25066 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 155, Pt. 18 October 16, 2009 Dilan and Diana Reyna, and former Council- 2001, these students elected him to the Board responsible living for their peers. Lance also man James E. Davis for dedication and hard of Governors of the National Bar Association. saw the need for strong male influences in the work in the community. In 2002, Reverend Soleil graduated, achieving lives of children at his son’s High School PTA Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to his Juris Doctorate and his Master of Arts de- meetings. join me in recognizing this relentless and dy- gree in Business Administration and Media Trucked Out’s members are all firm believ- namic community leader. Management, with honors from Metropolitan ers in the saying ‘‘each one teach one’’. f College of New York. Trucked Out has sponsored a variety of com- In 2003, Reverend Soleil returned to the munity events over the years and will continue A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND ANDRE´ ´ work of Jesus Christ and His church. In 2004, to do so every year, most notably, their Back RAMON SOLEIL Bishop Dr. Wesley J. Wiley and the Elders of to School Giveaway, a Halloween Party for the the Resurrection Temple of Our Lord ordained women in need of shelter. Trucked Out gives HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS Mr. Soleil as a Reverend. Rev. Soleil then en- out over one thousand toys each holiday sea- OF NEW YORK tered Columbia Evangelical Seminary to ob- son and hosts several teen parties at its club- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tain his Doctorate of Ministry. In 2003, Rev- house so our teens have a place to go and Friday, October 16, 2009 erend Soleil was admitted to the Bar of the enjoy themselves without fear of violence. State of New York and founded his law firm, Trucked Out is also a sponsor of the New Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today Soleil & Company, P.C., which was opened York Warriors kid’s football team. in recognition of Reverend Andre´ Ramo´n out of his apartment’s living room. In six years, Whether it is to protest an act of violence, Soleil, a seasoned lawyer, artist and entre- Soleil & Company, P.C. now employs four at- a crime against a member of the community, preneur with an extraordinary life story. torneys, six staff members, and is known for a vigil to remember the life of someone or to Reverend Soleil was raised in New Hope innovative litigation, criminal defense and go to a funeral to give support to a grieving Baptist Church, Niagara Falls, New York, a mortgage/foreclosure defense work. Soleil & family, Trucked Out will continue to help out in church founded by his great-grandparents dur- Company, P.C. has taken Mayor Bloomberg to any way it can in our communities. ing the great migration of African-Americans task as lead counsel in the matter of Cohen v. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to northward to New York from North Carolina in Bloomberg, a citizens’ lawsuit to block the join me in recognizing Lance Goodwin. the early 1900s. He was a member of the Mayor’s destruction of the term limits law, and f choir, an usher and a Sunday school teacher. has developed a reputation for innovative legal At age 12, Andre´ confessed Jesus as Lord, practice in criminal, real-estate, civil rights and A TRIBUTE TO COUNCILMAN BILL was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. At family law practice. DE BLASIO 13, Pastor Belk recognized God’s call on Rev. Soleil founded Christian Way, Ltd. in Andre´’s life and began training him for ministry 2007, a non-profit advocacy and research HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS as an ‘‘acolyte’’. group dedicated to the development, protec- OF NEW YORK Mr. Soleil is a talented artist and his draw- tion and promotion of Christianity as a way of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ings, paintings and craftworks have been dis- life. He also hosts a daily early-morning radio Friday, October 16, 2009 played at cultural events and museums since bible study program, ‘‘Breakfast with the his pre-teens. Mayor Michael O’Laughlin hon- Bible,’’ that is carried by Massachusetts and Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today ored the 15-year-old Soleil by appointing him Texas based radio and Internet broadcasts. in recognition of Councilman , a to the Niagara Falls Council of the Arts for his Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to tenacious leader in the community and an in- role in many school and community produc- join me in recognizing Reverend Andre´ spiration to all of New York. tions in semi-professional and professional re- Ramo´n Soleil. Bill de Blasio understands the importance of gional productions of The Wiz, Pippin, and f education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts de- Jesus Christ Superstar, to name a few. gree in Urban Studies from New York Univer- In 1985, Andre´ Soleil came to New York at A TRIBUTE TO LANCE GOODWIN sity; he then attended Columbia University and 17 and attended Parsons School of Design, earned a Master of Arts degree in Inter- majoring in illustration and painting. In 1989, HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS national and Public Affairs. Andre´ Soleil’s son, Donauld, was born. While OF NEW YORK Councilman de Blasio began his impressive looking for work after the closing of ‘‘Little IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES political career in government Wing’’, Reverend Soleil took a part time job at in the 1989 mayoral race. Fol- the New York Public Interest Group, Inc. Soon Friday, October 16, 2009 lowing the campaign, Mr. de Blasio served as after Reverend Soleil was promoted to Depart- Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today an aide in Dinkins’ Administration, where he ment Director, he began his career in activism, in recognition of Lance Goodwin, a devoted worked on projects such as the Safe Streets, law and politics. Reverend Soleil was ap- community servant who has done so much for Safe City initiative to reduce crime throughout pointed by then Borough President our community by establishing Trucked Out, New York City. While working at City Hall Ruth Messinger to Manhattan’s Community Inc., a parent organization for a number of under Mayor Dinkins and later with the City Board 12. Mayor Giuliani next appointed Mr. clubs. Lance’s vision expanded to form Council, he learned first hand how city govern- Soleil to the position of Executive Liaison in Trucked Out Divas SUV Club and Trucked ment works. He used this knowledge in the the Mayor’s Office of Legislative Affairs to the Out SUV Social Club. These clubs partner passage of key legislation establishing New Public Health, Human Rights, General Welfare with politicians, police precincts, churches, and York City’s domestic partnership program. and Cultural Affairs Committees of the New community organizations for the betterment of Later, Mr. de Blasio would eventually manage York City Council. Subsequently, Governor their neighborhoods. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s successful run for George Pataki appointed Mr. Soleil to the Ex- Mr. Goodwin attended New York City public Senate. ecutive Chamber staff as Assistant Secretary schools and graduated from George Westing- From working for the parents of Community for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. house High School. Upon graduating, Mr. School District 15, where he helped spear- A year later, in 1996, Reverend Soleil com- Goodwin opted to work so that he could have head some of the most comprehensive re- pleted his Bachelor of Science degree in Psy- an income which would make him more inde- forms in the city, such as capping first grade chology from LaSalle University, cum laude. pendent. After several jobs, he landed an ideal class size at 20 students and establishing uni- Mr. Soleil attended City University of New job with the phone company Bell Atlantic, now versal Pre-Kindergarten; to serving as the York School of Law at Queens College from Verizon. It was during this time that he started highest-ranking official in the New York/New 1999 to 2002, where he then became Presi- the Trucked Out SUV Club with the help of Jersey region for the U.S. Department of dent of the Class of 2002 and Editor-in-Chief friends. He envisioned him and his friends Housing and Urban Development, Mr. de of the New York City Law Journal in 2000. In making a difference in the lives of those they Blasio fights the tough fights and wins. As a 2000, America’s Black Law Student Associa- encountered on a daily basis. The members of member of the , he con- tion elected Andre´ National Executive Director Trucked Out SUV Club consider themselves to tinues to serve the people of New York, and of the National Black Law Student’s Associa- be blessed to be able to afford their vehicles specifically the residents of Brooklyn’s 39th tion’s 73 Chapters and 8,000 members; and in in which they ride and established a model of Council District. Mr. de Blasio’s most recent

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