March 19, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E387 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS IN HONOR OF WOODIE KING, JR.’S, nation, with his work appearing in Atlanta, De- press upon all young volunteers that their con- NEW FEDERAL THEATRE ON ITS troit, St. Louis, Brooklyn, and Bermuda. tributions are critically important and highly 30TH ANNIVERSARY For 30 years, Woodie King Jr.’s New Fed- valued. Over the past six years, the program eral Theatre has provided enormously talented has become the nation’s largest youth effort HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY imaginative, and creative minorities with the based on community service, with an esti- chance to present their work in an established mated 100,000 youngsters participating since OF NEW YORK and professional theatrical venue. Without the its inception. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES opportunity to perform at Woodie King’s New We are extremely proud that Ms. Wise has Monday, March 19, 2001 Federal Theatre, encouraged by Woodie King been singled out from such a large group of Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, himself, many of today’s most successful and dedicated volunteers. I applaud Ms. Wise for I rise today to pay tribute to Woodie King, promising theater professionals would have her initiative in seeking to make her commu- Jr.’s, New Federal Theatre, which will be hon- perhaps never achieved their current suc- nity a better place to live, and for the positive ored at a celebration of its 30th anniversary on cesses. impact she has had on the lives of others. March 25, 2001. For 30 years, Woodie King, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join in Clearly, she has demonstrated a level of com- Jr.’s, New Federal Theatre has provided acknowledging Woodie King and the pioneers mitment and accomplishment that deserves emerging playwrights the opportunity to have of Woodie King’s New Federal Theatre on the our sincere admiration and respect. Her ac- their work produced and given employment theater’s thirtieth anniversary. Woodie King’s tions show that young Americans can, and do, opportunities to minority actors, directors, and New Federal Theatre, with a stellar record of play an important role in our communities. producers. accomplishment, has truly made an important The celebration will be hosted by such lumi- contribution to American Theater. f nary actors as, among others, Debbie Allen f TRIBUTE TO KEVIN and Avery Brooks, and Angela Bassett, Ossie KANNENGEISER Davis, Ruby Dee, Leslie Uggams, Shirley INTRODUCTION OF THE PRUDEN- TIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY Verrett, and Susan Taylor. Chairs for the AWARDS event will be Maya Angelou, Camille O. HON. ANNA G. ESHOO Cosby, Toni Fay, Byron Lewis, and Percy Sut- OF CALIFORNIA ton. Sydney Poitier serves as an advisor. HON. DON YOUNG IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Along with celebrating the anniversary of the OF ALASKA Monday, March 19, 2001 New Federal Theatre, the event will also IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES honor the Shubert’s Gerald Schoenfield, direc- Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Monday, March 19, 2001 tors Lloyd Richards and Shauneille Perry, pro- honor Kevin Kannengeiser, an extraordinary ducers Wynn Handman, Phillip Rose, and Mi- Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would teacher, coach, friend, and mentor to the stu- chael Bevins, the Coca Cola Foundation edu- like to congratulate and honor a young student dents at St. Nicholas School in Los Altos Hills, cation director. Posthumous honorees include from Alaska who has achieved national rec- California. photographer Bert Andrews and costume de- ognition for exemplary volunteer service in her Mr. Kannengeiser or Mr. K, as he is known signer Judy Dearing. community. Kari Wise of Anchorage has just to his students, came to St. Nicholas School Woodie King Jr.’s New Federal Theatre pre- been named one of Alaska’s top honorees in in January, 1977. During his 25 years at St. sented its first production in the 1970–1971 The 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Nicholas, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of season and has produced more than 175 Awards program, an annual honor conferred his students. As the 8th grade homeroom plays, including the award-winning plays For on the most impressive student volunteers in teacher and Chair of the Mathematics Depart- Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ each state, the District of Columbia and Puer- ment, Mr. K dedicates himself to educating, When the Rainbow is Enuf, Child of the Sun, to Rico. advising and guiding his students. His commit- and Black Girl. Among the many notable di- Ms. Wise is being recognized for developing ment is evident through his consistent work to rectors whose work has been shown at the a program designed to help middle school stu- offer his students educational opportunities in New Federal Theatre include Laurence Hold- dents lead healthy and positive lives as they and out of the classroom. er, Damien Lake, and Ron Milner. Some of begin high school. Her program, named ‘‘View Ten years ago, Mr. Kannengeiser launched the more well-known actors who have per- on Your Future Is All About YOU,’’ helped the idea of taking his Social Studies students formed at the theater include Morgan Free- young students realize destructive behavior is on an annual trip to Washington, D.C., so that man, Denzel Washington, and Debbie Mor- not the answer for dealing with difficult life ex- they would better understand the workings of gan. periences. our government. As athletic director, Mr. K The New Federal Theatre is named after In light of numerous statistics that indicate coaches the boys’ basketball team, and for the Woodie King Jr., the founder and producing Americans today are less involved in their last 27 years he has hosted the Annual Boys director of the New Federal Theatre and Na- communities than they once were, it’s vital Basketball Tournament in the Bay Area. tional Black Touring Circuit in New York City. that we encourage the selfless contributions Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me In the thirty-year history of the theater, Woodie this young woman has made. People of all in paying tribute to an outstanding community King has presented more then 150 produc- ages need to think more about how we, as in- leader and a remarkable teacher who has tions, both Broadway and off-Broadway dividual citizens, can work together at the local touched the lives of countless students and shows. Among his many awards, Mr. King is level to ensure the health and vitality of our serves as an inspiration to so many. Mr. K has the recipient of an Obie Award for Sustained towns and neighborhoods. Young volunteers sacrificed financially to remain in the Catholic Achievement as well as an Honorary Doc- like Ms. Wise are inspiring all of us, and are education system. He has earned the deepest torate in Humane Letters from Wayne State among our brightest hopes for a better tomor- respect and admiration of his colleagues, of University and a Doctorate of Fine Arts from row. parents, and his students for his extraordinary the College of Wooster. His 1974–75 produc- The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards dedication and effectiveness in all he does at tion of The Taking of Miss Janie, which he program brought this young role model to our St. Nicholas School. produced, won a Drama Critics Circle Award attention. This program was created by The Mr. Speaker, we are indeed a better nation as Best New American Play. Aside from his Prudential Insurance Company of America in and a better people, because of Kevin work at the New Federal Theatre, Mr. King partnership with the National Association of Kannengeiser and it is a privilege to honor my has produced and directed shows all over the Secondary School Principals in 1995 to im- constituent for his very special leadership. ∑ 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 11<MAY>2000 01:37 Mar 20, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A19MR8.000 pfrm01 PsN: E19PT1 E388 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 19, 2001 PERSONAL EXPLANATION INTRODUCTION OF THE PRUDEN- A Board Member of the National Credit TIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY Union Administration, and native of the 42nd HON. DANNY K. DAVIS AWARDS Congressional District of California, Yolanda will be visiting the area this month, making a OF ILLINOIS HON. DON YOUNG number of presentations to schools, busi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF ALASKA nesses, and academia. Monday, March 19, 2001 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES We feel in our hearts great pride for Yolan- Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably Monday, March 19, 2001 da’s achievements, and hope she will inspire absent from the House at the time of votes on Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would a new generation of young people in our area. two measures. Had I been present, my vote like to congratulate and honor a young student Yolanda truly embodies the American dream on H.R. 861, to make technical amendments from Alaska who has achieved national rec- that if you work hard, if you persevere, there to section 10 of title 9 of the United States ognition for exemplary volunteer service in his is nothing you cannot achieve. I hope the chil- Code would have been ‘‘aye.’’ In addition, I community. Justin Gonka of Anchorage has dren in the Inland Empire will look to her as would have voted ‘‘aye’’ on H.R.