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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-194
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
May 3, 2016
To honor and celebrate the 75th birthday of Mrs. Beatrice E. Davis-Williams, the founder of the Davis Center, and to recognize her contributions to the dance community.
WHEREAS, Mrs. Beatrice E. Davis-Williams was born in Washington, D.C. on May 23, 1941;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Davis-Williams received a bachelor’s degree from Federal City College; a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and an Advanced Certificate in Education Administration from Howard University; and has earned substantial credits towards a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Howard University;
WHEREAS, in 1969, Mrs. Davis-Williams founded the Davis Center, a dance center located at 6218 3rd Street, N.W., that teaches both classical and contemporary dance forms to students ranging from 2-years-old to young adulthood;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Davis-Williams has exposed her dance students to numerous educational and cultural experiences, including taking her students to Senegal and Gambia in West Africa, where these students took a master class from members of the Senegalese National Ballet and performed concerts showcasing American forms of artistic dance;
WHEREAS, students at the Davis Center participate in charitable activities that help residents in Ward 4, across the District, and internationally, including collecting and distributing food, clothing, toys, school supplies, and monetary donations to local families and families living abroad, and performing charitable dance shows for residents living in nursing homes, hospitals, and churches across the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Davis-Williams is an active member of her community, including serving as Chair of the Dance Program at Howard University; a commissioner on the D.C. Commission for the Arts and Humanities; a dance consultant to the District of Columbia Public Schools; dance therapist at the Oak Hill Youth Detention Center; Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the Washington Center for Aging Services; Chairperson of the Arts and Humanities Committee of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Continental Societies, Inc.; National Youth Coordinator of the Lambda Kappa Mu Business and Professional Women's Sorority, Inc.; and as a board member for the Erika Thimey Dance & Theatre, Inc. and the Sutradhar Dance Institute;
WHEREAS, Mrs. Davis-Williams is an active member of the Theta Chapter, Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc.; the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Continental Societies, Inc.; the Washington, D.C. Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; the Otero B. Tymous Chapter of Daughters of the King, Church of Our Savior, Washington, D.C.; and is a Fellow in the prestigious Cecchetti Council of America;
WHEREAS, throughout her career Mrs. Davis-Williams has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including, the “Living Legend Award” from the Pastor’s Aid Society of Second Baptist Church (2005); the Greater Washington Urban League's Whitney M. Young, Jr. Community Service Award (2001); the American Business Women’s Association Community Volunteer Service Award (1997); the District of Columbia Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Award (1977); the Howard University Institute of Urban Affairs and Research International Women’s Year and Bicentennial Celebrations Awards (1976); and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Davis-Williams, who is an artist, educator, and instructor and has contributed greatly to the dance community, will celebrate her 75th birthday on May 23, 2016.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Beatrice E. Davis-Williams 75th Birthday Recognition Resolution of 2016”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia honors and celebrates Mrs. Beatrice E. Davis-Williams on her 75th birthday.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
