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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
3congratulate the North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program on
4its football program winning the 2024 Illinois American Youth
5Football (AYF) State Championships in the 8U (8 and under) and
6the 13U (13 and under) divisions; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program
8began as an unincorporated, grassroots, community-based,
9seasonal football program for at-risk youth aged 5 to 13 more
10than 30 years ago; the football program was established and
11continues to serve as an alternative to violence and at-risk
12behavior, benefiting more than 100 participants each year and
13never turning away those interested in the program; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program
15evolved from its football program into a not-for-profit
16organization based in Illinois, providing youth sports
17development programming to high at-risk Chicago Public School
18(CPS) students residing in gang-infested, crime-ridden and
19underserved neighborhoods on Chicago's West Side, which
20includes the communities of North Lawndale, East Garfield,
21West Humboldt, West Garfield, East Garfield, and Austin; and
 
22    WHEREAS, The North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program

 

 

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1serves 20 different CPS schools through the collaborative
2support of several community-based organizations, and the
3program operates through the Douglas Park Field House Cultural
4Center, Collins High School, and Mount Sinai Hospital; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program
6additionally provides pick-up and drop-off transportation to
7youth parenting meetings to discuss how participants are
8performing on a regular basis and conducts reviews of
9participants' school report cards; the sports program further
10holds an annual sports banquet and ceremony to honor
11outstanding student athletes, parents, sponsors, and elected
12officials; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program
14participants have, through their continued involvement, shown
15increased school attendance, improved academic performance,
16and decreased conflict along with enhanced anger management
17skills and self-discipline; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program's
19football program is led by President Charles "Coach" Rice,
20Vice President Antwon Edwards, Head Coaches Kristian Palmer
21and LaTorrance Triplett Sr., and Assistant Coaches Ervin
22Richardson, Louis Gates, Darnell Grissom, Antonio Stewart,
23Levija Altman Sr., Jullian Johnson, and Joran Straub;

 

 

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1therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the
4North Lawndale Eagles Youth Sports Program on its football
5program winning the 2024 Illinois American Youth Football
6(AYF) State Championships in the 8U (8 and under) and the 13U
7(13 and under) divisions, and we wish its football program
8continued success; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to President Charles "Coach" Rice of the North
11Lawndale Eagle Youth Sports Program as an expression of our
12respect and esteem.