HR0401LRB100 12749 MST 26258 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Poverty knows no geographical, ethnic, religious, 
3or political boundaries; of the total population in Macon 
4County, 15.7%  live in poverty as documented in the 2010 Census; 
5each person should have the opportunity to live comfortable 
6lives, and all residents of Macon County should work toward 
7that goal; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, The Decatur Macon County Opportunities 
9Corporation (DMCOC) has been providing valuable services to the 
10elderly and disadvantaged in Decatur and Macon County for over 
1153 years; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, The purpose of the DMCOC is to prepare people to 
13enter the economic mainstream of society by providing the 
14skills, opportunities, advocacy, and services needed to become 
15self-sufficient; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, The DMCOC has provided programs and services to 
17the low-income and elderly populations of Decatur and Macon 
18County since its inception in 1964 as a community-based 
19organization to address the "war on poverty"; it  was formed as 
20a combined effort of interested political officials, social 
21service agencies, the Decatur City Council, the Macon County 
22Board, low-income individuals, and community residents under 
 
 
HR0401- 2 -LRB100 12749 MST 26258 r

1the jurisdiction of the Economic Opportunity Act, which was 
2signed into law on August 20, 1964 by President Lyndon B. 
3Johnson; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, In 2016, the  DMCOC served a total of 6,403 
5individuals with 444 being children in the Head Start program, 
6and 1,988 seniors being served meals through the Senior 
7Nutrition program; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, The  fight against poverty should be a priority of 
9all Americans so that all may enjoy liberty and freedom; 
10therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
12HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
13declare May of 2017 to be Community Action Awareness Month in 
14the State of Illinois to  commemorate the 53rd Anniversary of 
15the Decatur Macon County Opportunities Corporation; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the DMCOC as an expression of our esteem and 
19respect.