[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TRIBUTE TO LACASA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 1996

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the Latin 
American Community Alliance for Support and Assistance of Northwest 
Indiana, Inc. [LACASA], its board of directors, and its administrator, 
Ms. June Long, on LACASA's first annual fundraiser dinner. LACASA, 
whose office is located in Gary, IN, will hold this monumental event on 
Saturday, September 28, 1996, at the Patio Restaurant in Merrillville, 
IN.
  The LACASA Board of Directors Officers include: Mrs. Aida Padilla, 
president and director of the Senior Companion Program; Mrs. Julie 
Tanis, vice president and public school teacher; Mr. Joaquin Rodriguez, 
secretary and community advocate; and Mr. Ray Acevedo, treasurer and 
photographer. Members of the board of directors include: Mrs. Bertha 
Cardenas, Mrs. Hortencia Hernandez, Mrs. Maria Magana, Mrs. Socorro 
Roman, Mr. Roeman Whitesell, Ms. Jeannette Hinton Padgett, Ms. Maria 
Vasquez, Mr. Martin Valtierra, Mr. Ben Luna, Mrs. Maria Lopez, Mrs. 
Mary Jean Maloney, and Ms. Finis Springer.
  LACASA, which was organized in 1994, is dedicated to serving the 
Hispanic residents of northwest Indiana who experience difficulty in 
obtaining needed social and educational services. It serves northwest 
Indiana's Hispanic residents, who comprise 52 percent of the total 
population in this area, with quality services to meet their special 
needs.
  Special programs that LACASA offers are: adult education, offered at 
various levels from basic adult education to preparation for the high 
school equivalency test; Head Start, which provides parenting skills 
training and an opportunity for parents to become empowered in the 
education of their children; and Access Assistance, which includes a 
food pantry, learning job search skills, and youth personal leadership 
and high school preparation instruction.
  While LACASA already provides several beneficial services, it has 
plans to continue to improve the quality of life for northwest 
Indiana's Hispanic population. For those in need, LACASA hopes to 
provide transportation services to its programs, as well as agencies 
where its clients are referred. It would also like to offer tutoring 
services for Hispanic youth and establish health stations in an effort 
to assist Hispanic families in understanding their basic health needs 
and inform them about how to access the existing health care system. 
Finally, LACASA hopes to expand its services to the elderly, by 
familiarizing them with in-home care options to prevent unnecessary 
institutionalization.
  LACASA is funded and receives support from the city of Gary-Community 
Development Block Grant, Lake Area United Way, Health and Human 
Services-ACYF, Gary Community School Corp., National Hispanic 
Institute, U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, Indiana Literacy 
Foundation, and Kankakee Workforce Development Services.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending LACASA. This fine organization should be congratulated 
on its continuing efforts to preserve the Hispanic culture, while at 
the same time improving the quality of life for the Hispanic residents 
of Indiana's First Congressional District. May their first annual 
fundraiser be a successful and joyous event.

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