Bill Text: VA HR334 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending the Divine Inspirations Center for the Arts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-02-17 - Agreed to by House by voice vote [HR334 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-HR334-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, the Divine Inspirations Center for the Arts is an arts organization in Prince William County dedicated to improving access to dance instruction and other mentorship programs in order to support future generations of dancers and leaders in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Divine Inspirations Center for the Arts (DICA) was founded by Capriece Piper, whose passion for cultivating social equality, academic success, and physical and mental wellness was ignited after she recognized a lack of opportunities in her community for girls to engage in the recreational and competitive dance activities she had enjoyed in her youth; and
WHEREAS, DICA was created to provide underprivileged and at-risk girls access to affordable arts and mentorship programs, increasing their self-esteem and building their character; and
WHEREAS, DICA offers scholarships and other alternative funding methods to girls that have never been exposed to the arts, removing the financial barriers that had previously limited their access to formal dance instruction; since its inception, the organization has raised more than $25,000 in scholarships for the benefit of its students; and
WHEREAS, DICA not only improves its students' physical fitness, but it also supports their social and emotional well-being by connecting them with women who care for them in their daily lives through the organization's mentorship program; and
WHEREAS, students of DICA have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to their community by volunteering their time with various local organizations, including the Beverly Warren Family Shelter, the General Heiser Boys and Girls Club of America, the Panamerican-Panafrican Association of Dumfries, Prince William County Schools, and Action in Community Through Service, to which DICA recently donated more than 100 pounds of nonperishable food and coats; and
WHEREAS, DICA's partnerships with businesses and organizations such as Macy's, the Washington Commanders, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., have presented opportunities for its students to participate in many diverse activities and events that they may not have been exposed to otherwise; and
WHEREAS, the phenomenal dance talent of DICA's students has been showcased in several spectacular fundraising events, while its impact in the community has earned the organization endorsements from various leaders in the Town of Dumfries and Prince William County; and
WHEREAS, through its unwavering devotion to the principles of family, teamwork, and mentorship, DICA has helped to make Dumfries and Prince William County both wonderful places to live, work, and raise a family; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Divine Inspirations Center for the Arts hereby be commended for its accomplishments in training future generations of dancers and leaders in the Town of Dumfries and Prince William County; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Divine Inspirations Center for the Arts as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the program's contributions to the Commonwealth.