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2021 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 313
Commending Virginia's Crossroads.

 

Agreed to by the Senate, January 21, 2021
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 25, 2021
 

WHEREAS, in 2004, Virginia’s Crossroads established the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®, a self-guided driving tour through dozens of historically significant sites that tells the poignant and inspirational story of the pursuit of civil rights in the Commonwealth’s education system; and

WHEREAS, established in 1993, Virginia’s Crossroads is the third-largest tourism marketing consortium in Virginia, representing the Counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Dinwiddie, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward; the Cities of Petersburg and Emporia; and Virginia State Parks and Appomattox Court House National Historical Park; and

WHEREAS, Virginia has led the United States in many ways, particularly in education; the first free public education system in the country traces its roots to Southside Virginia, and many trailblazing African Americans, Native Americans, and women cultivated their right to an education in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the original Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail® was composed of 41 historic sites in 12 localities, and Virginia’s Crossroads added 12 additional sites to the trail in September 2020; and

WHEREAS, the sites on the trail include the Russell Grove Presbyterian Church and School and the Mrs. Samantha Jane Neil historical markers in Amelia County; the Winonah Camp/Mozella Price Home, Carver-Price School, and Education in 1800’s Rural Virginia historical markers in Appomattox County; the Christanna Campus of Southside Virginia Community College, Oak Grove School, James Solomon Russell-Saint Paul’s College, Fort Christanna Historical Site, and Hospital and School of the Good Shepherd historical markers in Brunswick County; the One-Room Schoolhouse, Buckingham Training School, Stephen J. Ellis Elementary School for African Americans, and Carter G. Woodson Birthplace historical markers in Buckingham County; the Central High School, Charlotte County Library, the John H. Daniel Campus of Southside Virginia Community College, and Salem School historical markers in Charlotte County; the Virginia State University historical marker in Chesterfield County; the Cumberland Educational Advancement Center & Community Center, Rosenwald School at Cartersville, Jackson Davis, and Hamilton High School historical markers in Cumberland County; the Southside Virginia Training Center, Rocky Branch School, Early Education in Dinwiddie County, and Southside High School historical markers in Dinwiddie County; and the Greensville County Training School historical marker in Emporia; and

WHEREAS, the trail also includes the Meadville Community Center, L.E. Coleman African-American Museum, Mountain Road School, Mary M. Bethune High School, Washington-Coleman Elementary School, and Mizpah Church historical markers in Halifax County; the People’s Community Center, Lunenburg County Training School, and St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and Christian Day School historical markers in Lunenburg County; the Thyne Institute, Boydton Academic and Bible Institute, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church & Carroll-Boyd School historical markers in Mecklenburg County; the Blackstone Female Institute, Mt. Nebo Church, and Ingleside Training Institute historical markers in Nottoway County; the Earliest Known Public High School for African Americans in Virginia, McKenney Library, The Peabody-Williams School, and Bishop Payne Divinity School historical markers in Petersburg; the First Baptist Church, Beulah AME Church, Farmville Female Seminary Association, R. R. Moton High School, Prince Edward County Public Schools, Hampden-Sydney College, The Beneficial Benevolent Society of the Loving Sisters and Brothers of Hampden Sydney, and Prince Edward State Park for Negroes historical markers in Prince Edward County; and

WHEREAS, the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail® continues to be instrumental in helping tell the incredible story of the struggle for equity in public education; and

WHEREAS, the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail® plays an important role in the economic vitality of the region and the Commonwealth, with trail patrons also visiting local businesses along the way; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Virginia’s Crossroads for establishing, maintaining, and expanding the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia’s Crossroads as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the importance and significance of the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®.