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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded the Art of | ||||||
| 3 | Living in India in 1981, bringing the organization's program | ||||||
| 4 | to Illinois in 1990; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, Since that time, Art of Living programs for the | ||||||
| 6 | general public have been taught throughout the State of | ||||||
| 7 | Illinois to increase mental health with practical tools, to | ||||||
| 8 | manage the mind and negative emotions, and to live in | ||||||
| 9 | happiness among the general public; and
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| 10 | WHEREAS, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a global | ||||||
| 11 | ambassador for peace amidst conflict and violence; his work | ||||||
| 12 | includes helping negotiate a peaceful resolution between the | ||||||
| 13 | Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of | ||||||
| 14 | Colombia (FARC) as well as in Ayodhya, India, Sri Lanka, and | ||||||
| 15 | other locations; and
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| 16 | WHEREAS, In Chicago, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar started | ||||||
| 17 | programs for inner city youth, administrators, teachers, and | ||||||
| 18 | staff that were introduced through the YES! For Schools and | ||||||
| 19 | the SKY Schools programs at 13 Chicago Public Schools and | ||||||
| 20 | several suburban schools in 2004; these programs were | ||||||
| 21 | implemented to reduce violence, increase attendance and | ||||||
| 22 | scholastic achievement, increase student and staff mental | ||||||
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| 1 | health, reduce burnout, and increase student feelings of hope | ||||||
| 2 | for their future as adults; and
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| 3 | WHEREAS, The Art of Living Foundation serves society by | ||||||
| 4 | strengthening the individual, as the very intention of | ||||||
| 5 | standing up for peace helps direct one's energy toward actions | ||||||
| 6 | that will bring peace; and
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| 7 | WHEREAS, The I Stand for Peace campaign was launched on | ||||||
| 8 | April 20, 2022 to promote change and strengthen people's | ||||||
| 9 | commitment to peace; since then, over 1,000,000 people have | ||||||
| 10 | taken the pledge to stand for peace; and
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| 11 | WHEREAS, The I Stand for Peace Summit has been held in 15 | ||||||
| 12 | cities in Europe and North America to provide a sense of hope | ||||||
| 13 | and relief for those affected by violence, the pandemic, and | ||||||
| 14 | other challenges; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, The Chicago I Stand for Peace Summit (the Summit) | ||||||
| 16 | took place on June 26, 2022; it featured distinguished | ||||||
| 17 | speakers and elected leaders to highlight ways to bring into | ||||||
| 18 | being peace, harmony, and unity during a time of social | ||||||
| 19 | unrest; and
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| 20 | WHEREAS, During the Summit, attendees worked to address | ||||||
| 21 | the root causes of violence in Chicago and offer practical | ||||||
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| 1 | solutions in addition to addressing the looming mental health | ||||||
| 2 | crisis affecting our society; the event reminded attendees | ||||||
| 3 | about the importance of peace and of providing opportunities | ||||||
| 4 | for all; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, The Day of Peace represents an annual commitment | ||||||
| 6 | to peace, prosperity, and the Gandhian principle of | ||||||
| 7 | non-violence; this day recognizes that the movement towards | ||||||
| 8 | peace requires an ongoing reaffirmation and commitment to the | ||||||
| 9 | improved lives of Illinois residents; therefore, be it
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| 10 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 11 | HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 12 | we declare May 13, 2022, the birthdate of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi | ||||||
| 13 | Shankar, as the Day of Peace in the State of Illinois.
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