HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 815 Offered January 26, 2007 Commending Barbara Abernathy. ---------- Patrons-- McClellan, Armstrong, BaCote, Jones, D.C. and Waddell ----------

WHEREAS, Barbara Abernathy, who retired in January 2007, is recognized for her outstanding public service as president of the Carver Area Civic Improvement League and to the citizens of the City of Richmond; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Abernathy has been a visionary community leader in Richmond and the driving force behind the Carver Area Civic Improvement League (CACIL) for over 14 years; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Abernathy has been an active member of the Carver community since the early 1980s, first with the West of Belvidere Civic Association and later with CACIL; and

WHEREAS, a longtime community advocate, Barbara Abernathy is also a 2006 graduate and great supporter of Leadership Metro Richmond, a community service program that strives to inspire and educate local leaders; and

WHEREAS, committed to enhancing the quality of life of her fellow citizens, Barbara Abernathy has been instrumental in establishing and implementing the Carver-Virginia Commonwealth University Partnership, together with VCU President Eugene P. Trani, which has benefited both the Carver community and the university; and

WHEREAS, as co-chair of the Carver-VCU Partnership for 11 years, Barbara Abernathy has been instrumental in improving area safety, planning and development, and youth and senior programs, as well as establishing better neighborhood housing and health care opportunities; and

WHEREAS, a hard-working leader for the city, Barbara Abernathy has served on numerous cityide committees and boards, including the Richmond Planning Commission, the Mayor’s Commission on Trees, the Census 2000 Task Force, the Pride in Richmond Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, the Better Housing Coalition, and Virginia Supportive Housing; and

WHEREAS, sought after as a spirited and knowledgeable speaker and guest lecturer, Barbara Abernathy has made appearances at numerous civic leadership events and national conferences, including the Partnership for Peaceful Communities, Richmond’s Neighborhood Teams, the Housing and Urban Development 2000 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, and Neighborhoods USA; and

WHEREAS, over the years, Barbara Abernathy has received numerous awards for her exceptional leadership and volunteerism, including the 1998 Volunteer of the Year Award for Community Service-Community Development by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the 2004 Virginia Housing Coalition Award for community development; and

WHEREAS, at a reception on December 4, 2006, Governor Tim Kaine, President Trani, and a group of neighborhood and community leaders praised Barbara Abernathy's decades of community service at a reception in her honor at VCU’s Scott House; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Barbara Abernathy for her outstanding public service as president of the Carver Area Civic Improvement League and to the citizens of the City of Richmond; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Barbara Abernathy as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for her many achievements and best wishes for a happy and rewarding retirement.