SR 807: Jones, Denise Olivia; recognize

Senate Resolution 807

By: Senators Wicks of the 34th and Anderson of the 43rd

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and commending Denise Olivia Jones; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Denise Olivia Jones is a native of historic Selma, Alabama, the internationally revered birthplace of the modern Civil Rights Movement, whose sacred legacy of bridge-building, nonviolence, and moral courage profoundly shaped her lifelong commitment to justice, healing, equity, and harmonious human relationships; and

WHEREAS, she pursued higher education at Alabama State University, a historically Black college and university, earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration, and later continued her academic advancement by earning a Master of Public Administration from Troy State University (European Region), grounding her creative, cultural, and humanitarian work in disciplined leadership, public service, and organizational strategy; and

WHEREAS, D. Olivia Jones honorably served the United States as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain, exemplifying integrity, discipline, and excellence throughout her military career; and

WHEREAS, during her military service, she held influential cultural and community leadership positions, including serving as President of the Society for Black Awareness and Cultural Achievement at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and as Co-Chairperson of the annual Black History Month Celebrations at Royal Air Force in Lakenheath, United Kingdom, where she spearheaded programs honoring Black culture, heritage, history, and global contributions across two international military communities; and

WHEREAS, as a United States Air Force veteran, she has openly confronted the long-term impacts of military service and trauma, including military sexual trauma, and has transformed personal pain into purposeful advocacy, empowering veterans and survivors to move from caged suffering toward emotional liberation, holistic wellness, and renewed life purpose; and

WHEREAS, she has contributed her voice, testimony, and leadership to numerous national and community organizations, including as a featured guest of "The Sandy Rodgers Show," aired on Roku/Black on Demand streaming channel; the Armed Services Arts Partnership; Warrior Music Foundation; The Alchemy Sky Foundation; and Women Veteran Social Justice, where she served as an Ambassador; and

WHEREAS, additionally, she has participated in panels addressing veterans' wellness, trauma recovery, and mental health, strengthening pathways to healing for countless individuals; and

WHEREAS, she is an accomplished poet, writer, dancer, storyteller, and performing artist, whose lived experiences of interpersonal abuse, systemic harm, and unaddressed trauma inform her writings, performances, and public discourse, amplifying the urgent need for compassionate, trauma-informed, community-based healing; and

WHEREAS, her own healing journey profoundly shapes her artistic practice, including her contributions to The Womb Song Project, which explores emotional, ancestral, and cultural "womb histories" as pathways toward generational trauma healing, particularly within Black communities and among women impacted by historical and contemporary violence; and

WHEREAS, her literary and published works, including her co-authored book Strength in Service and her Library of Congress-registered poem "Let Us Build Bridges" – written for the 50th Anniversary of the Selma, Alabama, Bloody Sunday Remembrance and published in the 2021 Bridge Crossing Jubilee Newspaper – serve as vessels for acknowledging and healing historical traumas and carving pathways to a world of love and peace; and

WHEREAS, she is a seasoned international traveler and global citizen, having journeyed across more than 20 countries, deepening her understanding of humanity's shared destiny and reinforcing her commitment to cultivating a global culture rooted in compassion, unity, justice, freedom, and peaceful coexistence; and

WHEREAS, the life's work of D. Olivia Jones reflects her profound belief that healing is not only possible but essential for the future of humanity and that love, when practiced intentionally, is a revolutionary force capable of transforming lives, communities, and entire generations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize and commend Denise Olivia Jones for her distinguished military service and her lifelong commitment to justice, healing, equity, and global community building. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Denise Olivia Jones.