[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E999-E1000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DECLARING MAY 22, 1997, BILINGUAL FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 1997

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bilingual 
Foundation of the Arts [BFA] on the occasion of its 17th annual El 
Angel Awards ceremony, which will honor the outstanding artistic 
contributions of women, and to declare May 22, 1997, Bilingual 
Foundation of the Arts Day in my California's 34th Congressional 
District.
  This year marks BFA's 24th season of bringing Latino world drama to 
both English- and Spanish-speaking audiences. Each year, more than 
300,000 children and adults experience the richness and diversity of 
Latino culture through the presentation of plays in southern California 
schools and at BFA's Lincoln Heights Theater.
  BFA's mission has been to bring communities together through the 
presentation of plays from the diverse Latino cultural and theatrical 
tradition. Classical and contemporary plays are presented in both 
English and Spanish, alternating weekly. Founded by my good friend and 
internationally recognized Mexican-

[[Page E1000]]

American actress and producer, Carmen Zapata, along with Cuban-born 
actress and director, Margarita Galban, and Argentinean designer, 
Estela Scarlata, BFA has grown from a small, itinerant bilingual 
theater to a permanent cultural institution that utilizes the arts as a 
tool for exploration and understanding of the Latino community.
  On the evening of May 22, 1997, Chairman Jesus Rangel, joined by 
Cochairs Enrique ``Henry'' Baray, Douglas M. West, and Latin Heat's Bel 
Hernandez and Loyda Ramos, will join BFA's supporters in honoring the 
outstanding contributions of women at the 17th annual El Angel Awards 
ceremony. Receiving the El Angel Corporate Award will be the Coca Cola 
Co. and Kraft General Foods, for their support of Latino arts. Muralist 
Judy Baca and actress/comedianne Liz Torres will receive the El Angel 
Artist Award, for their outstanding and innovative contributions to the 
arts.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts for its 
unyielding commitment to promoting the arts in the Latino community, 
and to join me in congratulating 1997's El Angel Award recipients. I 
proudly, in recognition of BFA's contributions to our community for 
nearly a quarter of a century, declare May 22, 1997, to be Bilingual 
Foundation of the Arts Day in my congressional district.

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