E924 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks June 9, 2000 Texas leadership must now show compassion have benefitted from her insight, as has the of the Jewish Community organized the Hillel to its future and provide a means for them to entire Waterford community over the course of Streetwork project, which later became Build- live healthy lives. the last 34 years. She has always been a ing Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency or BOSS. f fighter for education, for she believes that a This organization continues to serve the strong educational background is the basis to- homeless and mentally-disabled populations in HONORING GAIL NOLIN ward improving the quality of life. I ask my col- the East Bay, thanks to her leadership 29 leagues to please join me in congratulating years ago. HON. DALE E. KILDEE Gail Nolin on her retirement, and wishing her In addition to her work in BOSS, Ms. Sher- OF MICHIGAN the very best in her future endeavors. man is also a past or current board member IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES f of such organizations as The Jewish Music Wednesday, June 7, 2000 Festival, The Traveling Jewish Theater, the HONORING MR. MICHAEL HARVEY Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, as a former American Jewish Congress of Northern Cali- teacher, it gives me great pleasure to rise be- fornia and the Berkeley Public Library Founda- fore you today on the behalf of the Waterford, HON. SCOTT McINNIS tion. Michigan School District, who will be honoring OF COLORADO In honor of Ms. Sherman's many contribu- one of their own. On June 14, members of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tions to our community, BOSS is hosting a school district, as well as family and friends, Wednesday, June 7, 2000 Tea Ceremony in her honor at the Rose Gar- will gather to honor the career of Ms. Gail den Inn in Berkeley, California. Proceeds from Nolin, who is retiring after 34 glorious years. Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to this event will benefit BOSS's 21st Century In 1966, Gail Nolin began her career with take a moment to recognize an exceptional Charitable Fund which is dedicated to ending Waterford Schools, teaching third, fourth, and man, Michael Harvey. In May, Mr. Harvey poverty and homelessness in our community. fifth grades at Cooley Elementary School. traveled to Washington D.C. to receive the I proudly join the friends and colleagues of Gail's tenure at Cooley lasted 18 years. Gail ``Star of Life'' award, the highest honor pre- Ursula Sherman in recognizing her community brought with her many unique and creative op- sented to paramedics. Mr. Harvey received leadership and activism, as well as celebrating portunities for her students to learn, including the award because of his dedicated service to her many years of extraordinary service to the painting a large map of Michigan in the school his community and his fellow man as a para- people and organizations of the East Bay. parking lot, and constructing a large rocket medic. Mr. Harvey embodies the goals that f ship. Many times, she incorporated art and this award stands for and we all can learn TRIBUTE TO LOIS FERNANDEZ music in her lessons, giving her students early from the proud example he has set. exposure to fine arts and a well-rounded cur- As you know Mr. Speaker, paramedics work riculum. She later moved up to teach upper el- tirelessly and selflessly to serve their fellow HON. ROBERT A. BRADY ementary, where she involved parents in pre- man. Mr. Harvey and his fellow paramedics OF PENNSYLVANIA senting technology to students, and helped are expected to perform in difficultÐeven per- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ilousÐsituations on a daily basis. Mr. Harvey's pilot the district's first elementary computer Wednesday, June 7, 2000 network, acting as systems operator with service and sacrifice in his field clearly merit Gladys Baker. both the ``Star of Life'' award and the respect Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I In 1991, Gail began a new role within the and admiration of this great body. rise to honor Lois Fernandez, president and District, that of Technology Consultant. She It is obvious why Mr. Harvey was chosen as co-founder of Odunde, a cultural organization diligently worked along with Dick Elsholz and the recipient of the ``Star of Life'' award. I think that for 25 years has sponsored the Odunde Randy Gross to implement a program that that we all owe him a debt of gratitude for his Festival, one of Philadelphia's brightest cul- would allow third grade to fifth grade teachers service to the State of Colorado. Due to Mr. tural attractions and one of the largest African to integrate computer technology into their cur- Harvey's dedication, it is clear that Colorado is American festivals in the United States. riculum. She served as a member of the Insti- a better and safer place in which to live. Odunde, which among the Yoruba of Nige- tutional Technology Planning Committee, and It is with this, Mr. Speaker, that I say thank ria means Happy New Year, is the greeting co-chaired the first elementary technology you and congratulations to Mike Harvey on that first meets the more than 300,000 people plan. this outstanding accomplishment. Your com- who attend the Odunde festival. The festival Gail not only had an accomplished aca- munity, state and nation are all very proud of transforms a 10-block area in the First Con- demic career, but a political career that has you, Mike. Keep up the good work. gressional District into a veritable West African spanned nearly three decades. f marketplace complete with African, African A member of the Waterford Education Asso- American and Caribbean vendors selling ciation, Michigan Education Association, and SALUTE TO URSULA SHERMAN crafts, clothing and food. National Education Association, Gail has al- BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA Those attending the festival can also take ways remained a member in good standing part in a traditional Yoruba ceremony that and a role model for her peers. She has HON. BARBARA LEE pays respect to Oshun, a Yoruba deity. The served the WEA as a member of its Human OF CALIFORNIA festival also offers a broad assortment of per- Rights Commission and Negotiations Com- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES formances by musicians, dancers, singers and mittee, as well as other leadership roles with Wednesday, June 7, 2000 poets. the union. As a member of the MEA, Gail has Ms. Fernandez has enriched our community been an executive officer since 1985, and also Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today I salute, con- by providing sorely needed education regard- sits on the Staff Retirement Board and Legis- gratulate, and honor Ursula Sherman. ing the rich culture and history of Africa and lative Committee. She has operated as the Ms. Sherman has been a founding and ac- the Africans of the diaspora. MEA representative to the NEA on several oc- tive Board member of Building Opportunities For a quarter of a century Ms. Fernandez casions. for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) for more than 29 has been a formidable force for social change Gail's strong belief in our democratic system years. in our city and she has provided us with an in- has allowed her an audience with not only Ms. Sherman came to California in 1938 valuable cultural legacy. members of Congress, but senators, Cabinet after her family spent five years in Paris as f members, and several presidents, on issues refugees from Nazi Germany. She learned the such as Title I and equal rights. Gail was in- importance of volunteerism as an under- HATE CRIMES vited to the White House by President Carter graduate at the University of Wisconsin and to participate in discussions regarding the during her year as a researcher at the Nurem- HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS drafting of women into the military. berg trials, where she fully grasped the con- OF FLORIDA These experiences also led her to a stint as cept that there but for the grace of God go I. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES an assistant to Congressman Bob Carr, and Ms. Sherman became an advocate for youth Wednesday, June 7, 2000 the opportunity in 1993, where President Clin- as a children's librarian and University of Cali- ton met and bowled with her eighth grade stu- fornia at Berkeley visiting lecturer. In her Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, sit- dents. ``other'' vocation as a community activist orga- ting on a bench, riding on a bus, or even walk- Mr. Speaker, Gail Nolin is my educational nizer, she worked hard at integrating Berkeley ing down the street, a hate crime can occur colleague and my friend. For many years, I schools in the late sixties. She and members anytime or any place. Hate crimes are acts of CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E925 pure unadulterated evil, wronging someone Today he is a Sergeant with the Anaheim Po- Samantha.'' She is recognized in the Fort because they are different. People should not lice Department and its Public Information Offi- Leonard Wood area by her patriotic red, white and cannot live in fear because of their race, cer. Among his numerous merits are Police and blue outfit. She appears frequently at color, religion or sexual orientation; it is time Officer of the Year and founder of several po- community events, grand openings, birthday that we take the strongest course of action to lice organizations. He teaches a karate class parties, and other events to raise money for prevent these crimes. to children every Friday. the Armed Services YMCA.