CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E255 in 1989. But she continued to have influence tion system and advocating for the advance- cil. The Council established some of the first in our community as a civic activist and sup- ment in voting machine technology nationwide. neighborhood horizon planning processes, porter. As a member of the U.S. Elections Assist- which led to successful developments like Ms. Jolivet was born in Tucson and grew up ance Commission (EAC) Standards Board, SoDo, Mills Park, and Baldwin Park. in an era when Tucson elementary and high she serves with advisors from around the na- Commissioner Sheehan has been recog- schools were racially segregated. In 1950, she tion who review voluntary voting system guide- nized multiple times by Orlando Weekly and was one of three African-American women to lines and provide guidance to the EAC on the Orlando Magazine. She was also named graduate from the University of Arizona, where administration of Federal elections. ‘‘Best Elected Official’’ by Watermark news- she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees In addition to state certification in her field, paper. She was listed as one of the ‘‘Top 25 in elementary education and a doctorate in Lori earned designation as a Certified Elec- Inflectional Women’’ by Orlando Life Maga- education administration. tions Registration Administrator from The Elec- zine. Commissioner Sheehan was also award- She served her community primarily as an tion Center in cooperation with Auburn Univer- ed the ‘‘Diversity Champion Award’’ by the educator—but also as a community advocate sity. This is the profession’s highest recogni- Asian American Chamber of Commerce in and cultural leader. She served as a member tion, and serves as national certification. Most 2013. She has twice been a finalist for of the boards of directors for numerous local, recently, she attended the International Center ‘‘Downtowner of the Year.’’ She was also rec- regional and national organizations. for Parliamentary Studies in London, England ognized as a ‘‘Woman of Distinction’’ by the Ms. Jolivet was the first African-American where she earned a Professional Certificate in Girl Scouts of America, Citrus Council. woman to be appointed principal of a Tucson Electoral Processes. Commissioner Sheehan is proudest of her Unified School District school. And in 1996, Prior to her service as Supervisor of Elec- role in the restoration of the iconic Lake Eola she was the first African-American woman to tions, Lori served four two-year terms in the Fountain, the addition of 1.3 acres to Lake be named Woman of the Year by the Tucson Florida House of Representatives representing Eola Park, the preservation of the Eola House, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. the residents of eastern Polk County in the and construction of sidewalks for children Ms. Jolivet was a founding member of the Florida Legislature. Her major legislative walking to and from school. She was the first America-Israel Friendship League’s Tucson projects included restructuring Florida’s juve- openly gay elected official in Central Florida, chapter and of the Educational Enrichment nile justice system, performance-based budg- and passed domestic partnership legislation Foundation. Anna and I founded the Edu- eting, worker’s compensation laws, and wel- and non-discrimination protections for the cational Enrichment Foundation in 1983. The fare reform. LGBT community. She is an urban agriculture Foundation continues to serve children attend- Lori has also worked for the Center for Pol- advocate, and championed community gar- icy Alternatives in Washington, DC, helping to ing Tucson schools. In 2010, the Educational dens and urban chickens. She also worked develop curricula and train new State Legisla- Enrichment Foundation honored Ms. Jolivet with the Trust for Public Land to acquire the tors at bi-annual retreats. Training topics in- with its Ray Davies Lifetime Humanitarian Orlando Urban Trail (OUT). Achievement Award for her involvement in cluded conflict, values, power, and commu- Commissioner Sheehan is a huge supporter programs and institutions that promote quality nications. of small business and Orlando’s Mainstreet A committed environmentalist, Lori served education and serve Tucson’s youth. Districts. She represents the Downtown South, as Florida Coordinator of the National Audu- On March 1, Ms. Jolivet will be honored by Mills50 and Thornton Park Mainstreets. She bon Society’s ‘‘Population and Habitat’’ cam- the Tucson Urban League at its first annual also lobbied and passed a Florida State Law paign, organizing and training Florida activists Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner—an allowing for Doggie Dining on outdoor patios to raise awareness of the impact of population event that will be held to remind the Tucson in downtown Orlando. She is also the founder growth on the environment. She is currently community that the greatness of our country and chairperson for Wheels for Kids, which rests upon the principle of equal opportunity studying to become a Florida Master Naturalist through the ’s Institute of has provided over 1,000 bicycles to needy ele- for everyone. This principle was the foundation mentary and middle school students in in which Anna served the children of Tucson Food and Agricultural Sciences program. Lori is an alumna of Executive Education at Reeves Terrace public housing. and our community at large. Commissioner Sheehan enjoys many out- I am proud to recognize Anna Jolivet—an the John F. Kennedy School of Government at , where she studied the Art door activities including gardening, paddle outstanding citizen of Tucson who has left a boarding and Dragon Boat racing. As a local strong legacy that we celebrate today. and Practice of Leadership Development and participated in a program for Senior Execu- artist who exhibits her ‘‘Bad Kitty’’ paintings in f tives in State and Local Government. She was local clubs and shops, she is an avid pro- RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBU- also chosen to participate in the Program for ponent of the Arts and Culture in Orlando. She TIONS OF LORI EDWARDS Emerging Political Leaders offered by the Dar- lives in a 1928 bungalow with her Chinese den Graduate School of Business Administra- Crested dog, Maxine, Nina Simone (a diva tion at the University of Virginia. Lori was a kitty) and Jazz (a wild English Springer Span- HON. ALAN GRAYSON iel), along with Peep, Cheep, & Bleep (her OF FLORIDA Flemming Fellow at the Center for Policy Al- mini flock of urban chickens). IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ternatives in Washington, D.C. and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Manage- I am happy to honor Commissioner Patty Wednesday, February 26, 2014 ment from Warner University in Lake Wales. Sheehan, during Women’s History Month, for Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in I am happy to honor Lori Edwards, during her leadership and service to the Central Flor- honor of Women’s History Month, to recognize Women’s History Month, for her service to the ida Community. the service of Lori Edwards. Lori has been the Central Florida community. RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANNA ESKAMANI Supervisor of Elections in Polk County, Flor- RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF COMMISSIONER Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Wom- ida, since January 2001. As the Executive Of- PATTY SHEEHAN en’s History Month, to recognize Anna ficer responsible for administering fair elec- Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Wom- Eskamani. An Iranian-American and Central tions, maintaining voter rolls, and providing en’s History Month, to recognize the contribu- Florida native, Anna graduated from the Uni- voter registration services, Lori has conducted tions of Commissioner Patty Sheehan. Com- versity of Central Florida (UCF) in the spring more than 150 successful elections while serv- missioner Sheehan was first elected to the Or- of 2012 with dual degrees in Political Science ing in this non-partisan elected position. lando City Council in 2000. She served as and Women’s Studies, and a Certificate in Lori is active in the leadership of the Florida President of the Colonialtown North Neighbor- Service Learning. State Association of Supervisors of Elections, hood Association, and is proud to come from As an undergrad, Anna spent the majority of where she currently serves as president. She a servant leadership background. She at- her time writing, advocating, and organizing has created a task force to recruit and train bi- tended the University of Central Florida where for social justice. She first began her advocacy lingual election workers to ensure Florida’s she earned her B.A. in art. Commissioner work in the environmental movement, but growing population of Hispanic voters are ac- Sheehan was formerly an Administrator with quickly became an advocate for international commodated. She has also conducted many the Florida Department of Agriculture and human rights via her Vice Presidency of the regional educational workshops for election Consumer Services. She serves her constitu- Iranian Student Organization. In the summer administrators focusing on a variety of topics ents full time and is well known for her advo- of 2010, Anna turned her focus to domestic including redistricting, voter education and ab- cacy of pedestrian safety, safe neighborhoods, issues, when she became Vice President of sentee voting. historic preservation, and a thriving downtown. the College Democrats at UCF and the Wom- Lori’s recent efforts have included an em- Currently, she serves as Vice Chair of the en’s Caucus Chair of the Florida College phasis on modernizing Florida’s voter registra- East Central Florida Regional Planning Coun- Democrats. In April 2011, Anna founded

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In Following graduation, Ms. Eskamani led the serve as executive director of the Birmingham March 2011, Anna completed her under- development team of the Orange County Opportunity Industrialization Center and asso- graduate honors thesis focusing on feminism Democratic Party, helping them to break fund- ciate executive director of the Jefferson Coun- in Iran. Anna presented her thesis, which re- raising records. She also joined Senator BILL ty Committee for Economic Opportunity. For ceived high remarks, at several research con- NELSON’s re-election campaign as the young- twenty-one years, she served as director of ferences. est staff member, working as a Press and Re- the Center for Urban Affairs at the University Upon graduation Anna was awarded the search Assistant. Following the 2012 elec- of Alabama at Birmingham and lectured in po- Order of Pegasus, the highest honor that a tions, Ida was selected out of thousands of litical science and public affairs. She also UCF senior can receive. She also graduated applicants to serve as a White House Intern in served as staff associate at the Center for with the highest GPA in the College of Under- the Office of Presidential Personnel for the International Programs and was an Assistant graduate Studies, an achievement that al- spring 2013 term. Upon her return to the Sun- to the President for Community Relations. lowed her to be a part of UCF’s Platform Party shine State, she spent her time as a Digital Ms. Odessa Woolfolk’s tremendous con- during commencement ceremonies. and Community Organizer with Florida CHAIN, tributions to the University of Alabama at Bir- Anna didn’t stop there. Now a graduate stu- an organization dedicated to increasing ac- mingham were recognized with the establish- dent at UCF pursuing dual master’s degrees cess to affordable healthcare, and as a mem- ment of the Odessa Woolfolk Presidential in Public Administration and Nonprofit Man- ber of the finance team for State Representa- Community Service Award. Due to her out- agement, Anna works full-time at Planned Par- tive Joe Saunders’ re-election campaign. standing and extensive service at UAB, Ms. enthood of Greater Orlando as the organiza- Ms. Eskamani joined Equality Florida, the Woolfolk received the UAB Honorary Alumni tion’s External Affairs Manager. In her posi- states’ lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Award, Outstanding Faculty Award, the Presi- tion, Anna maintains the organization’s devel- civil rights organization in 2014 as a Develop- dent’s Medal, and many other awards. opment and public affairs programs. ment Associate based in Orlando. In her role Anna continues to be very involved in the Ms. Woolfolk is most known for her instru- she assists in organizing and executing fund- mental role in creating the Birmingham Civil UCF and Central Florida community. In Feb- raising and development programs in Sara- ruary 2013, she launched an on-campus initia- Rights Institute. She was its founding adminis- sota, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee. trator and chair of the task force that planned tive called ‘‘Project Bithlo,’’ with the goal of en- She is also currently pursuing dual master’s gaging UCF students, faculty, and staff in the and directed its development. Annually, nearly degrees in Public Administration and Nonprofit 150,000 people honor her as they pass transformative work occurring in the histori- Management at UCF. cally neglected community of Bithlo. Only a through the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery at the I am happy to honor Ida Eskamani, during Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. year after its founding, Project Bithlo has con- Women’s History Month, for her leadership Throughout her life, Ms. Woolfolk has nected hundreds of UCF students to Bithlo. and service to the Central Florida community. served on the boards of numerous Bir- The project is succeeding in bringing together f both the College Democrats and College Re- mingham and statewide organizations, includ- publicans in an effort to show solidary with the HONORING ODESSA WOOLFOLK ing the YWCA, Region 2020, the Community families of this overlooked community. DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH Foundation of Greater Birmingham, UAB Afri- Anna also sits on the board of numerous or- 2014 can American Studies Program, Regional ganizations, including the Orange County Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, League of Women Voters, Orange County HON. TERRI A. SEWELL UAB Educational Foundation, Birmingham Mu- seum of Art, and the Birmingham Urban Democratic Executive Committee, Democratic OF ALABAMA League. Ms. Woolfolk served as the State Women’s Club of Greater Orlando, Democratic IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Women’s Club Florida, UCF Women’s Studies Chair of the National Conference of Christians Advisory Council, and Planned Parenthood’s Wednesday, February 26, 2014 and Jews, was the first African American Network of Volunteer Advocates. Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, in President of Operation New Birmingham’s A lifelong feminist, Anna is excited to con- honor of Black History Month, I continue to Board of Directors, founding member of Lead- tinue her work to better the lives of women pay tribute to outstanding African Americans ership Birmingham and was the founding co- and her local community. from Alabama. Today, I rise to honor one of chair of the Martin Luther King Unity Break- I am happy to honor Anna Eskamani, during Alabama’s most beloved and brilliant civic fast. Women’s History Month, for her leadership leaders, Ms. Odessa Woolfolk. As a student in Because of her influence in the city of Bir- and service to the Central Florida community. Birmingham’s segregated public schools to, mingham and the state of Alabama, Ms. RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP OF IDA V. ESKAMANI later, becoming one of the city of Bir- Woolfolk was honored by Birmingham’s Mayor Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Wom- mingham’s most persuasive civic leaders, Ms. and City Council and was inducted into the en’s History Month, to recognize Ida V. Odessa Woolfolk transcended the racial and Birmingham Gallery of Distinguished Citizens. Eskamani, a young woman with a passion for socioeconomic challenges of her time. She was also inducted into the Alabama public service. A first-generation Iranian-Amer- Ms. Odessa Woolfolk was born in the Academy of Honor and is the well-deserved ican born and raised in Orlando, Florida, Ms. Titusville Community of Birmingham, Alabama recipient of the Humanities Award from the Eskamani believes that individual success is and graduated from A.H. Parker High School. Alabama Humanities Foundation. She has re- directly tied to the success of her community, She earned her bachelor’s degree in History ceived honorary doctorates from her alma and is committed to serving underserved and and Political Science from Talladega College mater, Talladega College, from Birmingham- underrepresented communities. and later went on to earn her Masters in Southern College and the University of the She began her career in public service as Urban Studies from Occidental College in Cali- South in Tennessee. an undergraduate at the University of Central fornia. She completed additional graduate Ms. Odessa Woolfolk is one of Bir- Florida (UCF), where she was active in sev- work at the University of Chicago and was a mingham’s brightest luminaries. Through her eral campus organizations focused on wom- National Urban Fellow at . continued commitment to improving her com- en’s rights, equality, environmental justice, and Ms. Woolfolk began her career as a teacher munity, the State of Alabama and her nation, social justice. As President of the College at Birmingham’s Ullman High School, at the she remains an inspiration to all who know Democrats at UCF, she worked to empower height of the civil rights movement. She dis- her. And as one of her mentees, it is my and educate thousands of students through played outstanding and fearless leadership honor to recognize her on the floor of the voter registration drives, rallies, and marches, both in her classroom and community during House of Representatives. Our and established the organization as an integral this turbulent time. Following her tenure as an generation owes trailblazers such as Ms. part of Central Florida’s progressive move- educator, Ms. Woolfolk worked in public policy Odessa Woolfolk a debt of gratitude. Today, I ment. Ms. Eskamani earned dual degrees with the following organizations: the Urban Re- invite my colleagues to pay tribute to Ms. from UCF in Political Science and Sociology in investment Task Force in Washington, DC., Odessa Woolfolk, an exceptional woman 2012. She was also awarded the national New York State Urban Development Corpora- whose contributions have made her a shining President’s Service Award for devoting more tion in New York City, the YWCA in Utica, example of exemplary service to all mankind.

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