Senate Resolution 11

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS OF NOTED MISSISSIPPI AUTHOR, CLIFTON L. TAULBERT, AND WELCOMING HIM TO OUR STATE AS PART OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS.

WHEREAS, noted Mississippi author, Clifton L. Taulbert, is featured at the Black History Month event "A Taste of Culture-Our Yazoo Legacy" in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on Saturday, February 18, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Clifton L. Taulbert is the President and Founder of the Building Community Institute located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Taulbert is a recognized thought leader on "Community Building" and delivers his concepts to corporate and academic audiences worldwide. Taulbert was among those chosen by CNN to represent "Community" at the turn of the millennium. His important conversation on building community is outlined in the award-winning book, "Eight Habits of the Heart," which in 1977 was named by USA TODAY as their year-end choice of books to enrich our minds and lives. As a result of a lecture on "Community" in Natchez, Mississippi, Taulbert was personally invited by Associate Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, to address members of the court; and

WHEREAS, Taulbert was born in the Mississippi Delta, educated in the secondary school system and draws heavily from his childhood for the books he writes and the lectures he gives from Harvard University, to Yale, to Princeton, to the University Nationale in San Jose, Costa Rico and to Langston University of Oklahoma, his adopted state; and

WHEREAS, Taulbert has authored eight additional books, which include the international bestseller, "Once Upon a Time when we were Colored" and the Pulitzer nominated "The Last Train North." His picture book, "Little Cliff and the Porch People," was recently chosen by Target and the Miami International Book Festival Group as their choice of book for their program: One Book, One Community. And soon to be released in February of 2006 will be his latest book, "Eight Habits of the Heart for Educators"; and

WHEREAS, he serves on the National Board of Character Education Partnership and as a Trustee for the University of Tulsa and on the Board of Visitors for Claremont Graduate School. Taulbert formerly served on the Board of Advisors for Bank One. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife, Barbara Jackson Taulbert; and

WHEREAS, Clifton Taulbert's voice has been declared "a national treasure," and it is with great pride that we recognize this author and humanitarian who has brought pride to his home community and state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the humanitarian efforts of noted Mississippi author, Clifton L. Taulbert, and welcome him and his family to our state on the occasion of Black History Month activities in Yazoo City on Saturday, February 18, 2006.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Clifton Taulbert and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.