3958 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS March 19, 2001 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

IN HONOR OF WOODIE KING, JR.’S, has produced and directed shows all over the partnership with the National Association of NEW FEDERAL THEATRE ON ITS nation, with his work appearing in Atlanta, De- Secondary School Principals in 1995 to im- 30TH ANNIVERSARY troit, St. Louis, Brooklyn, and Bermuda. press upon all young volunteers that their con- For 30 years, Woodie King Jr.’s New Fed- tributions are critically important and highly HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY eral Theatre has provided enormously talented valued. Over the past six years, the program OF NEW YORK imaginative, and creative minorities with the has become the nation’s largest youth effort IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES chance to present their work in an established based on community service, with an esti- Monday, March 19, 2001 and professional theatrical venue. Without the mated 100,000 youngsters participating since opportunity to perform at Woodie King’s New its inception. Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, Federal Theatre, encouraged by Woodie King We are extremely proud that Ms. Wise has I rise today to pay tribute to Woodie King, himself, many of today’s most successful and been singled out from such a large group of Jr.’s, New Federal Theatre, which will be hon- promising theater professionals would have dedicated volunteers. I applaud Ms. Wise for ored at a celebration of its 30th anniversary on perhaps never achieved their current suc- her initiative in seeking to make her commu- March 25, 2001. For 30 years, Woodie King, cesses. nity a better place to live, and for the positive Jr.’s, New Federal Theatre has provided Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join in impact she has had on the lives of others. emerging playwrights the opportunity to have acknowledging Woodie King and the pioneers Clearly, she has demonstrated a level of com- their work produced and given employment of Woodie King’s New Federal Theatre on the mitment and accomplishment that deserves opportunities to minority actors, directors, and theater’s thirtieth anniversary. Woodie King’s our sincere admiration and respect. Her ac- producers. New Federal Theatre, with a stellar record of tions show that young Americans can, and do, The celebration will be hosted by such lumi- accomplishment, has truly made an important play an important role in our communities. nary actors as, among others, Debbie Allen contribution to American Theater. f and Avery Brooks, and Angela Bassett, Ossie f Davis, Ruby Dee, Leslie Uggams, Shirley TRIBUTE TO KEVIN Verrett, and Susan Taylor. Chairs for the INTRODUCTION OF THE PRUDEN- KANNENGEISER event will be Maya Angelou, Camille O. TIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY Cosby, Toni Fay, Byron Lewis, and Percy Sut- AWARDS HON. ANNA G. ESHOO ton. Sydney Poitier serves as an advisor. OF CALIFORNIA Along with celebrating the anniversary of the HON. DON YOUNG IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES New Federal Theatre, the event will also OF ALASKA Monday, March 19, 2001 honor the Shubert’s Gerald Schoenfield, direc- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tors Lloyd Richards and Shauneille Perry, pro- Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ducers Wynn Handman, Phillip Rose, and Mi- Monday, March 19, 2001 honor Kevin Kannengeiser, an extraordinary chael Bevins, the Coca Cola Foundation edu- Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would teacher, coach, friend, and mentor to the stu- cation director. Posthumous honorees include like to congratulate and honor a young student dents at St. Nicholas School in Los Altos Hills, photographer Bert Andrews and costume de- from Alaska who has achieved national rec- California. signer Judy Dearing. ognition for exemplary volunteer service in her Mr. Kannengeiser or Mr. K, as he is known Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre pre- community. Kari Wise of Anchorage has just to his students, came to St. Nicholas School sented its first production in the 1970–1971 been named one of Alaska’s top honorees in in January, 1977. During his 25 years at St. season and has produced more than 175 The 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Nicholas, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of plays, including the award-winning plays For Awards program, an annual honor conferred his students. As the 8th grade homeroom Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ on the most impressive student volunteers in teacher and Chair of the Mathematics Depart- When the Rainbow is Enuf, Child of the Sun, each state, the District of Columbia and Puer- ment, Mr. K dedicates himself to educating, and Black Girl. Among the many notable di- to Rico. advising and guiding his students. His commit- rectors whose work has been shown at the Ms. Wise is being recognized for developing ment is evident through his consistent work to New Federal Theatre include Laurence Hold- a program designed to help middle school stu- offer his students educational opportunities in er, Damien Lake, and Ron Milner. Some of dents lead healthy and positive lives as they and out of the classroom. the more well-known actors who have per- begin high school. Her program, named ‘‘View Ten years ago, Mr. Kannengeiser launched formed at the theater include Morgan Free- on Your Future Is All About YOU,’’ helped the idea of taking his Social Studies students man, Denzel Washington, and Debbie Mor- young students realize destructive behavior is on an annual trip to Washington, D.C., so that gan. not the answer for dealing with difficult life ex- they would better understand the workings of The New Federal Theatre is named after periences. our government. As athletic director, Mr. K Woodie King Jr., the founder and producing In light of numerous statistics that indicate coaches the boys’ basketball team, and for the director of the New Federal Theatre and Na- Americans today are less involved in their last 27 years he has hosted the Annual Boys tional Black Touring Circuit in New York City. communities than they once were, it’s vital Basketball Tournament in the Bay Area. In the thirty-year history of the theater, Woodie that we encourage the selfless contributions Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me King has presented more then 150 produc- this young woman has made. People of all in paying tribute to an outstanding community tions, both Broadway and off-Broadway ages need to think more about how we, as in- leader and a remarkable teacher who has shows. Among his many awards, Mr. King is dividual citizens, can work together at the local touched the lives of countless students and the recipient of an Obie Award for Sustained level to ensure the health and vitality of our serves as an inspiration to so many. Mr. K has Achievement as well as an Honorary Doc- towns and neighborhoods. Young volunteers sacrificed financially to remain in the Catholic torate in Humane Letters from Wayne State like Ms. Wise are inspiring all of us, and are education system. He has earned the deepest University and a Doctorate of Fine Arts from among our brightest hopes for a better tomor- respect and admiration of his colleagues, of the College of Wooster. His 1974–75 produc- row. parents, and his students for his extraordinary tion of The Taking of Miss Janie, which he The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards dedication and effectiveness in all he does at produced, won a Drama Critics Circle Award program brought this young role model to our St. Nicholas School. as Best New American Play. Aside from his attention. This program was created by The Mr. Speaker, we are indeed a better nation work at the New Federal Theatre, Mr. King Prudential Insurance Company of America in and a better people, because of Kevin

● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

VerDate jul 14 2003 19:37 Feb 11, 2005 Jkt 089102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR01\E19MR1.000 E19MR1 March 19, 2001 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 3959 Kannengeiser and it is a privilege to honor my relationship with this troubled island and I sa- TRIBUTE TO YOLANDA TOWNSEND constituent for his very special leadership. lute her for her admirable efforts to bring at- WHEAT f tention to her adopted homeland and this ex- tremely important international issue. PERSONAL EXPLANATION HON. JOE BACA OF CALIFORNIA f HON. DANNY K. DAVIS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, March 19, 2001 OF ILLINOIS INTRODUCTION OF THE PRUDEN- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute one AWARDS Monday, March 19, 2001 of the Inland Empire’s own, Yolanda Town- send Wheat. Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably A Board Member of the National Credit absent from the House at the time of votes on HON. DON YOUNG Union Administration, and native of the 42nd two measures. Had I been present, my vote OF ALASKA Congressional District of California, Yolanda on H.R. 861, to make technical amendments IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES will be visiting the area this month, making a to section 10 of title 9 of the United States number of presentations to schools, busi- Monday, March 19, 2001 Code would have been ‘‘aye.’’ In addition, I nesses, and academia. would have voted ‘‘aye’’ on H.R. 721, the Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would We feel in our hearts great pride for Yolan- Made In American Information Act. like to congratulate and honor a young student da’s achievements, and hope she will inspire f from Alaska who has achieved national rec- a new generation of young people in our area. Yolanda truly embodies the American dream IN HONOR OF BARBARA CORN- ognition for exemplary volunteer service in his that if you work hard, if you persevere, there WALL LYSSARIDES, AUTHOR OF community. Justin Gonka of Anchorage has is nothing you cannot achieve. I hope the chil- MY OLD ACQUAINTANCE: YES- just been named one of Alaska’s top honorees dren in the Inland Empire will look to her as TERDAY IN CYPRUS in The 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred a role model and mentor. on the most impressive student volunteers in I offer my best wishes to Yolanda, her hus- HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY each state, the District of Columbia and Puer- band, Alan Wheat, former Congressman from OF NEW YORK to Rico. Missouri, and their two children. I know they IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. Gonka is being recognized for his dedi- are proud of all she has attained. Monday, March 19, 2001 cation and continuous support of the Special Yolanda’s achievements are remarkable for their great breadth and depth. An attorney Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, Olympics. Justin has assumed numerous roles within the Special Olympics and hopes to one specializing in corporate finance, President Bill I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Barbara Clinton named her to the National Credit Cornwall Lyssarides, a Cypriot-American jour- day become a coach. Besides being a great student, Justin has also helped to recruit other Union Administration (NCUA) Board in April nalist whose recently published book, My Old 1996. She served as NCUA chairwoman for a Acquaintance: Yesterday in Cyprus, details the young people get involved and volunteer for the Special Olympics. short time in early 2001. recent history of the island of Cyprus. Ms. The three-person NCUA Board is respon- Lyssarides will be honored on the evening of In light of numerous statistics that indicate sible for overseeing more than 10,000 feder- March 7, 2001 by Cyprus’s Consulate General Americans are less involved in their commu- ally insured credit unions with assets totaling to the United States, Mr. Vasilis Philippou, at nities than they once were, it’s vital that we over $400 billion. The NCUA is the inde- a book signing presentation at the Consulate encourage and support the kind of selfless pendent federal agency that insures the de- General’s office in New York. contribution this young man has made. People posits of more than 76 million credit union Ms. Lyssarides is an accomplished journalist of all ages need to think about how we, as in- members in the nation’s federal credit unions whose previous books include a first-hand ac- dividual citizens, can work together at the local and most state-chartered credit unions. count of guerrilla warfare in the Portuguese level to ensure the health and vitality of our During her tenure on the NCUA Board, Yo- colonies of Africa, which was published in towns and next door neighbors. Young volun- landa has been a champion for the interests of New York and London. When the National Or- teers like Mr. Gonka are an inspiration to all consumers, focusing on such issues as ac- ganization of Cypriot Struggle (EOKA) of us, and are among our brightest hopes for cess to financial services, privacy and preda- launched a rebellion for independence from a better tomorrow. tory lending practices. She has been instru- British rule on October 1, 1960, Ms. The program that brought this young role mental in developing incentives that help cred- Lyssarides covered it as a young staff reporter model to our attention—The Prudential Spirit it unions expand their membership base so and feature writer for the daily Times of Cy- of Community Awards—was created by The that as many consumers as possible have ac- prus. Prudential Insurance Company of America in cess to credit union services. She has worked Ms. Lyssarides has spent much of her life partnership with the National Association of to empower credit unions to provide more living abroad, mostly in Cyprus. She was born Secondary School Principals in 1995 to im- services in the financial marketplace in order in Detroit, Michigan and received her degree press upon all young volunteers that their con- to remain competitive and thrive in the 21st in history from Wayne State University, where tributions are critically important and highly Century. she also studied journalism. Throughout her valued, and to inspire other young people to Yolanda was raised in a multicultural house- career, Ms. Lyssarides has traveled all over follow their example. Over the past six years, hold in California. Her mother, (the former the world, serving as a reporter for numerous the program has become the nation’s largest Mary Sanchez) worked in a law firm and was foreign newspapers. youth recognition effort based solely on com- the inspiration of Yolanda’s desire to pursue In her introduction to My Old Acquaintance, munity service, with nearly 100,000 young- law as a career. Her father, Art Townsend, Ms. Lyssarides writes: sters participating since its inception. was the founder and publisher of The Precinct Over the millennia, Cyprus has been sold, Mr. Gonka should be extremely proud to Reporter, a weekly African American news- colonized, inherited, borrowed, lent, de- have been singled out from such a large paper in my district. feated, delivered, neglected, isolated, an- group of dedicated volunteers. I applaud Mr. As an attorney, Yolanda has nearly ten nexed, mis-ruled, sometimes well-governed, often betrayed . . . To me, it is astonishing Gonka for his initiative in seeking to make his years of specialized experience in real estate that its people have survived at all, not only community a better place to live, and for the and corporate law. She represented commer- physically but with religion intact for al- positive impact he has had on the lives of oth- cial lending and financial institutions at several most 2,000 years, language even longer, and ers. He has demonstrated a level of commit- law firms. She worked in both the Los Angeles with customs and beliefs little changed after ment and accomplishment that is truly extraor- and Washington, D.C. offices of the law firm of centuries of foreign impact. dinary in today’s world, and deserves our sin- Morrison and Foerster from 1986 to 1992. She Mr. Speaker, the nation of Cyprus has been cere admiration and respect. His actions show practiced law from 1993 to 1995 with the beset by instability for too long. Barbara Corn- that young Americans can, and do, play an former law firm of Smith, Gill, Fisher & Butts wall Lyssarides eloquently describes her own important role in our communities. in Kansas City, Missouri.

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