LRB-3936/1
CMH:skw
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
October 8, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Stubbs, L. Myers, Anderson,
Ballweg, Bowen, Considine, Crowley, Dittrich, Gruszynski, Haywood,
Hebl, Hesselbein, Neubauer, Ohnstad, Sargent, Shankland, Sinicki,
Spreitzer, Steffen, Subeck, C. Taylor, Thiesfeldt, Tusler, Vining, Vruwink,
Wichgers, Wittke and Zamarripa, cosponsored by Senators L. Taylor,
Johnson, Bewley, Larson, Ringhand, Risser, Wirch and Kooyenga. Referred
to Committee on Rules.
AJR93,1,2 1Relating to: congratulating Madison-native TeKema Balentine on her crowning as
2Miss Black USA 2019.
AJR93,1,53 Whereas, Madison-native and East High School graduate TeKema Balentine
4competed against women from 49 other states to win the Miss Black USA
5Scholarship Pageant in August 2019; and
AJR93,1,96 Whereas, the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant is the largest and oldest
7scholarship pageant for black women in the U.S. that has awarded over $500,000 in
8scholarship funds since its inception in 1986 and remains the single largest source
9of scholarship funding for women of color in the U.S.; and
AJR93,1,1210 Whereas, the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant provides a national stage
11for participants from across the U.S. to showcase their unique talents and beauty in
12a competition for scholarships; and
AJR93,2,413 Whereas, TeKema Balentine is an upstanding citizen whose strong work ethic
14and commitment to community are evident in her work as an agency model,
15caregiver, and coach for Madison East Track and Field, as well as her position sitting

1on the committee for Providers and Teens Communication for Health (PATCH), a
2program organized by the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health. She is also
3pursuing a nursing degree at Madison College to which her scholarship funds will
4be devoted; and
AJR93,2,85 Whereas, TeKema Balentine demonstrated exceptional perseverance in
6qualifying for and ultimately winning the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant,
7especially given that, as a youth, she did not have access to the resources to
8participate in pageants; and
AJR93,2,129 Whereas, TeKema Balentine is deeply invested in the success of black youth in
10Madison and across the state through her work coaching for Madison East Track and
11Field, championing academic opportunity gaps in her contestant platform, and
12highlighting successful brown people in Madison; and
AJR93,2,1613 Whereas, TeKema Balentine is revered by a host of community partners who
14helped make her journey to the Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant possible,
15including donors to the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and others, which is
16reflective of her upstanding character and commitment to her community; and
AJR93,2,1817 Whereas, TeKema Balentine will use her crown to advocate for the Heart Truth
18campaign to raise awareness of heart disease and promote healthy lifestyles; and
AJR93,2,21   19Whereas, the poise, resilience, compassion, and excellence TeKema Balentine
20has demonstrated in winning Miss Black USA 2019 has made her state proud; now,
21therefore, be it
AJR93,3,2 22Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the
23Wisconsin Legislature do hereby commend TeKema Balentine on being crowned

1Miss Black USA 2019 and wish her success in her continued efforts to serve as a role
2model for youth of color and in her pursuit of a nursing degree from Madison College.
AJR93,3,33 (End)
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