--- title: HR 490. World Coming Together To Make A Difference; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr490 cite_as: HR 490, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr490 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr490.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr490/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71145 date: 2025-03-04 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr489.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr491.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr490.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 490 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-04 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Rhonda Taylor - Gabe Okoye - El-Mahdi Holly - Segun Adeyina - Solomon Adesanya - Derrick Jackson text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR490/2025 upstream_id: 1991467 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - nonprofit recognition - public health education - hypertension awareness - African cultural heritage --- # HR 490. World Coming Together To Make A Difference; commend ## Text House Resolution 490 By: Representatives Taylor of the 92nd, Okoye of the 102nd, Holly of the 116th, Adeyina of the 110th, Adesanya of the 43rd, and others A RESOLUTION Commending World Coming Together To Make A Difference; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, World Coming Together To Make A Difference (WOCOTOMADI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to fostering long-term positive change in communities through collaborative partnerships; and WHEREAS, founded in October 2011 by Julienne R. Siwe Ngongang, WOCOTOMADI was established to address the issue of high blood pressure, known as the "silent killer," particularly within Cameroon and among Cameroonian immigrant populations; and WHEREAS, inspired by her training as a Certified Nurse Assistant after moving to the United States in 2008, Julienne R. Siwe Ngongang sought to share vital health education with underserved communities and dispel myths surrounding hypertension in her country; and WHEREAS, WOCOTOMADI actively works to prevent hypertension by educating target populations in remote Cameroonian villages on the importance of exercise and healthy diets based on locally available foods; and WHEREAS, the organization has established health checkpoints that function as clinics, providing screenings for vital signs such as high blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and body temperature as well as addressing conditions such as obesity; and WHEREAS, WOCOTOMADI extends its impact by delivering medical supplies, clothing, and hygiene essentials to communities in Africa, ensuring access to essential resources for those in need; and WHEREAS, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, WOCOTOMADI engages governments, enterprises, and civil society to create sustainable solutions that improve the well-being of underserved populations; and WHEREAS, in the United States, WOCOTOMADI promotes public awareness of African traditions and values by educating younger generations on African culture through culinary arts, traditional clothing, storytelling, crafts, and other cultural programs; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this exemplary nonprofit be appropriately honored during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend World Coming Together To Make A Difference for its unwavering commitment to community impact, health education, and cultural enrichment and extend best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to World Coming Together To Make A Difference. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution commends World Coming Together To Make A Difference (WOCOTOMADI), a nonprofit focused on hypertension education and cultural programs, for its community work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives honoring World Coming Together To Make A Difference, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in October 2011 by Julienne R. Siwe Ngongang. The organization was created to fight high blood pressure, which it calls the 'silent killer,' especially among Cameroonians and Cameroonian immigrants, through health education, exercise and diet programs, and clinic-style health checkpoints. The resolution also notes the group's work delivering medical supplies, clothing, and hygiene items to communities in Africa, and its cultural programming in the United States that teaches younger generations about African traditions through food, clothing, storytelling, and crafts. It does not change any Georgia law; it directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the organization as a form of official recognition. ### What it does - Formally commends World Coming Together To Make A Difference (WOCOTOMADI) for its community, health, and cultural work. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the organization. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties; it is a ceremonial statement of praise. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names World Coming Together To Make A Difference and its founder, Julienne R. Siwe Ngongang. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies beyond the ceremonial recognition. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal force and changes no Georgia law, but it gives official public recognition from the state legislature to a nonprofit's health education and cultural work, which can support the organization's visibility and community standing. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe WOCOTOMADI's founding in 2011, its mission to fight hypertension, and its health checkpoints and cultural programs. - The resolving clause has the House commend the organization for its work in community impact, health education, and cultural enrichment. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to the organization. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-04) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-04) - Sponsors: Rhonda Taylor, Gabe Okoye, El-Mahdi Holly, Segun Adeyina, Solomon Adesanya, Derrick Jackson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71145 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr490.md?full=1