A resolution recognizing Ms. Marilyn Robinson, as a public servant to the citizens and communities of Nashville, Tennessee.

WHEREAS, the leadership, commitment, and devotion that Ms. Marilyn Robinson, has shown speak volumes about her desire to improve the quality of life for the area's residents; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Marilyn Robinson's professional career began as a tax examiner with the Internal Revenue Service before joining the Memphis Minority Business Development Center in 1978 and realized her passion for minority business development; and

WHEREAS, on October 15, 1984, Marilyn Robinson moved to Nashville to work as project director for the Nashville Minority Business Development Center and since 1996 has served as Executive Director of Nashville Minority Business Center; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Robinson is actively involved with many community and civic organizations where she currently serves as a member of the board of directors at Nashville Electric Service and the Tennessee Justice Center and the community board at the Center for Women's Health Research at Meharry and also past community involvement includes the steering committee for Character Counts Nashville and board of advisors for Belmont University, Center for Entrepreneurship - Women's Programs, and board of directors member of Neighborhood Justice Center, and Residential Resources; and

WHEREAS, she received Governor appointments to the Minority Business Development Advisory Committee and the Title VI - Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Oversight Committee; and is co-moderator of the economic and community development task force of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators, Legislative Retreat & Training Conference; and

WHEREAS, she is the Nashville Coordinator of the African American Economic Development Coalition and Nashville Coordinator of Minority Enterprise Development Week, is a member of Davidson County Democratic Women, WIN, Leadership Nashville, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, and Life member of the NAACP and is the President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Metropolitan Nashville Chapter and First Vice President for the NAACP; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Robinson has received a host of well-deserved accolades and awards for her work, most recently in 2005 she received the Minority Enterprise Development Week Regional Director's award by the Minority Business Development Agency U.S. Department of Commerce, the Advocate of the Year Award from the Tennessee District Office of the Small Business Administration, and the Youth About Business Harriett Tubman Award; and

WHEREAS, Executive Director Marilyn Robinson has worked and strived to fulfill her mission to create an environment in which no American is confronted with barriers that inhibit entrepreneurial development simply because of racial, ethnic, or cultural biases and she is extremely proud of the formation of THE ONE FUND to make capital more accessible to small, disadvantaged, and minority businesses. The ONE FUND was established with the assistance from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, through her invaluable efforts with the Nashville Minority Business Center and immeasurable contributions to benefit communities, she has truly made a positive impact on countless lives; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Robinson's hard work, commitment, ingenuity, and devotion to her profession will continue to contribute to our state for years to come; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Robinson is a native of Tennessee, graduated from George Washington High School before continuing her education at LeMoyne-Owen College where she received her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and is a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council recognizes Ms. Marilyn Robinson, for her professionalism, accomplishments and outstanding contributions in Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County and wishes her continued success in all her future endeavors.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing Ms. Marilyn Robinson as a public servant to the citizens and communities of Nashville, Tennessee.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to Ms. Marilyn Robinson.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Ludye Wallace, Jamie Isabel, Buck Dozier, Brenda Gilmore

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Referred:	Rules & Confirmations Committee
Introduced:	January 3, 2006
Adopted:	January 3, 2006
Approved:	January 9, 2006
By: