LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Jessica Dowsett, Nicole Higgins, Tori
Ramos, and Daniel Robins upon the occasion of their designation as
recipients of the Iqbal Masih Memorial Award by the Capital District
Labor-Religion Coalition on May 16, 2012

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Dowsett, Nicole Higgins, Tori Ramos, and Daniel
Robins have given not only of their time and energies but also of their
competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently have been
designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Jessica
Dowsett, Nicole Higgins, Tori Ramos, and Daniel Robins upon the occasion
of their designation as recipients of the Iqbal Masih Memorial Award by
the Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition, to be celebrated at its
15th Annual Memorial Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at the
Polish American Citizens Club in Albany, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Iqbal Masih Memorial Award was established in honor of
Iqbal Masih, a child laborer and campaigner who was enslaved at a carpet
loom in Pakistan from the age of four until the age of ten; first
presented in 2001, the award is given each year to today's young activ-
ists, our future leaders for justice and peace; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Dowsett is a graduate student finishing her MA in
Anthropology at SUNY Albany; she co-founded the environmental sustaina-
bility group at her High School and participated in anti-hydrofracking
and anti-war activities throughout her high school and undergraduate
studies; and
WHEREAS, While living in Albany, Jessica Dowsett has connected with
the community Occupy Albany as well as other organizations such as The
New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG) and Capital District Against
Fracking (CDAF); and
WHEREAS, Nicole Higgins is a registered nurse who has lived in Albany
for 10 years and became active in political issues as a freshman at SUNY
Albany during the era of tuition hikes, wars and tax policies; and
WHEREAS, Nicole Higgins joined the Occupy Movement on the first day of
encampment and has been a part of several groups, though her main focus
issues are single payer healthcare reform, and food and water safety;
and
WHEREAS, Tori Ramos was a student leader at Bethlehem High School and
Hudson Valley Community College; and
WHEREAS, Tori Ramos has been active with Occupy Albany from its incep-
tion; in particular she has focused much of her work within Occupy on
community outreach; she has also been active with facilitation and coor-
dination working groups; and
WHEREAS, Daniel Robins graduated from the University at Albany School
of Criminal Justice with a Bachelor of Arts degree in December of 2007,
after which he began working as a full time staff member at New York
State Coalition Against Sexual Assault; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, Daniel Robins began courses and practicum in order
to obtain his MSW degree at the University at Albany School of Social
Welfare; he will graduate this spring, and plans to continue to work
within his community; and
WHEREAS, Jessica Dowsett, Nicole Higgins, Tori Ramos, and Daniel
Robins have been called upon to contribute their time and talents to
countless civic and charitable endeavors and have always given of them-
selves unstintingly; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of their community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Jessica Dowsett, Nicole Higgins,
Tori Ramos, and Daniel Robins have stood constant in dignity, good grace
and humor; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which Jessica Dowsett, Nicole Higgins, Tori
Ramos, and Daniel Robins have displayed throughout their lives; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Jessica Dowsett, Nicole Higgins, Tori Ramos, and Daniel Robins
upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the Iqbal Masih
Memorial Award by the Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition on May
16, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jessica Dowsett, Nicole Higgins, Tori Ramos, and Daniel
Robins.