Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0267

HR0267 LRB104 13140 ECR 25265 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend the Illinois YouthBuild Coalition (IYC) and its members for their dedication and hard work; and

WHEREAS, The IYC was founded by former President Kerry Knodle in 1996; the following year, the coalition advocated for the passage of the Illinois YouthBuild Act by the Illinois General Assembly, creating a mechanism for launching and funding programs; and

WHEREAS, The IYC is dedicated to expanding employment and career opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged young adults by advocating for an increase of quality resources and community involvement; the coalition partners with opportunity youth, or those aged 16 to 24, to build a safe, secure, and supportive force for change in the larger community; and

WHEREAS, The IYC is supported by YouthBuild USA and is comprised of 18 YouthBuild programs in Illinois, which are located in Aurora, Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago Heights, Decatur, East St. Louis, Godfrey, North Chicago, Rockford, Rock Island, Waukegan, and Chicago, and other youth-serving organizations with similar purposes; the coalition's member organizations all operate their programs according to the YouthBuild Model; and

WHEREAS, The IYC's YouthBuild is a youth and community development program that simultaneously addresses core issues facing low-income communities, including housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and youth leadership development; and

WHEREAS, The IYC's YouthBuild programs serve low-income young people aged 16 to 24 facing barriers to success, including foster care, homelessness, and juvenile justice; these young people are traditionally known as disenfranchised, marginalized, at risk, and disconnected, and they are too often defined by the struggles they face both socially and economically; and

WHEREAS, Through the IYC's YouthBuild programs, low-income young people aged 16 to 24 can work toward their GED or high school diploma while learning the skills of the construction industry through hands-on construction activities; and

WHEREAS, The IYC believes that the goals, dreams, and aspirations of every young person are real, and these young people should be seen for who they really are and should receive support, as every young person deserves the opportunity to develop their untapped potential; and

WHEREAS, The IYC will hold its annual Advocacy Day at the State Capitol on April 30, 2025; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend the Illinois YouthBuild Coalition (IYC) for its dedication to assisting the youth of Illinois, and we thank IYC President Tameka Wilson, various staff members, and the coalition's 18 state-wide directors for their continued efforts and hard work; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Youth Coalition as a symbol of our respect and esteem.