Bill Text: IL HJR0016 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates the 107 graduates of the Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Chicago for all graduating from high school and getting accepted into college.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-05-31 - Resolution Adopted 112-002-001 [HJR0016 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HJR0016-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are pleased to congratulate the 107 graduates
of the Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Chicago for all
graduating from high school and getting accepted into college;
and
WHEREAS, The Urban Prep Academy for Young Men is an
all-male, all-black high school in Chicago's Englewood
community; Urban Prep's mission is to provide a comprehensive,
high-quality college preparatory education to young men that
results in all of the academy's graduates succeeding in
college; and
WHEREAS, Urban Prep Academies is a non-profit organization
founded in 2002 by Tim King and a group of African-American
education, business, and civic leaders; the group opened their
first school, the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in
Englewood, in 2006; in 2009, they opened their second school in
East Garfield Park; in 2010, the group planned to open their
third school in Chicago's South Shore community; and
WHEREAS, The students of the Urban Prep Academies believe
in the academy's creed: "We believe. We are the young men of
Urban Prep. We are college bound. We are exceptional - not

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because we say it, but because we work hard at it. We will not
falter in the face of any obstacle placed before us. We are
dedicated, committed and focused. We never succumb to
mediocrity, uncertainty or fear. We never fail because we never
give up. We make no excuses. We choose to live honestly,
nonviolently and honorably. We respect ourselves and, in doing
so, respect all people. We have a future for which we are
accountable. We have a responsibility to our families,
community and world. We are our brothers' keepers. We believe
in ourselves. We believe in each other. We believe in Urban
Prep. WE BELIEVE."; and
WHEREAS, Of the 107 African-American graduates at the Urban
Prep Academy for Young Men, only 4% of the graduates could read
at their grade level when they were freshman; 82% of the
students came from low-income families; and
WHEREAS, The Urban Prep Academy for Young Men managed to
get all of the graduates accepted into 72 colleges around the
nation through its innovative, pro-active stance on education;
before the male students started their first freshman class 4
years ago, each student was assigned a college counselor; the
students then took double periods of English and spent 72,000
more minutes in the classroom than their peers at regular
Chicago public schools; the students also visited the esteemed
Northwestern University; and

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WHEREAS, The Urban Prep Academy for Young Men's counselors
will also provide comprehensive support for the students
throughout their college years; and
WHEREAS, These young men serve as models of hard work,
integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of
Illinois; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we congratulate the 107
graduates of the Urban Prep Academy for Young Men for their
success and wish them continued success and happiness in the
future; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the principal of the Urban Prep Academy for Young
Men on behalf of the 107 graduates as a symbol of our esteem
and respect.