--- title: HR 575. Moving in the Spirit; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr575 cite_as: HR 575, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr575 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr575.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr575/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71321 date: 2025-03-11 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hr574.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr576.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr575.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 575 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-11 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Karen Lupton text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR575/2025 upstream_id: 2000308 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - youth arts programs - Atlanta nonprofits - legislative commendation - dance education --- # HR 575. Moving in the Spirit; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3274 House Resolution 575 By: Representative Lupton of the 83rd A RESOLUTION Commending Moving in the Spirit; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Moving in the Spirit was founded in 1986 by Dana Lupto n, Leah Mann, and2 Genene Stewart to empower underserved youth through dance, growing from a single class3 for 25 girls into an award-winning creative youth development program; and4 WHEREAS, throughout its 39-year history, Moving in the Spirit h as impacted more than5 5,000 children through its programs and inspired tens of thousands more through workshops6 and performances, forging key partnerships with organizations such as the Atlanta Children's7 Shelter, Boys & Girls Clubs of Atlanta, and KIPP Atlanta Schools; and8 WHEREAS, the organization has earned national recognition, including being honored at a9 2005 White House ceremony hosted by First Lady Laura Bush and performing for Liberian10 President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and11 WHEREAS, in 2021, Moving in the Spirit opened a $10 million per forming arts center at12 MARTA's Edgewood/Candler Park development, establishing a permanent home to further13 its mission of transforming lives through the arts; and14 H. R. 575 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3274 WHEREAS, its measurable impact includes a 96 percent increase in student confidence, with15 100 percent of seniors graduating high school and pursuing high er education, vocational16 training, or military service; and17 WHEREAS, alumni of Moving in the Spirit have gone on to excel i n diverse careers,18 including Broadway, public health, education, and civic leaders hip, with many attributing19 their success to the confidence, discipline, and creativity instilled by the program; and20 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkab le organization be21 appropriately honored during this special time.22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that23 the members of this body commend Moving in the Spirit for its d ecades of outstanding24 contributions to youth development through the arts and extend best wishes for continued25 success.26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized27 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to28 Moving in the Spirit.29 H. R. 575 - 2 - ## 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 formally commends Moving in the Spirit, an Atlanta based youth dance and arts organization, for nearly four decades of work with underserved children. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a change to state law. It recognizes Moving in the Spirit, an Atlanta nonprofit founded in 1986 by Dana Lupton, Leah Mann, and Genene Stewart, for using dance and creative arts programs to support underserved youth. The resolution recounts the organization's history, including its growth from one class of 25 girls to a program that has reached more than 5,000 children, its national recognition such as a 2005 White House ceremony, and its 2021 opening of a $10 million performing arts center at MARTA's Edgewood/Candler Park development. The House commends the organization and directs the Clerk of the House to send it a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally commends Moving in the Spirit for its history of youth development work through the arts, with no changes to state law or funding. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to the organization. - Recites the organization's history, achievements, and measurable outcomes, such as a 96 percent increase in student confidence, as the basis for the honor. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Moving in the Spirit, its founders Dana Lupton, Leah Mann, and Genene Stewart, and partner organizations such as the Atlanta Children's Shelter, Boys & Girls Clubs of Atlanta, and KIPP Atlanta Schools mentioned in the text. ### Why it matters The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It does not create funding, programs, or legal obligations, but it gives official recognition from the Georgia House of Representatives to an Atlanta nonprofit's decades of youth arts programming. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail the organization's 1986 founding, its growth to over 5,000 children served, and partnerships with groups like the Atlanta Children's Shelter and KIPP Atlanta Schools. - The whereas clauses note national recognition, including a 2005 White House ceremony and a performance for Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. - The whereas clauses cite the 2021 opening of a $10 million performing arts center at MARTA's Edgewood/Candler Park development. - The resolving clause commends the organization and extends best wishes for continued success. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Moving in the Spirit. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-11) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-11) - Sponsors: Karen Lupton - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71321 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr575.md?full=1