trailblazer, servant-leader, and president and chief executive officer of Columbia Urban League for thirty-eight years. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, declare April 13, 2017, as "Columbia Urban League Day" in the State of South Carolina in recognition of Columbia Urban League's exemplary work in our communities.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Columbia Urban League.
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