LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Marian Wright Edelman upon the occasion
of her designation for special recognition

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
extraordinary individuals who have made contributions to the cultural
enrichment of the State of New York, and to the success and progress of
society in the course of their life's work; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Marian Wright Edelman upon the occasion of her designation for special
recognition; and
WHEREAS, Marian Edelman celebrated her 71st Birthday on Sunday, June
6, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Marian Edelman is a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged Amer-
icans and is the President of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF); under
her leadership, CDF has become the nation's strongest voice for children
and families; and
WHEREAS, CDF's Leave No Child Behind mission is to ensure every child
a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start and a moral
start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of
caring families and communities; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Edelman, a graduate of Spelman College and Yale Law
School, began her career in the mid 1960s when, as the first black woman
admitted to the Mississippi Bar, she directed the NAACP Legal Defense
and Educational Fund office in Jackson, Mississippi; in 1968, she moved
to Washington, D.C. and was counsel for the Poor People's Campaign that
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. began organizing before his death; and
WHEREAS, Marian Edelman founded the Washington Research Project, a
public interest law firm and the parent body of the Children's Defense
Fund; for two years, she served as the Director of the Center for Law
and Education at Harvard University and in 1973 began CDF; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Edelman served on the Board of Trustees of Spelman
College, which she chaired from 1976 to 1987, and was the first woman
elected by alumni as a member of the Yale University Corporation on
which she served from 1971 to 1977; she has received over a hundred
honorary degrees and many awards, including the Albert Schweitzer Huma-
nitarian Prize, the Heinz Award and a MacArthur Foundation Prize Fellow-
ship; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
nation's highest civilian award, and the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime
Achievement Award for her writings which include: FAMILIES IN PERIL: AN
AGENDA FOR SOCIAL CHANGE; THE MEASURES OF OUR SUCCESS: A LETTER TO MY
CHILDREN AND YOURS; GUIDE MY FEET: MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS ON LOVING
AND WORKING FOR CHILDREN; STAND FOR CHILDREN; LANTERNS: A MEMOIR OF
MENTORS; HOLD MY HAND: PRAYERS FOR BUILDING A MOVEMENT TO LEAVE NO CHILD
BEHIND; I'M YOUR CHILD, GOD: PRAYERS FOR OUR CHILDREN; I CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE: A TREASURY TO INSPIRE OUR CHILDREN; and THE SEA IS SO WIDE
AND MY BOAT IS SO SMALL: CHARTING A COURSE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION; and
WHEREAS, Marian Edelman is a board member of the Robin Hood Founda-
tion, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the Association to
Benefit Children, and is a member of the Selection Committee of the
Profiles in Courage Award of the John F. Kennedy Library, the Council of
Foreign Relations, the American Philosophical Society, the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Medicine of the
National Academy of Sciences; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Peter, their chil-
dren, Joshua, Jonah and Ezra as well as their grandchildren, Ellika,

Zoe, Elijah and Levi, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of her
life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that individuals who
exemplify a spirit of humanity should be celebrated for their noble
efforts on behalf of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body, pause in its deliberations to
honor Marian Wright Edelman upon the occasion of her designation for
special recognition; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitable engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Marian Wright Edelman.