SENATE MEMORIAL 21

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 14, 2019 "RUDOLFO ANAYA I LOVE TO READ DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, reading is the most important skill a child will ever learn, as reading is the gateway to higher education and career success; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's children need the support of caring adults to encourage them to read and to keep reading; and

     WHEREAS, books by and about New Mexico encourage a strong self-identity and help preserve unique New Mexican languages while strengthening important reading skills; and

     WHEREAS, Rudolfo Anaya is a widely celebrated educator who truly believes that "leer es poder", meaning "reading is power", and whose efforts have brought critical attention to reading as the foundation of learning, which is essential to the growth and success of all children and their communities; and

     WHEREAS, Rudolfo Anaya is a native son of New Mexico with humble beginnings in Pastura in Guadalupe county, is today regarded as the father of Chicano literature and is the recipient of the national medal of arts, the national humanities medal, the American book award and numerous other accolades; and

     WHEREAS, Rudolfo Anaya believes that all New Mexico children should be familiar with the folklore and traditions of their state's cultures, such as cuentos, dichos, plays, songs and Native American stories; and

     WHEREAS, Rudolfo Anaya's efforts have brought critical attention to reading as the foundation of learning, which is essential to the growth and success of all children and their communities; and

     WHEREAS, a reading program was established as a partnership between Rudolfo Anaya and the Christopher Montalvo memorial fund to inspire children to read more, and it is now in its fourth year; and

     WHEREAS, the goal of this reading program is to encourage and recognize reading achievements by New Mexico children at home and in every New Mexico school; and

     WHEREAS, a bill has been introduced in the first session of the fifty-fourth legislature to enact a public holiday declaring February 14 of each year "Rudolfo Anaya I Love to Read Day";

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 14, 2019 be declared "Rudolfo Anaya I Love To Read Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all children in New Mexico enjoy reading with a caring adult on this day to encourage them to read and keep on reading; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Rudolfo Anaya and the reading program established with the Christopher Montalvo memorial fund.

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