PRINTER'S NO. 469
No. 20 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY HARPER, FEBRUARY 13, 1989
ADOPTED, FEBRUARY 13, 1989
A RESOLUTION
1 Declaring the week of February 13 through 19, 1989, as "National
2 Youth-At-Risk Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The women of Pennsylvania as members of the National
4 Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women
5 (N.O.B.E.L,/WOMEN), in accordance with their motto, "N.O.B.E.L.
6 Women love our Youth-At-Risk: lifting as we climb," have
7 declared the needs of Youth-At-Risk as a priority and are
8 dedicated to lifting youth out of conditions which place them at
9 risk; and
10 WHEREAS, N.O.B.E.L./WOMEN recognize that children of color
11 are more likely to be at-risk than majority youth due to the
12 fact that one in two black children is poor, that more than
13 twice as many black youths are school dropouts as are white
14 youths, that black youth suffer a 50% unemployment rate, that a
15 decline in access to higher education exists, that blacks suffer
16 nearly twice the rate of infant mortality as do whites, and that
17 blacks have a greater risk of violence and death by violent
1 acts, a greater risk of substance abuse and a greater incidence
2 of low self-esteem, among other factors; and
3 WHEREAS, Teenage pregnancy affects both mother and child and
4 continues the cycle of poverty; one of every ten births is to a
5 teenage mother, and this rate is doubled among black teenagers,
6 80% of whom will never finish high school and only one in ten of
7 whom will receive special assistance; and
8 WHEREAS, N.O.B.E.L./WOMEN have chosen to express their
9 abiding concern and love for America's children in general and
10 youth-at-risk in particular, in the spirit of St. Valentine's
11 Day; and
12 WHEREAS, N.O.B.E.L./WOMEN individually and collectively have
13 committed themselves to provide leadership in addressing these
14 issues with colleagues, civil rights organizations, religious
15 groups, women's organizations, community groups and others; and
16 WHEREAS, State legislators have been urged to declare the
17 week of February 13 through 19, 1989, as "Youth-At-Risk Week" in
18 their respective states, which collectively will constitute a
19 "National Youth-At Risk Week"; therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
21 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania call upon all organizations and
22 religious, fraternal and civil rights groups to join the efforts
23 of N.O.B.E.L./WOMEN to develop a plan of action to reduce the
24 risk under which thousands of our children, especially minority
25 youth, live today; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives hereby declares
27 the week of February 13 through 19, 1989, as "Youth-At-Risk
28 Week" in Pennsylvania.
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