[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1872-E1873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO JOSEPHINE NIEVES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 30, 1996

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, triumph over adversity and beating the odds 
are success stories that need to be heralded. I am pleased to highlight 
the achievements of Josephine Nieves, MSW, Ph.D., the first Latina to 
head the National Association of Social Workers [NASW]. As a trained 
social worker, I have a personal affinity for the very important work 
that social workers perform.
  As the head of a 155,000 member association, Dr. Nieves brings more 
than 30 years experience to the job. Most recently, she was a

[[Page E1873]]

Presidential appointee to the U.S. Department of Labor, where she was 
in charge of the Office of Job Training Programs. Prior to her 
assignment at the Department, she worked for former New York Mayor 
David Dinkins and served as commissioner and spokesperson for the New 
York City Department of Employment.
  Josephine grew up in a single-parent family in New York City's 
communities of East Harlem and the Bronx. Her mother worked in a 
factory for 40 years to provide for her family. Dr. Nieves was the 
first to graduate from college. She obtained her master's degree in 
social work from Columbia University, and her doctorate from Union 
Graduate School, Antioch University Consortium of Colleges and 
Universities.
  Dr. Nieves believes in making positive contributions. She was a 
founding member of the National Puerto Rican Forum, ASPIRA, and the NYC 
Urban Coalition. Josephine also has served on the board of the Henry 
Street Settlement, Greater New York Fund, National Congress of 
Neighborhood Women, and Museo del Barrio.
  An engaging, articulate, bilingual spokesperson for the social work 
profession, she resides in Silver Spring, MD, and New York City. Her 
successes to date are a prolog to her future successes at NASW. I am 
pleased to introduce her to my House colleagues.

                          ____________________