LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Arlene Lev upon the occasion of being
selected to receive the 2014 University at Albany President's Award for
Exemplary Community Engagement on April 25, 2014

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Arlene Lev, LCSW-R, Lecturer, School of Social Welfare, University at
Albany, upon the occasion of being selected to receive the 2014 Univer-
sity at Albany President's Award for Exemplary Community Engagement,
which was celebrated at an Award Ceremony at the University at Albany,
Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed award honors University at Albany-community
partnerships which are enhancing public well-being in the Capital Region
and beyond; their community engagement is a collaboration between higher
education institutions and external partners in the mutually beneficial
exchange of knowledge and resources to address areas of public need; and
WHEREAS, For almost 30 years, Arlene Lev has used community-engaged
research and teaching approaches to aid the region's lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community, and train future mental
health professionals; and
WHEREAS, With an emphasis on serving disenfranchised members of the
community, Arlene Lev has developed services integral to LGBTQ health
care, created training programs for community and university audiences,
and advocated on wide-ranging issues of health and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Among her groundbreaking initiatives, Arlene Lev helped found
Center Support Counseling, through the Pride Center in partnership with
the School of Social Welfare, to provide low-cost counseling for the
LGBTQ community while also serving to train social work interns; she
also founded Rainbow Access Initiative to reduce LGBTQ health dispari-
ties; and
WHEREAS, During her illustrious career at University at Albany, Arlene
Lev launched an advanced clinical course focused on LGBTQ needs; The
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Project aims to improve the
cultural-competency of professionals working with the LGBTQ community,
providing specialized coursework and field placement opportunities for
Social Welfare students; and
WHEREAS, Partners for this effort have included: Sexual Orientation
and Gender Identity Project; Pride Center of the Capital Region; In Our
Own Voices; Rainbow Access Initiative; The Empire Conference; Crime
Victims and Sexual Violence Center; NYS Northeast Division National
Association of Social Workers; and Pride and Joy Families; and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that when indi-
viduals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Arlene Lev upon the occasion of being selected to receive the 2014
University at Albany President's Award for Exemplary Community Engage-
ment on April 25, 2014; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Arlene Lev.