Title
Proclaiming March 13, 2011 to be known as Alecia Carter, Mrs. Saint Paul 2011, Day in the City of Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, Alecia Michelle Carter has been named Mrs. Saint Paul International 2011, and will represent our city in the Mrs. Minnesota International 2011 Pageant, to be held March 13-14 at Ritsche Auditorium in Saint Cloud, Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the Mrs. International System has been developed to promote married women, their accomplishments, and commitment to family and marriage by recognizing women who work to make a difference in their communities around a specific issue platform; and
WHEREAS, Alecia and her husband Melvin have been married for nearly eight years, and have two beautiful daughters Maylena (5) and Naomi (2), both of whom have food allergies; and
WHEREAS, Alecia currently works as an Occupational Therapist in the Saint Paul Public Schools serving children with special needs and learning disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Alecia Michelle Carter completed a bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and a Master of Public Health degree at Florida A & M University and is currently pursuing an educational doctorate degree at the University of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, as part of her platform, "Food Allergy Awareness: Share, Be AWARE, Prepare", Alecia has dedicated herself to educating others about the dangers of food allergies, and is partnering with the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association (AFAA), a Saint Paul-based nonprofit whose mission is "To take the fear out of food allergies"; and
WHEREAS, AFAA, through the engagement of several dedicated advocates like Alecia, was critical to passage of Saint Paul's Allergy Awareness Ordinance, which requires restaurants to provide servers with information about food allergies; and
WHEREAS, Alecia is a tireless advocate for environmental stability, and has spent countless hours in volunteer service to the Twin Cities Metro Area through several nonprofit organizations, including: Rondo Avenue Inc., ARTS-US, Goodwill, Chosen to Achieve, Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, the Sierra Club, St. James AME Church and Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church focusing on reducing waste and encouraging individuals to make greener choices; and
WHEREAS, Alecia's commitment to eco-friendly living is exemplified by her purchase of a reused pageant gown from shopgoodwill.com, and her refusal to wear a crown because of the trace amounts of lead they contain; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul recognizes Alecia Michelle Carter as a goodwill ambassador for the City of Saint Paul, and wishes her well in the Mrs. Minnesota International 2011 Pageant; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that Friday, March 13, 2011 shall forever more be known as Alecia Carter, Mrs. Saint Paul 2011, Day in the City of Saint Paul.