HR1342 LRB096 22591 GRL 41898 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate the 107 graduates
4 of the Urban Prep Academy for Young Men in Chicago for all
5 graduating from high school and getting accepted into college;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, The Urban Prep Academy for Young Men is an
8 all-male, all-black high school in Chicago's Englewood
9 community; Urban Prep's mission is to provide a comprehensive,
10 high-quality college preparatory education to young men that
11 results in all of the academy's graduates succeeding in
12 college; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Urban Prep Academies is a non-profit organization
14 founded in 2002 by Tim King and a group of African-American
15 education, business, and civic leaders; the group opened their
16 1st school, the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in
17 Englewood, in 2006; in 2009, they opened their 2nd school in
18 East Garfield Park; in 2010, the group will open their 3rd
19 school in Chicago's South Shore community; and
 
20     WHEREAS, The students of the Urban Prep Academies believe
21 in the academy's creed: "We believe. We are the young men of
22 Urban Prep. We are college bound. We are exceptional-not

 

 

HR1342 - 2 - LRB096 22591 GRL 41898 r

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

 

 

HR1342 - 3 - LRB096 22591 GRL 41898 r

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