[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MAMA PAT PATRICK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2001

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay special tribute to 
a woman who has exhibited extraordinary efforts in uniting the Santa 
Barbara community through music.
  On November 10, 2001, the Beacon of Light Foundation honored Mama Pat 
for her 21 years of community service. Mama Pat founded the Inner Light 
Community Gospel Choir in 1980 with the goal of introducing African-
American gospel music to the Santa Barbara community. Citizens from all 
walks of life and backgrounds demonstrated a willingness and desire to 
sing gospel music. The choir is nondenominational and interracial, and 
has done wonders for bringing diverse cultures together. The choir has 
been a wonderful way of uniting multiple ethnicities and sharing 
musical traditions among cultures.
  Mama Pat is also a member of the international organization, the 
Gospel Music Workshop of America, which was founded by the Reverend 
James Cleveland. She was responsible for introducing the Inner Light 
Community Gospel Choir to this organization. Since its induction, the 
Inner Light Community Gospel Choir has performed throughout the United 
States and Scotland.
  In addition to her musical contributions to the community, Mama Pat 
has also been instrumental in educating the community about African-
American history. She worked hard to obtain the Black History Flags 
that fly along State Street in Santa Barbara every February in honor of 
Black History Month.
  Mama Pat is such a wonderful individual who has made such 
extraordinary accomplishments in the Santa Barbara community that it is 
only fitting that we pay tribute to her today.

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