[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 137 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING LILIA PULIDO ALVARADO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 11, 2001

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lilia Pulido 
Alvarado. Mrs. Alvarado is being honored by the International Institute 
of Flint at their annual dinner on October 13th. She will be given 
their Golden Door award.
  The International Institute pays tribute each year to an outstanding 
immigrant who has made a significant impact on the greater Flint 
community. It is the highest award the Institute presents. The 
recipient has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving the 
quality of life for newly arrived immigrants.
  This year's recipient, Lilia Pulido Alvarado is a stellar example of 
this commitment. She has fought her entire life for immigrants. She 
immigrated to the United States from Mexico at the age of twelve with 
her parents and four siblings. Her father had been the Chief of Police 
in Zacatecas before an accident cut short his career. Lilia's mother 
worked as a midwife to support the family before the family moved to 
Michigan.
  As a result of her father's accident and the move to a new country 
the family had a drastic change in their lifestyle. In Mexico the 
family lived in an 18-room house with servants, and an active social 
life. In Michigan the family lived in a shanty, sleeping on straw 
mattresses, cooking over a wood stove and had outdoor toilet 
facilities. Lilia did not know how to speak English and this created 
difficulties for her in school. The first day of school Lilia threw a 
book at the teacher and was expelled. The teacher had wanted her to 
read in English. Later in life this incident caused Lilia to fight 
passionately for schools to understand and incorporate the language and 
culture of the immigrant when teaching the student.
  Fortunately, Lilia went on to complete her schooling, eventually 
earning an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, a master's degree 
and a substance abuse counselor license. During this time she married, 
and raised four children. She paid for her education by picking apples. 
She has worked as the district director of the Michigan State 
University research project, ``Migrants in Transition;'' as a bilingual 
counselor for Model Cities, a counselor for battered women at the YWCA 
of Greater Flint, a teacher with the Flint Community Schools and the 
International Institute and as an insurance specialist for Blue Cross/
Blue Shield. Her advocacy stretches beyond Flint to include the 
indigenous people of Mexico.
  The community has recognized Lilia's contributions over the years. 
She has received awards from the United States Postal Service, United 
Way of Genesee County, La Raza Advisory Council to the Michigan State 
Board of Education, the YWCA, and she was cited in Rodolfo Acuna's book 
``Occupied America, A History of Chicanos.``
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
congratulating Lilia Pulido Alvarado as she receives the Golden Door 
award from the International Institute of Flint. Lilia has worked 
tirelessly to help make a better world for all.

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