[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
A TRIBUTE TO THE WASHINGTON CENTER FOR INTERNSHIP AND ACADEMIC SEMINARS

                                 ______


                        HON. LUCIEN E. BLACKWELL

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 1994

  Mr. BLACKWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of The Washington 
Center for Internship and Academic Seminars' [TWC] efforts to build a 
partnership with The National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials 
[NBC-LEO] for the purpose of facilitating an exchange program with the 
Embassy of South Africa.
  The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, a not-
for-profit corporation with offices in the District of Columbia, is an 
educational organization that was founded in 1975. It has served over 
750 colleges and universities across the country, representing over 
20,000 students, many of whom are now in leadership positions in 
Washington, DC. Its mission is to utilize the resources of the Nation's 
Capital to provide participatory learning experiences in order to 
enhance the academic, civic, and professional development of the 
students who are fortunate enough to gain acceptance into the program. 
In this way, the Washington Center seeks to promote future leadership 
for the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of our society.
  Mr. Speaker, because of its clear record of success with past 
endeavors and internship programs, I wholeheartedly offer my support 
for its vision to establish the NBC-LEO/Washington Center Cultural 
Exchange Program.
  In 1993, imposed sanctions against South Africa were lifted, creating 
many opportunities for South Africans. With the advent of reinvestment 
in South Africa, it is important to spawn intercultural understanding, 
utilizing academia as a form of change. The program will provide 
opportunities for education and cultural exchanges, diverse 
perspectives, opinions and experiences--erasing barriers constructed by 
apartheid and United Nation's economic, cultural, and political 
sanctions. In light of the Washington Center's commitment to 
experiential education, participants are challenged to lend practice to 
theory by thinking, living, and working in a foreign environment.
  For these and other reasons, I strongly offer my support for The NBC-
LEO/Washington Center Exchange Program and would urge my colleagues to 
support this notable and truly historic endeavor.

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