Senate Resolution No. 306

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMENDING the Center for Black Literature upon
the occasion of hosting its 2025 National Black
Writers Biennial Symposium and paying tribute to
this year's honoree, Rita Williams-Garcia

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those
organizations which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of
cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of
New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the Center for Black Literature upon the occasion of hosting its
2025 National Black Writers Biennial Symposium to be held at Medgar
Evers College, City University of New York, in Brooklyn, New York, on
Saturday, March 29, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 2002, the Center for Black Literature (CBL) at
Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York (CUNY) has
served the interests of the people of the Empire State by expanding,
broadening, and enriching the public's knowledge and appreciation of
Black literature by people of the African Diaspora and of the African
continent for 23 years; and

WHEREAS, Rita Williams-Garcia is the author of more than a dozen
books for young adults and middle-grade readers, celebrated for her
excellence and contributions to Black literature; and

WHEREAS, Born in Queens, New York, Rita Williams-Garcia entered
kindergarten with a love of storytelling and writing; she received her
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Hofstra University and a Master of
Arts in Creative Writing from Queens College, CUNY; and

WHEREAS, After working in the private sector for 25 years, Rita
Williams-Garcia served on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts
MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults program from 2005-2015; she is
currently working on a book of speculative fiction for "tween" readers;
and

WHEREAS, Rita Williams-Garcia's short stories and essays appear in
numerous anthologies; she is both a three-time Coretta Scott King Book
Award recipient and three-time National Book Award finalist; and

WHEREAS, "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground," a novel by Rita
Williams-Garcia, won the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Literature for Young
People and was a finalist for the 2017 National Book Award; she is best
known for her multiple-award-winning Gaither Sisters trilogy which
received the Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Book Award, and the
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; and

WHEREAS, Other honors bestowed upon Rita Williams-Garcia include the
2022 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adults, 2021 Boston

Globe-Horn Book Award, and 2022 Audie Award Finalist; "A Sitting in St.
James" has also been listed among People Magazine's 2021 top ten books
for children and teens; and

WHEREAS, Respected among her peers in the industry, Rita
Williams-Garcia was named the 2024 ALSC Children's Literature Lecture
Award winner and honored with the NYLA Empire State Award and the
University of Southern Mississippi Literary Medallion; and

WHEREAS, Most notably through the Center for Black Literature, Rita
Williams-Garcia has consistently pursued her passion of expanding,
broadening, and enriching the public's knowledge and appreciation of the
value of the literature produced by Black writers; and

WHEREAS, The Members of the New York State Senate recognize the
incredible accomplishments and authorship of this inspiring leader and
show appreciation for the excellent work Rita Williams-Garcia will
continue to contribute to the community; and

WHEREAS, In so effectively carrying out its mission, the Center for
Black Literature has demonstrated the value of uplifting the voices of
Black writers from all walks of life, providing a space for growth and
education, while providing platforms for success; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Center for Black Literature upon the occasion of hosting its
2025 National Black Writers Biennial Symposium and paying tribute to
this year's honoree, Rita Williams-Garcia; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Rita Williams-Garcia.