Illinois HR 267: COMMENDS-IL YOUTHBUILD

Bill Text

Full Text of HR0267 

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 Illinois General Assembly

 ILGA.GOV 

 HR0267 - 104th General Assembly 

HR0267LRB104 13140 ECR 25265 r

1HOUSE RESOLUTION

2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 

3Representatives wish to commend the Illinois YouthBuild 

4Coalition (IYC) and its members for their dedication and hard 

5work; and

6 WHEREAS, The IYC was founded by former President Kerry 

7Knodle in 1996; the following year, the coalition advocated 

8for the passage of the Illinois YouthBuild Act by the Illinois 

9General Assembly, creating a mechanism for launching and 

10funding programs; and

11 WHEREAS, The IYC is dedicated to expanding employment and 

12career opportunities for socially and economically 

13disadvantaged young adults by advocating for an increase of 

14quality resources and community involvement; the coalition 

15partners with opportunity youth, or those aged 16 to 24, to 

16build a safe, secure, and supportive force for change in the 

17larger community; and

18 WHEREAS, The IYC is supported by YouthBuild USA and is 

19comprised of 18 YouthBuild programs in Illinois, which are 

20located in Aurora, Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago Heights, 

21Decatur, East St. Louis, Godfrey, North Chicago, Rockford, 

22Rock Island, Waukegan, and Chicago, and other youth-serving 

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1organizations with similar purposes; the coalition's member 

2organizations all operate their programs according to the 

3YouthBuild Model; and

4 WHEREAS, The IYC's YouthBuild is a youth and community 

5development program that simultaneously addresses core issues 

6facing low-income communities, including housing, education, 

7employment, crime prevention, and youth leadership 

8development; and

9 WHEREAS, The IYC's YouthBuild programs serve low-income 

10young people aged 16 to 24 facing barriers to success, 

11including foster care, homelessness, and juvenile justice; 

12these young people are traditionally known as disenfranchised, 

13marginalized, at risk, and disconnected, and they are too 

14often defined by the struggles they face both socially and 

15economically; and

16 WHEREAS, Through the IYC's YouthBuild programs, low-income 

17young people aged 16 to 24 can work toward their GED or high 

18school diploma while learning the skills of the construction 

19industry through hands-on construction activities; and

20 WHEREAS, The IYC believes that the goals, dreams, and 

21aspirations of every young person are real, and these young 

22people should be seen for who they really are and should 

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1receive support, as every young person deserves the 

2opportunity to develop their untapped potential; and

3 WHEREAS, The IYC will hold its annual Advocacy Day at the 

4State Capitol on April 30, 2025; therefore, be it

5 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 

6HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 

7we commend the Illinois YouthBuild Coalition (IYC) for its 

8dedication to assisting the youth of Illinois, and we thank 

9IYC President Tameka Wilson, various staff members, and the 

10coalition's 18 state-wide directors for their continued 

11efforts and hard work; and be it further

12 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 

13presented to the Illinois Youth Coalition as a symbol of our 

14respect and esteem.