Senate Resolution No. 4921

BY: Senator KENNEDY

HONORING Jake Halpern upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Pulitzer Award in
Editorial Cartooning on April 16, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
those artistic individuals whose creative talents and commitment to
writing contribute to the enrichment of their community and the world,
and to pay homage to a man whose life of writing stands out as an
inspiration to others; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Jake Halpern upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Pulitzer Award in Editorial Cartooning on Monday, April 16, 2018; and

WHEREAS, A Buffalo, New York native, Jake Halpern graduated from
City Honors High School in 1993, where he was president of the Student
Council, headed the school's Model United Nations Club, and was
co-editor of the school newspaper; and

WHEREAS, During this time, Jake Halpern was a summer intern for an
Alabama civil rights attorney and founder of the Southern Poverty Law
Center, and was named Outstanding New Yorker for the Buffalo area in a
competition sponsored by the United States Junior Chamber based on his
resume and oration on the topic, "Dare to Dream That Racism and Violence
Will Cease"; and

WHEREAS, Jake Halpern went on to graduate from Yale University in
1997, before taking time to travel and explore new places and
perspectives; he brought these stories into his writing, both fiction
and non-fiction; and

WHEREAS, Jake Halpern's first book, Braving Home: Dispatches From
the Underwater Town, the Lava Side Inn and Other Extreme Locales, was a
main selection for author Bill Bryson's Book of the Month Club; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, a portion of his 2014 best-selling nonfiction
book Bad Paper, which follows the life of a Buffalo-area man as he
navigates debt collection, was excerpted as a cover story by The New
York Times Magazine; and

WHEREAS, Jake Halpern's serial strip "Welcome to the New World",
which ran in the New York Times, chronicles a Syrian refugee family
adjusting to their new life in the United States; and

WHEREAS, A Fullbright scholar, Jake Halpern has written for multiple
national periodicals, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly and
The Wall Street Journal; and

WHEREAS, This illustrious author recently returned from India, where
he continues to work on nonfiction stories; he is currently a fellow at
Morse College at Yale University, and is a contributor to National
Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and "This American Life"; and


WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when artistic
creators of such remarkable talent 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 Jake Halpern upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the Pulitzer Award in Editorial Cartooning on April 16, 2018; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Jake Halpern.