2023 -- H 5271

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LC000355

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING ELIZABETH BURKE BRYANT FOR TWENTY-EIGHT

YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RHODE ISLAND KIDS

COUNT

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Caldwell, Edwards,
Chippendale, Messier, Kazarian, Ackerman, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is an independent nonprofit organization

“focused on improving the health, education, safety, economic well-being, and development of

children in Rhode Island.” Since the organization’s inception, Elizabeth Burke Bryant has been

an unrelenting policy advocate and an inexorable driving force, serving as the organization’s

Executive Director for the past twenty-eight years; and

     WHEREAS, Ms. Burke Bryant earned her Bachelor’s degree in political science from the

University of Vermont and a Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School.

Previous to her joining KIDS COUNT, she held numerous positions, all of which brought a

wealth of knowledge to her leadership and ultimate success at KIDS COUNT including serving

as policy director for the City of Providence, a Housing Court prosecutor, and a consultant for

Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, The Rhode Island Foundation, the

Women's Prison Mentoring Project, and as Co-Chair of Rhode Island Early Learning Council,

and a Board member of Partnership for America's Children. She also currently serves as an

adjunct lecturer for the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University;

and

     WHEREAS, Under Ms. Burke Bryant's guidance, KIDS COUNT’s focus has been on

“disparities in child outcomes by race, ethnicity, and income” and has demonstrated the urgent

necessity to review, alter, and often dismantle the structures that have led to these inequities; and

     WHEREAS, During Ms. Burke Bryant’s tenure at KIDS COUNT, the organization has

become the State’s leading child advocacy organization currently ranked 4th best in the country

for the percentage of children covered by health insurance, going from about 12 percent of

uninsured children to now only about 2 percent; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, KIDS COUNT’s annual factbook “has become a go-to source of

data and policy information for multiple indicators of child well-being across the state”; and

     WHEREAS, Elizabeth Burke Bryant has been described as “a hero for children and for

justice” a truly fitting and well- earned commendation; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

thanks and honors Elizabeth Burke Bryant on the occasion of her retirement as Executive

Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT after twenty-eight years of dedicated and exemplary

service to the children, youth and families in Rhode Island. We moreover wish her good health,

much happiness, and success in all her future endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Elizabeth Burke Bryant.

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