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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

  DECLARING FEBRUARY 14-19, 2000, AS SUSANNAH WESLEY COMMUNITY
    CENTER WEEK.



 1        WHEREAS, in the ages old mission of giving and caring for
 2   those in need, the Susannah Wesley Community Center has come to
 3   represent all that is truly good about Hawaii's people--their
 4   compassion for, generosity toward, and tolerance of others; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, the roots of Susannah Wesley go back to a grant
 7   from the National Home Missionary Society and the tireless work
 8   of one dedicated woman who, in 1899, labored among immigrant
 9   Asian women in Waipahu, teaching English and sewing; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, in 1903, Susannah Wesley became a home for
12   children, primarily girls, whose parents--not at all unlike
13   some parents today--worked long, hard hours to support their
14   families but were unable to care for their children; and
15   
16        WHEREAS, the "Susannah Wesley Home" housed over a hundred
17   girls at a time, in large two-story plantation-style homes for
18   nearly four decades, and gave many girls the opportunity to
19   grow up to become independent and responsible women; and
20   
21        WHEREAS, in 1957, the need for "orphanages" decreased and
22   Susannah Wesley emerged as a multipurpose community center
23   offering a nursery school, playground, after-school clubs for
24   youth, and English classes for adults; and
25   
26        WHEREAS, Susannah Wesley has played a leading role in
27   launching demonstration projects aimed at the "War on Poverty",
28   providing outreach services, Headstart classes, and study hall
29   programs in area schools and housing facilities; and
30   
31        WHEREAS, in 1968, Susannah Wesley became the first agency
32   of its kind to employ a bilingual staff to serve immigrants
33   from the Pacific Basin.  In the 1970's, the Center pioneered
34   some of the first projects for the elderly and programs to
35   preserve families.  During the 1990's, the Center expanded its
36   network to include mental health services; now, therefore,

 
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                                  H.R. NO.              
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   
 2        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 3   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 4   of 2000, that this body declares February 14-19, 2000, as
 5   "Susannah Wesley Community Center Week"; and
 6   
 7        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body expresses its
 8   sincerest thanks to the Susannah Wesley Community Center for
 9   one hundred years of service to Hawaii's youth and families,
10   immigrants and refugees, elderly, and poor; and
11   
12        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body wishes the Susannah
13   Wesley Community Center continued success and another one
14   hundred years of providing affordable, compassionate, and
15   effective program services to the people of Hawaii; and
16   
17        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
18   Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mayor of the
19   City and County of Honolulu, the Chairperson of the Honolulu
20   City Council, and the President of the Board of Directors of
21   the Susannah Wesley Community Center.
22   
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26                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________