H.R. No. 1784

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Acclaimed R&B artist John Legend has demonstrated a
	deep commitment to justice and equality, and he is making a positive
	difference in the world around him through his music, his advocacy,
	and his philanthropic initiatives; and
	WHEREAS, Building on the tradition of engagement established
	during the Civil Rights era by performers such as Nina Simone,
	Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, John Legend has combined stardom
	with a determination to address contemporary problems; he joined
	with hip-hop band The Roots to release Wake Up!, a Grammy-winning
	album of politically engaged soul songs from the 1960s and 1970s;
	after scoring a massive pop hit with the love ballad "All of Me," he
	delivered a powerful message about the continuing struggle for
	human rights in the anthem "Glory," a collaboration with rapper
	Common that closes the historical film Selma; and
	WHEREAS, "Glory" won the 2015 Best Original Song Oscar, and
	in his acceptance speech, Mr. Legend spoke movingly about the
	legacy of slavery and the current high incarceration rates of
	African American men; moreover, in magazine editorials and other
	venues, he has raised awareness of structural racism and
	opportunity gaps; and
	WHEREAS, In 2007, Mr. Legend founded the Show Me Campaign,
	which strives to interrupt the cycle of poverty and close the
	school-to-prison pipeline that has devastated low-income
	communities; the organization supports and sponsors educational
	programs such as the LNRG Innovation Challenge, which is also
	sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation and the National Writing
	Project; dedicated to ending mass incarceration, the campaign
	promotes public policies that will allow the nation to redirect
	funds from the prison-industrial complex to education,
	rehabilitation, and effective reentry services; and
	WHEREAS, John Legend has traveled to the Lone Star State to
	unite his efforts with those of the Texas Criminal Justice
	Coalition, a nonpartisan group working to eliminate the costly
	overreliance on incarceration; he shares with the organization a
	profound desire to advance solutions that will strengthen families
	and communities, and it is truly a pleasure to honor him for his
	contributions to social progress; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby welcome John Legend to the State Capitol and
	commend him for his endeavors in behalf of education and criminal
	justice reform; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for Mr. Legend as an expression of high regard by the Texas
	House of Representatives.
	Turner of Harris
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 1784 was adopted by the House on May
	7, 2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House