 
Senate Resolution No. 800
 
BY: Senator COMRIE
 
        COMMEMORATING   the   23rd   Anniversary   of  the
        UniverSoul Circus
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to  recognize  and
commend those organizations that have brought entertainment and cultural
enrichment to the citizens of 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
commemorate the 23rd Anniversary of the UniverSoul Circus; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The UniverSoul Circus is a single ring circus, established
in 1994, by Cedric Walker, an African American man who had a  vision  of
creating  a  circus,  with  the  majority  of performers being people of
color; traveling all over the  world  to  find  people  with  incredible
talents,  he  was  able  to  find  entertainers  from  approximately  24
different countries; and
 
  WHEREAS, Cedric Walker's vision was to explore the various  talents,
other  than  singing and dancing, that people of color performers had to
offer; he wanted to apply their gathered years of experience in the live
appearance industry with the intent to make a difference, to change  the
industry they lived in, and to create growth and opportunity; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  first  performance  took  place in the parking lot of
Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in 1994; since its debut,  the  UniverSoul
Circus has successfully turned the traditional circus world upside down;
by  1997,  the circus tour had grown to a 10 city tour; two years later,
19 cities; a South African tour in 2001; an Emmy nominated  HBO  special
in 1998; and in 2005, a 32-city tour; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Today,  The  UniverSoul Circus is playing to packed houses
from coast to coast, successfully entertaining all who  comes  to  their
shows; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  arts, in whatever form depicted, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and its contribution  to
the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples cannot
be overestimated; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  history, the heritage, and the lives of the people of
all countries and all cultures are portrayed in their exhibits; the  art
and act of sharing them enriches us altogether; and
 
  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of  this  Legislative  Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to  our
attention,  they  should  be  recognized  by all of the citizens of this
great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate  the  23rd  Anniversary  of the UniverSoul Circus; and be it
further
 
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Cedric Walker, Founder/CEO, UniverSoul Circus.
Commemorating the 23rd Anniversary of the UniverSoul Circus

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