[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           20TH ANNIVERSARY OF LATINO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to recognize the 
20th anniversary of Latino Youth Development [LYD], Inc., on Friday, 
November 21, 1997. That evening, LYD is celebrating this milestone with 
a special dinner in New Haven, CN.
  LYD began in 1977 as a small youth program called Puerto Rican Youth 
Services. Now, 20 years later, LYD is widely considered the premier 
organization serving Latino youth in the city of New Haven.
  Latino Youth Development, Inc. plays a unique role in the New Haven 
community by reaching out to and serving as a support system for Latino 
youth and their families. LYD provides educational, social, cultural, 
and recreational programs to the Latino community in New Haven.
  I come from a family of immigrants. I am a first generation Italian 
on my father's side and a second generation Italian on my mother's 
side. So, I have some personal experience with the challenges 
immigrants face in this country. The barriers of language and the 
prejudices of some members of the community can be discouraging to 
someone just trying to find a way to raise a family and make ends meet. 
I wholeheartedly support efforts to assist and support working 
families, and I find the efforts of LYD to provide educational and 
employment opportunities to the Latino community particularly 
commendable.
  I would also like to personally commend the four individuals being 
honored at the LYD dinner: Andrea Jackson-Brooks, a longtime member and 
personal friend; Dennis Hart, director of the organization for 7 years; 
Judith Baldwin, who has been instrumental in assisting the agency in 
adult programming; and Alderman Jorge Perez, who represents the Hill 
area of New Haven where LYD is located.
  I share LYD's goal of seeing Latino members of our community prosper 
and become productive citizens of our community, able to assist others 
in positive development. I congratulate LYD on its 20th anniversary and 
I wish its members the best of luck in all their future endeavors.

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