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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to recognize the members of the 
4Austin African American Business Networking Association 
5(AAABNA) for their work in the Austin community; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, AAABNA was founded in 2003 by Mr. Malcolm 
7Crawford, Mr. Rickey Sanders, and Ms. Aleatra Elzy as a way of 
8pooling resources to bring about change in the Austin business 
9community through the creation of African-American business 
10growth through networking and various support programs for 
11emerging and existing businesses; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, AAABNA has been responsible for hosting monthly 
13meetings with area businesses, elected officials, the Chicago 
14Police Department, and a host of others, allowing these groups 
15to join forces to address issues in the Austin community; 
16AAABNA was the driving force behind the design team that 
17created the Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy at the 
18new Austin campus; AAABNA has also begun the creation of a 
19prominent community garden and planters on Chicago Avenue in 
20order to beautify the Austin business district; AAABNA, in 
21conjunction with the Austin Chamber of Commerce, also hosts an 
22all-day business summit that brings federal, state, and local 
23agencies together to disseminate information needed to create 
 
 
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1and sustain local businesses; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, AAABNA's overall goal is to create an 
3African-American focused business district that showcases all 
4of the sights, sounds, and foods that make up the African 
5American experience in order to make the Austin community a 
6beautiful and safe place for residents, business leaders, and 
7friends alike; and

  
 
8    WHEREAS, The members of AAABNA serve as models of hard 
9work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
10Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
13recognize and thank the members of the Austin African American 
14Business Networking Association for their work in the Austin 
15business community and wish them continued success and 
16happiness in the future; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the Austin African American Business Networking 
19Association as a symbol of our esteem and respect.