AJR93: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-3936/1

CMH:skw

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 93

October 8, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Stubbs, L. Myers, Anderson, Ballweg, Bowen, Considine, Crowley, Dittrich, Gruszynski, Haywood, Hebl, Hesselbein, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki, Spreitzer, Steffen, Subeck, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tusler, Vining, Vruwink, Wichgers, Wittke and Zamarripa, cosponsored by Senators L. Taylor, Johnson, Bewley, Larson, Ringhand, Risser, Wirch and Kooyenga. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AJR93,1,2 Relating to: congratulating Madison-native TeKema Balentine on her crowning as Miss Black USA 2019.

AJR93,1,5 Whereas, Madison-native and East High School graduate TeKema Balentine competed against women from 49 other states to win the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant in August 2019; and

AJR93,1,9 Whereas, the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant is the largest and oldest scholarship pageant for black women in the U.S. that has awarded over $500,000 in scholarship funds since its inception in 1986 and remains the single largest source of scholarship funding for women of color in the U.S.; and

AJR93,1,12 Whereas, the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant provides a national stage for participants from across the U.S. to showcase their unique talents and beauty in a competition for scholarships; and

AJR93,2,4 Whereas, TeKema Balentine is an upstanding citizen whose strong work ethic and commitment to community are evident in her work as an agency model, caregiver, and coach for Madison East Track and Field, as well as her position sitting on the committee for Providers and Teens Communication for Health (PATCH), a program organized by the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health. She is also pursuing a nursing degree at Madison College to which her scholarship funds will be devoted; and

AJR93,2,8 Whereas, TeKema Balentine demonstrated exceptional perseverance in qualifying for and ultimately winning the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant, especially given that, as a youth, she did not have access to the resources to participate in pageants; and

AJR93,2,12 Whereas, TeKema Balentine is deeply invested in the success of black youth in Madison and across the state through her work coaching for Madison East Track and Field, championing academic opportunity gaps in her contestant platform, and highlighting successful brown people in Madison; and

AJR93,2,16 Whereas, TeKema Balentine is revered by a host of community partners who helped make her journey to the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant possible, including donors to the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and others, which is reflective of her upstanding character and commitment to her community; and

AJR93,2,18 Whereas, TeKema Balentine will use her crown to advocate for the Heart Truth campaign to raise awareness of heart disease and promote healthy lifestyles; and

AJR93,2,21   Whereas, the poise, resilience, compassion, and excellence TeKema Balentine has demonstrated in winning Miss Black USA 2019 has made her state proud; now, therefore, be it

AJR93,3,2 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Legislature do hereby commend TeKema Balentine on being crowned Miss Black USA 2019 and wish her success in her continued efforts to serve as a role model for youth of color and in her pursuit of a nursing degree from Madison College.

AJR93,3,3 (End)