WHEREAS, Albert Earl Brooks of Woodbridge, a tireless advocate for civil rights who created opportunities for and enhanced the lives of his fellow African Americans, died on March 25, 2021; and

WHEREAS, born in North Carolina, Albert Brooks grew up in New York and went on to cross paths with many prominent members of the civil rights movement, including Malcolm X; he worked at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, under the Reverend C.L. Franklin, father of Aretha Franklin; and

WHEREAS, Albert Brooks pursued leadership roles with the NAACP in New York, served his country honorably as a member of the United States Army, and received a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo; and

WHEREAS, while living in Buffalo, Albert Brooks mentored young people as a counselor and led programs to help African American men who had been denied work in construction trades achieve full employment as the executive director of the Buffalo Affirmative Action Plan at the A. Philip Randolph Institute; and

WHEREAS, Albert Brooks subsequently relocated to the Commonwealth and worked for the United States Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the United States Department of Labor as an equal opportunity specialist and civil rights officer; and

WHEREAS, a longtime resident of the Neabsco area of Prince William County, Albert Brooks generously volunteered his time with several local organizations and cofounded the African American Democratic Club in Woodbridge to empower members of the community to take a more active role in the democratic process; and

WHEREAS, through his hard work and passionate advocacy, Albert Brooks had a transformative impact on local government and civic life in the communities he served; he received many awards and accolades for his work, including the Derrick Wood Foundation Unsung Hero Medal, the Prince William County Democratic Committee Chairman's Award, the Prince William County Human Rights Award, and the Dale City Civic Association Citizen of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, Albert Brooks' legacy lives on through the generations of young African American leaders he inspired in Prince William County and in communities throughout the Commonwealth and the nation; and

WHEREAS, Albert Brooks will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Barbara; his children, Alise, Albert, Jr., and Anton, and their families; and numerous family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Albert Earl Brooks, a champion for civil rights and equality and a respected member of the Woodbridge community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Albert Earl Brooks as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for his memory.