HJ0016 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0016 LRB097 07235 GRL 47343 r

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 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

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.