[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF SISTER ROSA ALVAREZ

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Sister 
Rosa Alvarez for her commitment to social service for Delaware's 
immigrants. She has dedicated her life to opening doors to families 
that otherwise might have been closed by language and cultural 
barriers. In doing so, she has become a lifeline for Georgetown's 
Hispanic community.
  In the last decade, Latino immigrants have flooded Georgetown, 
transforming the ethnic and cultural backdrop of southern Delaware. 
Sister Rosa has helped the community overcome language barriers so that 
they can start healthy families and lead productive lives.
  Sister Rosa has been present for hundreds of area births. Known as 
``la abuelita,'' or ``little grandmother,'' Sister offers help to 
Georgetown's mothers and children, particularly those mothers who are 
children themselves. Placing heavy emphasis on prenatal care, she helps 
young mothers make doctors appointments and provides transportation if 
necessary, to make sure they get to them. She successfully campaigned 
for vitamins for the community's pregnant mothers, and actively mentors 
parents who need assistance.
  Sister Rosa works with La Esperanza, a community center for Sussex 
County's Latino population doing fantastic work in its own right, to 
provide social services for thousands of immigrants faced with 
inaccessible healthcare, domestic violence, reduced education and legal 
complications.
  Working alongside Mark Lally and Marjorie Biles in my Georgetown 
office, Sister Rosa helps the downstate Hispanic community navigate the 
maze of paperwork often required to get work visas, Medicaid benefits 
and housing. She helps Spanish-speaking immigrants fill out English 
language forms and devotes time every week to helping families 
translate and pay their bills.
  At some point, all of us need to look back and take stock of where we 
have been and where we are going. Have we lived our lives in the 
service to others, or merely for ourselves? At the end of the day, can 
we say with confidence that we did our best and worked to our fullest 
potential?
  I had the pleasure of meeting Sister Rosa at La Red, a Hispanic 
health center in Sussex County, DE, earlier this year. I was struck by 
her boundless energy and kind heart. She offers people hope. Her 
dedication intensifies the work of others, and pushes us to take an 
introspective look at the purpose of our own lives.
  Mahatma Ghandi, one of Sister's idols, said in the 1920s, ``If we are 
to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with the 
children.'' Today his sentiments are seen in her actions.
  At a time when the face of our Nation is in constant flux and the 
call to service rings louder than ever, it is individuals like Sister 
Rosa who leave me feeling hopeful about our country's future. It is she 
who brought many in the community to my office for assistance, she who 
is empowering community leaders, she who is making a difference with 
her infectious smile.
  I rise today to honor and thank Sister Rosa for her selfless 
dedication to the betterment of others. She is a remarkable woman and a 
testament to the community she represents.

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