[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 19 (Monday, February 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE SABATHANI COMMUNITY CENTER OF MINNEAPOLIS, MN, IN 
                   CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

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                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 12, 2001

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the history and heritage of 
African-Americans this month, I wish to take the opportunity to 
recognize a very special organization in Minneapolis, MN, which has 
provided invaluable services to the African-American community for over 
three decades: Sabathani Community Center.
  Founded in 1966, Sabathani Community Center is one of many grassroots 
organizations that sprang up in communities across the country in the 
wake of President Lyndon Baines Johnson's ``Great Society'' initiative. 
Focusing first on providing recreational opportunities to African-
American youth at the old Minneapolis Bryand Junior High School on 38th 
Street and 3rd Avenue South, Sabathani's founders soon expanded their 
``basic needs'' mission to address a number of other social and 
community needs.
  At the time Sabathani was created, I was a member of the minority DFL 
caucus in the Minnesota House of Representatives. It was an era of 
great expansion of rights and opportunities for people of color, women, 
and working-class Americans throughout our Nation. Since the 1960's, 
much has changed in the south Minneapolis neighborhoods Sabathani 
serves. The center was one of dozens of grassroots organizations 
founded then. Today, few of these have survived, but Sabathani is 
thriving because it has grown and changed with the community and its 
needs.
  Sabathani continues to flourish as the ``heart'' of a community. The 
center provides a fine service model where good intentions, sound 
administration, positive government involvement, and solid community 
support intersect to provide the opportunities that hundreds of 
people--of every race, gender, and nationality--need to improve their 
lives. In fact, several programs and services Sabathani provides have 
been credited as many people's ``lifeblood.''
  Sabathani Community Center has evolved into a meeting place for 
``one-stop-shopping''--providing beneficial programs and services in 
one central location. Sabathani sponsors 10 programs of its own to 
serve the diverse needs of the community, ranging from life skills 
classes to senior independent living programs to community involvement 
initiatives. In addition, 40 community agencies and organizations 
collaborate with Sabathani and conduct their operations in its 
historic, red brick school building. The center has also received 
financial support from over 100 foundations, corporations, businesses 
and other organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate African-American History Month, I salute 
the Sabathani Community Center.
  For 34 years, it has served proudly and well to the benefit of the 
African-American community and the city of Minneapolis as a whole. I 
also salute all of the dedicated staff and volunteers at Sabathani 
whose time, energy, and support have kept the center responsive to the 
changing needs of its surrounding neighborhoods. To name only a few 
such dedicated people who have worked for years to build Sabathani 
Community Center and the surrounding neighborhood, I wish to recognize 
Sabathani's Executive Director, Jim Cook; its Family Resources 
Director, Clarissa Walker; and Dorothy Woolfork, a Sabathani 
neighborhood civil rights activist. They deserve great thanks. They 
have contributed to the unqualified success of Sabathani Community 
Center as a gathering place where unmet needs are addressed and social 
change is encouraged.

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