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WHEREAS, Center of Life (COL) is a community empowerment organization that serves to strengthen families, create opportunities for micro-enterprise and encourage home ownership; and,
WHEREAS, the COL Jazz Band, was established in 2000 by Tim Smith, along with his two sons, Tim Jr. and Isaiah Smith, and was initially supported by the talent and equipment of musicians Cornelius Martin and Lewis (Doug) Ransaw. The COL Jazz Band has given several musically inclined students the opportunity to do what they do best and earn money doing it; and,
WHEREAS, the COL Jazz Band is a part of a larger program called the KRUNK (Kreating Realistic Urban New-School Knowledge) Movement, which is a music and health initiative designed as a production company where students are engaged as engineers, equipment managers, musicians, dancers, rappers visual artist and writers performing for organizations and events all over the city and throughout the country; and,
WHEREAS, on April 2, 2011, the COL Jazz Band will be the only representative from the state of Pennsylvania to participate in the Monterey Jazz Festival's Next Generation Jazz Festival -- an event that invites the top student musicians from around the world to perform and compete during this three-day annual event. The COL Jazz Band will compete with other jazz combos from around the country for a chance to win the Open Combo Division and an invitation to perform at the 54th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, September 16 - 18, 2011; and,
WHEREAS, past and present students of the COL Jazz Band include Tim Smith, Jr.; Isaiah Smith; Evan Hertrick; Jamar Cromwell; Julian Powell; Ben E. Benack III; Dave Shepherd; Brett Williams; Miles Jackson; George Heid III; Frank Cohen; Anton DeFade; Gomeh Barak; Sam Harris; Jason Washington JR.; Mark Jackovic; and Mike Stephenson. Technical support has been provided by the first sound engineer Douglas Heckman and the COL Junior Engineers: Darnell Campbell; Taurean Oliver; Cornelius Martin JR.; SaJa Owens; Virgil Richmond; Peter Chace, Technical Coordinator; and Terry Levels, Program Director.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend the Center of Life for its commitment to its mission and congratulates and wishes the COL Jazz Band luck as they compete in this year's Monterey Jazz Festival Next Generation Competition; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, , that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare April 2, 2011, to be "CENTER OF LIFE JAZZ BAND DAY" in the City of Pittsburgh.