2024 -- H 7769

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LC005468

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THE RI AFRICAN DIASPORA

COMMUNITY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Hull, Baginski, DeSimone, Abney, Alzate,
Henries, Slater, Diaz, and Fenton-Fung

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2024

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, The RI African Diaspora Community, with a population currently estimated

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at about 85,000, is seeking to advance public policy discourse and follow-on investment

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strategies by objectively researching, documenting, and reporting the socio-economic experiences

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of the African Diaspora people in Rhode Island; and

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     WHEREAS, Funding will be used to inform, educate and foster equitable and lasting

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solutions to the most pressing challenges facing People of African Descent in RI while elevating

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their significant contributions through public opinion polling, demographic research, content

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analysis and other data-driven social science research; and

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     WHEREAS, Working with expert Independent Consultants as well as with a network of

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local African Diaspora led organizations, institutions, churches, mosques and other local partners,

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the RI African Diaspora Community will focus on lessening its community constraints by

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surrounding them with the proper professional resources; and

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     WHEREAS, The total $500,000 in required funding consists of:

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     Policy & Research, Inform, Educate & Foster Equitable & Lasting Solutions $180,000

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     Leadership Development $80,000

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     Civic Education $30,000

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     Outreach/Promotion $15,000

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     Consultants $35,000

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     Annual Report $85,000

 

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     Administration of Project $75,000; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, the RI African Diaspora Community seeks to annually launch

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“The State of African Diaspora in Rhode Island Report” in order to explore the inequities across

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Rhode Island’s economics, employment, public education, health, business development,

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housing, criminal justice, and civic participation systems through rigorous research and data

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collections that can be made available to public and private policy leaders across the State; now,

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therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2024-2025, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars

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($500,000) to the RI African Diaspora Community to advance public policy discourse and

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follow-on investment strategies; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw

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his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, upon receipt of properly

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authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THE RI AFRICAN DIASPORA

COMMUNITY

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to the RI

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African Diaspora Community.

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LC005468

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