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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, African Americans have had a rich history in 
3Rockford and in Illinois  and have made significant

4contributions to our communities; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, The Colored Soldiers Club under War Camp Community 
6Services was founded and led by Dr.
Richard S. Grant and his 
7wife, Lelia, during World War I; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, The club was chartered and converted into a 
9community center named the Booker
Washington Association in 
101919; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Throughout its history, the African-American 
12Resource Center at Booker has provided consistent access to 
13resources, programing, and services to uplift the community; 
14and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, The African-American Resource Center at Booker is 
16the oldest African-American community
center in Illinois and  
17gained historical landmark status in 2015; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, The African-American Resource Center at Booker 
19remains committed to its mission to
provide an environment that 
20promotes the quality of life, values, and the welfare of the 
 
 
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1people of its
community through education, art, and 
2recreational and cultural programs, and to promote learning and

3sharing within the greater multicultural community; therefore, 
4be it
  
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
6HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
7that we declare November 14, 2020 as Booker Washington Center 
8Day to
commemorate the history of the African-American Resource 
9Center at Booker and celebrate the
Center's existence as it 
10serves as a testament to the willingness of the entire 
11community to help one another.