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H. R. No. 151 *HR43/R2754* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Summers
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 151
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING TATYANA ALI UPON 1
BEING FEATURED BY THE WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI FOR 2
VISIONARIES 2026: WOMEN WHO MOVE MISSISSIPPI IN HONOR OF HER 3
OUTSTANDING ADVOCACY WORK IN MATERNAL HEALTH. 4
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2026, the Women's Foundation of 5
Mississippi is hosting its signature annual fundraising event, 6
Visionaries 2026: Women Who Move Mississippi, celebrating 7
exceptional leaders whose vision and impact are transforming 8
families and improving outcomes for women and girls across the 9
state; and 10
WHEREAS, actress, singer, writer, entrepreneur, activist, 11
Broadway-trained performer, Harvard University graduate, and 12
five-time NAACP Image Award winner, Tatyana Ali, is being featured 13
for Visionaries 2026 in recognition of her extraordinary advocacy 14
for reproductive justice and remarkable efforts to ensure women 15
receive loving, comprehensive reproductive and maternal health 16
care; and 17
WHEREAS, with an illustrious career that spans 40 years, 18
Tatyana has appeared in numerous television, film and theatrical 19
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projects, including Sesame Street, the iconic comedy series The 20
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Young and the Restless, Disney's 21
Glory Road and a growing collection of holiday and dramatic films 22
for Lifetime TV, and she currently appears as a recurring 23
character on ABC's award-winning hit comedy series, Abbott 24
Elementary; and 25
WHEREAS, Tatyana, a standout on both screen and stage, also 26
stunned audiences in the Pulitzer Prize winning production of 27
Fences on Broadway; and 28
WHEREAS, flexing her creative abilities in her off-screen 29
pursuits, Tatyana has produced many projects for television and 30
digital networks, including the first original scripted program on 31
the TV One Network, Love That Girl!; and 32
WHEREAS, Tatyana has earned acclaim as a recording artist and 33
received a gold record for her 1998 debut album Kiss the Sky, 34
featuring the platinum single "Daydreamin'" and "Boy You Knock Me 35
Out," as well as a Grammy Award in the Best Musical Album for 36
Children category for her recording of "Precious Wings" for The 37
Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland soundtrack; and 38
WHEREAS, with diverse musical releases that include the 39
independent EP Hello and the live music Christmas EP All I Have, 40
Tatyana's music has inspired, entertained and connected listeners 41
near and far, and she has performed for audiences across the 42
globe, touring with bands like *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys; and 43
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WHEREAS, Tatyana authored the children's book Aszi and the 44
Octopus, captivating readers with a story centering her son's love 45
of the ocean and the imaginative power of black boy joy; and 46
WHEREAS, using her skills as a public speaker to amplify 47
issues and motivate voters, Tatyana served as a surrogate for 48
President Barack Obama during his 2008 and 2012 presidential 49
campaigns, speaking to communities across America about voting as 50
an imperative and promoting the Affordable Care Act; and 51
WHEREAS, after facing her own traumatic hospital birth with 52
her first baby boy, Tatyana channeled her advocacy work to 53
champion Black maternal health, steadfast in her determination to 54
find answers to improve outcomes for mothers and families, and she 55
has drawn upon her talent for storytelling to mobilize others into 56
action, penning persuasively written op-ed pieces and using her 57
public platform to make a strong case for change across the 58
country; and 59
WHEREAS, Tatyana detailed the experience of her 60
life-threatening delivery in her personal testimony before the 61
United States Congress, and through her firsthand attestation of 62
the lasting impact of childbirth trauma, she was able to give 63
voice to countless others with similar stories and shine a 64
spotlight on the nation's Black maternal health crisis; and 65
WHEREAS, in further support of the movement for reproductive 66
justice, Tatyana serves as the founder and CEO of Baby Yams, a 67
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baby quilt company that donates 10% of its proceeds to grants and 68
scholarships for Black and Indigenous birth workers; and 69
WHEREAS, the Baby Yams Quilt Project honors the legacy of 70
each individual's history, struggles and triumphs, which 71
seamlessly come together - one stitch at a time - to beautifully 72
create a communal tapestry, and with each thoughtfully designed 73
quilt, Baby Yams spreads a message of possibility and inspiration, 74
providing cover for a community seeking to uplift and heal one 75
another in a powerful show of unity, strength and collective 76
support; and 77
WHEREAS, in partnership with organizations on the ground and 78
through generous donations, Baby Yams has made significant 79
contributions to increasing access to a more equitable birth 80
environment, empowering Black and Indigenous birth workers and 81
uplifting their work as they continue their vital efforts to 82
support families; and 83
WHEREAS, Tatyana, who resides in California with her husband 84
and two sons, has spent years tirelessly working to support other 85
mothers like herself and families across the United States, and it 86
is most fitting to honor her exemplary efforts through Visionaries 87
2026, which highlights innovative approaches to education, 88
wellness, economic stability and community strength while 89
mobilizing resources to advance access to opportunity for all 90
Mississippians; and 91
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ST: Tatyana Ali; commend upon being featured in
the Women's Foundation of Mississippi's
Visionaries 2026: Women Who Move Mississippi.
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 92
recognize exceptional individuals, especially those such as 93
Tatyana Ali, whose extraordinary advocacy work in maternal health 94
and passion for ensuring each person has access to a system of 95
care that is culturally-rooted, community-led and deeply 96
relational has made an indelible impact on women and families 97
across the nation and, particularly, on those who live in this 98
great Magnolia State: 99
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 100
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 101
recognize and commend Tatyana Ali upon being featured by the 102
Women's Foundation of Mississippi for Visionaries 2026: Women Who 103
Move Mississippi in recognition of her outstanding advocacy work 104
in maternal health, and extend best wishes for continued success 105
in all her future endeavors. 106
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 107
furnished to Tatyana Ali and to the members of the Capitol Press 108
Corps. 109