SR686: SR686 Davenport, Brenda Joyce; recognize

26 LC 129 0854 Senate Resolution 686 By: Senator James of the 28th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Brenda Joyce Davenport; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Brenda Joyce Davenport is an outstanding community leader and foot soldier2 working for civil and human rights with a long history of nurturing and advocating for the3 critical issues facing African American youth and the community; and 4 WHEREAS, the youngest daughter of Bernard and Dorothy Davenport, Brenda is a lifelong5 member of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she was baptized by Re verend Martin Luther6 King, Jr.; and7 WHEREAS, she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, Atlanta's first public8 high school for African Americans, and later matriculated at Sh aw University in Raleigh,9 North Carolina, at age 16; and10 WHEREAS, at Shaw University, she participated in several demonstrations with the freedom11 fighter and campus organizer Willie Ricks "Mukasa,” and was a p roud member of the12 esteemed Beta Theta chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., as well as the Student13 Government Association and the UNCF Pre-Alumni Association; and14 S. R. 686 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0854 WHEREAS, Brenda spent an impressive 30 years with the Southern Christian Leadership15 Conference (SCLC), taking on several roles to advance causes im portant to African16 Americans, especially children and youth; and17 WHEREAS, during her tenure, she established hundreds of youth v oter registration18 campaigns and youth nonviolence training; and 19 WHEREAS, Brenda assisted in organizing the National Voter Right s March, the first20 reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery March, and has provided countless opportunities21 for youth to travel both nationally and internationally to expe rience historic events,22 reenactments, celebrations, marches, and speeches; and23 WHEREAS, appointed by Dr. Joseph Lowery, she became the youngest person to serve on24 the SCLC's National Board of Directors, where she worked alongside notable Civil Rights25 figures such as Representative Walter Fauntroy, Mrs. Rosa Parks, Mrs. Johnnie Carr, Mrs.26 Coretta Scott King, Mrs. Evelyn Lowery, and Mr. Dick Gregory, among others; and27 WHEREAS, Brenda played a key organizational role alongside SCLC leaders such as Dr.28 Joseph Lowery, Rev. E. Randel T. Osburn, Rev. Fred D. Taylor, Frederick Moore, and Ralph29 Worrell; was a key organizer of the Gun Buy Back - Stop the Violence Campaigns, which30 collected thousands of guns off the streets; and was instrumental in anti-apartheid campaigns31 on college campuses during the time of the South Africa Anti-Apartheid Movement; and32 WHEREAS, her community outreach expands to civic and religious institutions as the33 founder and CEO of the Rosa Parks Consortium, director of the C hildren's Ministry at the34 historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, board member of the A. D. King Foundation, and Atlanta35 coordinator for The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development; and36 S. R. 686 - 2 - 26 LC 129 0854 WHEREAS, in recognition of her exemplary leadership and service , Brenda has received37 several awards, including those from the TRIO program at Morris Brown College, The King38 Center Community Service Award, the Outstanding Leadership Awar d from the A. D.39 Williams King Chapel for Children at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, the Outstanding Women40 of America and Operation PUSH, and the Community Service Award from the Atlanta41 Alumna Chapter of Bennett College; and 42 WHEREAS, she was honored by the distinguished Atlanta Chapter o f 100 Black Women43 with the Unsung Heroine award and was recognized as part of the G e o r g i a W o m e n ' s44 Legislative Caucus Yellow Rose Servant Leader Award; and45 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to honor the outst anding accomplishments46 of this esteemed Georgian.47 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body48 recognize and commend Brenda Joyce Davenport for her unwavering commitment to civil49 rights in the State of Georgia and extend best wishes for her continued health and happiness.50 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed51 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to Brenda Joyce52 Davenport.53 S. R. 686 - 3 -