E458 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 27, 2014 caught on to the women’s rights movement. portive housing. Housing Development works in the state to have 20 percent of its power Twenty years before areas in the Northeast with various municipalities to create attractive come from renewable resources such as wind, formed associations for women, Lucinda was and cost effective housing. Due to its non- solar and biogas. And it is on track to increase leading the Kalamazoo Ladies’ Library Asso- profit status, the organization is able to reduce its renewable portfolio to 33 percent by 2020, ciation as a model for the rest of the nation. building and project costs through grants, do- making it one of the greenest utilities in the That Association and its present members like nations, and government project subsidies. country. Betty Lee Ongley—the first female mayor of The staff within the Housing Development divi- In 2009, SMUD received a smart grid infra- neighboring Portage, —have contin- sion is selected based on their extensive structure grant from the U.S. Department of ued to play a major role in keeping Lucinda’s knowledge and experience. Two of the most Energy, the largest amount awarded to any legacy alive today. important qualities of the staff are their knowl- public utility in the nation. SMUD used the Lucinda would go on to work in social re- edge of green building and neighborhood con- smart grid grant money to augment its $308 form movements and women’s organizations text. million SmartSacramento initiative that in- throughout the state and became a pillar for Homeless Solutions, Inc. opened Furnishing cluded a ground-breaking time-of-use pricing American women to turn to for strength and Solutions in 2012. Furnishing Solutions is a re- pilot program, and construction of a state-of- guidance. Her life’s work was recognized in sale furniture and design store located in Mor- the-art control room in SMUD’s new East 1890, when the be- ris Plains. People donate items they no longer Campus—Operations Center. The East Cam- stowed upon Lucinda their first honorary doc- need, and those items will either go towards pus—Operations Center received LEED Plat- torate to a woman. shelter services, or can be purchased at re- inum status from the U.S. Green Building She lived to watch her very own pupil, duced prices. Since the opening of the store, Council. Madelon Stockwell, become the first woman to there have been over 100 volunteers who In addition to his service in Sacramento, Mr. be granted admission to the University of have helped to sell more than 10,000 items. Di Stasio is active in national and international Michigan, and watched as Homeless Solutions, Inc. has grown signifi- energy issues, serving as a delegate with the granted its first academic degree to a female cantly since its start 30 years ago. With the United States Energy Association, where he student. The legacy of her work for women mission to provide shelter and housing to assisted in electrification operations in Ban- and education remains evident today. those in need, the organization has helped gladesh, Brazil, Botswana, India and Jordan. Throughout her extraordinary life, Lucinda thousands through the good work of its volun- Mr. Di Stasio has also helped effectively com- became friends with other suffragist and aboli- teers and supporters. As Homeless Solutions, municate and advance important legislative tionist leaders including Susan B. Anthony, Inc. continuous to grow and help the commu- policy issues by providing expert testimony to , Lucretia Mott, Lucy nity, it looks forward to the challenges and op- Congress in 2009 on protecting the electric Stone, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, and the portunities of the future. grid from cyber attacks, as well as advocating Grimke´ sisters. She was also a lifelong friend Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues on behalf of consumer-owned utilities on Cap- and admirer of Helen and , to join me in congratulating Homeless Solu- itol Hill and at the Federal Energy Regulatory and even played host to Ralph Waldo Emer- tions, Inc. as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary. Commission. son. f My personal and professional respect and Lucinda Hinsdale Stone represents the admiration for Mr. Di Stasio runs deep, and as strength that we all hope to have in the face IN HONOR OF MR. JOHN DI STASIO’S RETIREMENT his friend, colleague and a fellow Sacramento of oppression and inequality. Her lasting im- citizen, I wish him happiness and good health. pacts have motivated women for generations I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking and her name lives on in Michigan lore as one HON. DORIS O. MATSUI and recognizing John for his many years of OF CALIFORNIA of the finest Americans to stand up for what service. they believe in. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f f Thursday, March 27, 2014 Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to THE PASSING OF MRS. MARIELLA CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVER- UKINA AMA HOLMAN SARY OF HOMELESS SOLUTIONS, offer a tribute to Mr. John Di Stasio. On April INC. 11, 2014, Mr. Di Stasio will retire from a long and distinguished career with the Sacramento HON. JOHN LEWIS HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN Municipal Utility District, where he has served OF GEORGIA for 32 years, the last six as General Manager IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW JERSEY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and Chief Executive Officer. I ask my col- Thursday, March 27, 2014 leagues to join me in honoring this individual Thursday, March 27, 2014 who has contributed so much to the Sac- Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay trib- Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise ramento community. ute to a wonderful and beautiful spirit; Mrs. today to honor Homeless Solutions, Inc., lo- SMUD—which is the nation’s sixth-largest Mariella Ukina Ama Holman was a friend, cated in Morristown, Morris County, New Jer- public electric utility, providing affordable and mother, wife, teacher, activist, and trailblazer. sey, as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary. reliable power to 610,000 customers in my A woman of the world, Mariella Ukina Ama Homeless Solutions, Inc. is a private, non- district and California’s capital region—has was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on profit organization whose mission is ‘‘to offer been a leader in the public power community July 4, 1922 to Kiushu Amakaya and Ada shelter, services, and supportive housing to and in energy efficiency and clean resource Adams. Her father, an immigrant from Japan, homeless and low-income people.’’ They help development nationwide. changed his name to Frank Ama and worked those in need to rebuild their lives and be- Mr. Di Stasio’s commitment to the Sac- as a cook and caterer, and her mother was a come independent. ramento community and to the environment, laundress. Mariella and her brothers—Charles, Homeless Solutions, Inc. began as an emer- coupled with his business sense, people skills, Lloyd, and Bobby—were expected to meet gency men’s shelter in Morristown, through and personal integrity, have added to SMUD’s their parents’ high standards and were deter- the help of local clergy and business people. remarkable reputation during a transformative mined to overcome all odds. Originally known as the Morris Shelter, the or- time in the energy industry. Hundreds of thou- As a child of the Great Depression, she ganization housed ten men in facilities at the sands of Californians’ lives have greatly bene- worked hard, stood strong, and held her head First Presbyterian Church of Morristown. fited from his leadership and vision. high as one of the few children of color at the Today, Homeless Solutions, Inc. provides 85 Under Mr. Di Stasio’s leadership, SMUD historic Philadelphia High School for Girls. emergency shelter beds for men, women, fam- has consistently earned the top customer sat- Mariella continued her education in Atlanta, ilies, and the homeless that are mentally ill. isfaction scores of any California utility, and is where she graduated from Atlanta University Since its inception 30 years, Homeless Solu- regularly ranked among the top three utilities Laboratory High School. She completed her tions, Inc. has not only increased the amount in the nation, in terms of residential and busi- formal education at the renowned Spelman of beds offered, but has also created many ness customer satisfaction. Mr. Di Stasio also College, where she truly found her voice. At support programs and services, established recently received Electric Power & Light mag- Spelman, Mariella bloomed into a woman of the Housing Development division, and azine’s CEO of the Year honors for large utili- culture and class—studying and excelling in opened the Furnishing Solutions store. ties. French and the humanities—gradually becom- The Housing Development division was es- Mr. Di Stasio, a native Californian, played a ing more socially and politically conscious and tablished in 2004 to provide permanent sup- key role as SMUD became the first large utility active.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:33 Mar 28, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A27MR8.001 E27MRPT1 rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with REMARKS March 27, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E459 While working at Hampton Institute, now standing individual and someone who has Advisory Board, the Mayor’s Education Action Hampton University, she met her husband-to- been an inspiration to the Cuban community. Council, Orange County Public School Foun- be, M. Carl Holman. In 1945, Mariella and Ms. Aguilera was born in Cuba, and joined dation’s ‘‘Count Me In’’ Steering Committee, Carl married and returned to Atlanta to begin the Pedro Luis Boitel National Civic Resist- and the Edgewater High School Task Force a family; they were proud to raise their chil- ance Movement in 1999. This organization for Renovation. Mrs. Robbinson has been in- dren—Kerry, Karen, and Kent—in the heart of was formed by families of Cuban political pris- volved in the schools that her children have the Civil Rights Movement. Her husband, a oners to fight for their freedom. Ms. Aguilera’s attended for the past 19 years as both a PTA professor at Clark College in Atlanta, helped brother, Mario Perez Aguilera, was a political officer and mentor. co-found the Atlanta Committee for Coopera- prisoner at that moment. Mrs. Robbinson’s family lives in the College tive Action (ACCA) and became the editor-in- In 2009, Ms. Aguilera helped found the Park area of Orlando. She and her husband, chief of The Atlanta Inquirer, which developed Feminine Civic Rights Movement, Bill, have three children, one who recently into a leading, weekly journal and voice for and is currently the leader of the group. This graduated from the University of Georgia, one equality and justice in our nation. In the 1960s movement carries out weekly public dem- who attends Auburn University, and an when Carl joined the staff of the United States onstrations in different provinces of Cuba to Edgewater High School student. Commission on Civil Rights, the family moved pray for the martyrs of the Cuban dictatorship. I am happy to honor Nancy Robbinson, dur- to Washington, D.C., where he eventually The movement also performs humanitarian ing Women’s History Month, for her contribu- served as the president of the National Urban campaigns to help homeless women and chil- tions to the Central Florida community. Coalition. dren. Through Ms. Aguilera’s endless efforts, RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF KATHLEEN ‘‘KAT’’ Throughout their marriage, Mrs. Holman tenacity, and spirit the movement is able to BUTLER GORDON was the backbone of their beautiful family and find these homeless people food and shelter, Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Wom- home, while maintaining her own career as a despite resistance from Cuban authorities. en’s History Month, to recognize Kathleen skilled educator and an activist in her own During the public demonstrations of the ‘‘Kat’’ Gordon. Mrs. Gordon is a former South right. She taught French at Booker T. Wash- group, Ms. Aguilera and other members of the Carolina and Orange County, Florida educa- ington High School in Atlanta, and continued Rosa Parks Movement have been brutally tor. She was elected to the Orange County to teach in Washington, D.C. at Hart Junior beaten and have suffered from arbitrary deten- School Board in November 2000 and became High School until her retirement in the 1980s. tions and even death threats by the Castro re- School Board Vice Chair in 2013. In her classroom, she opened the minds of gime. Ms. Aguilera herself has been threat- Mrs. Gordon has been a resident of Orange countless young people to a global language ened with sexual assault in Santa Clara by County since 1968. She was a librarian and and community beyond the United States; she State Security agents. Ms. Aguilera has par- counselor in Orange County for 25 years. She brought Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean to ticipated in conferences and meetings around has also taught as an adjunct professor at the their front door through her creative and pas- the world in order to denounce human rights University of Central Florida (UCF) and at Va- sionate instruction. abuses on the island, and continues to work lencia College. In addition to her career in For years, Mrs. Holman also provided wise tirelessly for the freedom of its citizens. education, Mrs. Gordon worked full-time in the counsel to the architects—the movers-and- Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to business world for six years as a licensed shakers—of the Civil Rights Movement. She Ms. Yris Tamara Perez Aguilera for her contin- mortgage broker, life insurance agent, and a opened her home to organizers for strategy ued efforts against the regime in Cuba, and I registered securities representative. meetings, and her hospitality, cooking, and ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing In 2005, she earned Board Member Certifi- warmth fed stomachs and reignited spirits. this remarkable individual. cation from the Florida School Boards Asso- When her beloved husband passed away in f ciation (FSBA) and also served on FSBA’s 1988, Mariella continued to be the grounding, Board of Directors. Mrs. Gordon is a former central force of her family, friends, and com- WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH Board Member of the National School Boards munity for 26 years. Last week, on March 17, Association (NSBA) Black Caucus and is the 2014, Mrs. Mariella Holman passed away sur- HON. ALAN GRAYSON former Chairman of the Nominating Com- rounded by loving family and friends. Although OF FLORIDA mittee. I know that she lived a long and full life, I was IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mrs. Gordon has been honored by numer- ous organizations. In 2006, she received the still heartbroken to hear the news. Thursday, March 27, 2014 Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my Junior Achievement’s Educator of the Year deepest condolences to her children—Kwasi RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NANCY Award. In addition, she received the Humani- (Kerry) G. Holman, Kinshasha (Karen) Holman ROBBINSON tarian Award at the 2006 Annual Scholarships Conwill, and Kwame (Kent) Holman; grand- Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in and Volunteers Awards Dinner sponsored by children—Monifa, Kevin, Donovan, and honor of Women’s History Month, to recognize Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty and Camille; seven great-grandchildren; great- Nancy Robbinson. A native of Orlando, Mrs. the Board of County Commissioners. greatgrandchild; brother, Lloyd, and his wife, Robbinson has served on the Orange County In 2007, Mrs. Gordon was named Teacher Muriel, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and School Board representing District 6 since of the Year for the New Beginnings Education countless loving family members and friends. 2008. As a School Board Member, she serves Center in Osceola County. She also received They were guided and grounded by this beau- on the Communications and Legislative Com- the Distinguished Dove Award for being se- tiful and strong matriarch, and today each and mittees. She also represents the Central Flor- lected Osceola County’s Vocational Teacher every one of them is in my thoughts and pray- ida School Boards Coalition on the Congress of the Year, the Denn John MS Minority Edu- ers. of Regional Leaders through myregion.org. cator of the Year award, and Osceola Coun- Mella—as she was called by all who knew Mrs. Robbinson became a Florida School ty’s Ida S. Baker Minority Educator of the Year and loved her—will be truly missed. She Board Association (FSBA) Certified Board award. In October 2007, the College of Edu- touched so many with her warmth, her spirit, Member in June 2010, and serves on the cation at UCF named Mrs. Gordon as one of her cooking, and her timeless class, and I am FSBA Board of Directors and Legislative Com- its ‘‘Alumni of the Decades’’ as part of its 40th proud to have known and loved this great and mittee. anniversary celebration. wonderful lady. Mrs. Robbinson grew up in the district she In 2008, Mrs. Gordon received an award represents and attended Orange County Pub- f from the Osceola Classroom Teachers Asso- lic Schools. She graduated from Auburn Uni- ciation for her dedication and service to cul- HONORING MS. YRIS TAMARA versity with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pub- tural diversity within Osceola District Schools. PEREZ AGUILERA lic Relations/Speech Communications. She is Mrs. Gordon has served on the Governor of also a member of the. inaugural class of the Florida State Dropout Task Force. In 2009, HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART Orlando Business Force’s Central Florida Po- President Obama appointed her to be a mem- OF FLORIDA litical Leadership Institute. ber of the Selective Service System Local IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Passionate about serving her community, Board in the state of Florida serving Region II. Mrs. Robbinson is on the Board of Directors Also in 2009, Mrs. Gordon received the Gen- Thursday, March 27, 2014 for the Urban Think! Foundation, which sup- eral Daniel ‘‘Chappie’’ James, Jr. Four Star Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recogni- ports literacy programs for inner-city Orlando Major Award for community service. tion of Women’s History month I rise today to students. She has also served on the Destiny In addition, Mrs. Gordon has been awarded honor Yris Tamara Perez Aguilera, an out- Foundation’s Greater Orlando Food Outreach by her church, Saint Mark A.M.E., and by the

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