HJ89: Commending the Reverend David Walton.

WHEREAS, the Reverend David Walton, pastor of Belmont Christian Church in southeast Roanoke, received one of the Southeast...By Design Bridge Builder Awards for 2005; and

WHEREAS, Southeast...By Design is a multimillion-dollar venture to rejuvenate southeast Roanoke and its Bridge Builder Award recognizes individuals who form partnerships across the boundaries of race, class, geography and background and possess "a unique talent to bring disparate voices together into a chorus of possibility"; and

WHEREAS, previous winners of the awards include grass roots supporters, mayors, business executives, ministers, high school teachers, artists, community activists, President William J. Clinton and celebrities, such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Bette Midler; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Walton was honored for his perseverance and outstanding achievement through his efforts with the national organization Partners for Livable Communities in the revitalization of southeast Roanoke; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Walton became involved with the project at its inception in 2001 when the Southeast Roanoke Christian Partnership and Faith Works created an alliance with city leaders to attempt to revitalize the neighborhood by building homes, renovating below-standard housing, and reducing crime; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Walton served as the project's steering committee chairman as well as performed the difficult duties of major cheerleader, spokesperson and arbitrator; and

WHEREAS, Southeast...By Design invested $8.96 million in local, federal, and private funds—70 homes and 12 businesses were renovated and nine new homes were built by the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Blue Ridge Housing Development Corp., World Changers, and the City; and

WHEREAS, the Southeast...By Design revitalization project provides cities like Roanoke a new model in utilizing federal Community Development Block Grant funds—a one neighborhood at a time approach and the Bullitt and Jamison Avenues corridor was the first initiative; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Walton has provided a valuable service to southeast Roanoke, its residents, and their future well-being and prosperity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Reverend David Walton as a recipient of the Southeast...By Design Bridge Builder Award for 2005; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Reverend David Walton as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for his commitment to the City of Roanoke.