[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E70]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           TRIBUTE TO THE NEWARK COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

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                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 1998

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, a special event will take place on February 
13 in my district. It is the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 
Newark Community School of the Arts. Whenever I think of visionaries, 
the Newark Community School of the Arts and its founders come to mind. 
Today's Newark, New Jersey, the renaissance city, was very different 
thirty years ago. Newark in 1968 was feeling the scars of the 1967 acts 
of civil disobedience and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who 
had visited the city days before his assassination on April 4, 1968. 
Amongst all the turmoil and disappointments, the Newark Community 
School of the Arts was born. Its founders, Stella Lass and Saunders 
Davis, exhibited their faith and vision in a great city and its people, 
especially its children.
  They took a beautiful brownstone building that had been neglected for 
some time at the outskirts of downtown Newark and renovated it, in 
terms of its physical appearance and what it meant to the community. 
The building became a renovations anchor for the area. It became a hub 
of activity on Saturdays when children from all over the city would 
come to learn about the arts. It was not unusual to see children leave 
their sometimes substandard homes and take a bus to spend a few hours 
learning to play the violin and interacting with others, who shared 
similar and different backgrounds, on a new peer-to-peer basis. This 
building on Lincoln Park became a safe haven for spirits, ideas and 
culture. I am happy to report that it still serves that purpose. I'm 
sure you can imagine the trials and tribulations that had to be faced 
to take this vision--this ``farfetched idea''--from the drawing board 
through to completion and beyond. What may have seemed as a herculean 
task was actually a labor of love for many individuals and 
corporations.
  Four individuals are being honored on February 13. The co-founders, 
the late Stella Lass and Mr. Saunders Davis; Mr. Louis Prezeau, 
President, City National Bank; and Ms. Cynthia Moore, Northeast 
Regional Manager, Corporate Affairs, Anheuser-Busch Corp. are being 
recognized for their roles in helping to shape the lives of a city and 
its children. I am fortunate to have worked with each of these fine 
individuals. Each is a leader in their own industries and communities. 
Today, when Newark is experiencing such a renaissance, especially with 
the recent opening of the magnificent New Jersey Performing Arts 
Center, the visions of people like those being honored are true 
testament to how faith and hard work for people and communities can be 
manifested.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me as I extend 
my best wishes and thanks to the Newark Community School of the Arts on 
its 30th anniversary celebration and its honorees.

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