[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO ANITA ARRIETA-ALEJANDRE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of pride that I 
honor Mrs. Anita Arrieta-Alejandre for helping the Spanish speaking 
community of Denver, Colorado. She has dedicated herself to preserving 
and enriching the lives of the people in her community every day.
   Anita is a Colorado native who grew up on a farm in Southern 
Colorado where she worked in the fields with her family. She was 
determined to graduate from high school with Honors, and she did--
through all four years. After graduating from high school, Anita joined 
the Navy. Now, she is a mother of eight and a grandmother of twelve. 
Her Mexican heritage is a great source of pride for her. For that 
reason, Anita has dedicated her life to serving her community, and 
sharing its rich cultural traditions with others.
   Mrs. Arrieta-Alejandre is dedicated to helping the Spanish-speaking 
population of Denver assimilate while preserving their important 
cultural heritage. She believes that it is important for people to 
assimilate into society, but without losing their cultural identity. By 
working with individual families she is able to help them in applying 
for jobs, obtaining drivers licenses, enrolling their children in 
school, and countless other tasks that are simply impossible without an 
understanding of English. Over the past twenty years, she has 
volunteered and worked with more than twenty different organizations 
that serve the Hispanic community of Colorado. Anita currently owns a 
Mexican western store, promotes her husband's mariachi band, and 
directs children's theater for her nonprofit organization Teatro Latino 
de Colorado.
   Mr. Speaker, it is with great privilege that I recognize Anita 
Arrieta-Alejandre before this body Congress and this nation today. Her 
strong and compassionate actions have helped her community and given 
people an opportunity to create a life for themselves.

                          ____________________