LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dorothy Burnham upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the New
York Friends of the People's World

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and character
whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Dorothy Burnham upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the
Lifetime Achievement Award by the New York Friends of the People's World
to be celebrated at its 2011 Better World Awards at Winston Unity Hall,
New York, New York, on Sunday, May 22, 2011; and
WHEREAS, A native of Brooklyn, New York, Dorothy Burnham went to an
all Girls High School in the early 1930s, at which time she became
active on social issues through the American Student Union; this initi-
ated a lifetime of activity and commitment to the fight for civil
rights, women's rights, peace, democratic rights, and the concerns of
all working people; and
WHEREAS, When Dorothy Burnham was enrolled in Brooklyn College she was
exposed to remarkable professors who urged her to explore the true caus-
es of poverty, starvation, social inequality, and racism; they inspired
her and pointed her in the direction to change conditions by active
participation in the struggles of that period; this is where she devel-
oped her own dedication to social justice; and
WHEREAS, In 1940, Dorothy and her husband, Louis E. Burnham moved to
Birmingham, Alabama to the headquarters of the Southern Negro Youth
Congress, where they joined other young African American progressives
and became life-long advocates for social justice; Louis and Dorothy
worked out of that office in Birmingham until it closed down in 1949;
and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Burnham became a professor of Biology at Hostas
Community College, and Empire State College in the CUNY system, in which
time she was also active in the New York State Teachers Union; and
WHEREAS, In the 1980s and 90s, Dorothy Burnham was an active leader in
the national organization Women for Racial and Economic Equality, as
well as with the Sisters Against South African Apartheid, Genes and
Gender, and Womens International League for Peace and Freedom; in addi-
tion, she served on the Board of Freedomways Magazine; and
WHEREAS, Truly committed to social change and an end to racism, Doro-
thy Burnham has made great contributions to multiple worthy causes
throughout her life, all made possible through her own education; and
WHEREAS, Dorothy Burnham believes that our country is experiencing
some very serious setbacks in education and civil rights, and that the
children of our nation's future depend on a major struggle to defeat the
cuts in education and expand the rights of affordable college education
for all; and
WHEREAS, Today, Dorothy Burnham is the President of the Louis E. Burn-
ham Award Fund, which funds writers and other activists in the struggles
for social progress, especially civil rights; and
WHEREAS, After Dorothy Burnham lost her beloved husband and partner,
Louis, in 1960, she continued to live a full and noble life; currently,
she is 96 years old and still going strong; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her four outstanding children,
all of whom feel privileged to be part of her life and rejoice in her
achievements; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those individ-
uals which foster awareness and enhance the profile of cultural diversi-
ty which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dorothy Burnham upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the New York Friends of the
People's World; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dorothy Burnham.