[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 73 (Thursday, May 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E967-E968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E967]]


       HONORING DOMINICAN WOMEN MAKING AN IMPACT IN NYC POLITICS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2003

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my colleagues, I rise to 
share an important article which originally appeared in the Dominican-
American publication, Quisqueya Life, on April 1, 2003.
  Translated into English by the Independent Press Association of New 
York, this article details achievements of four women of Dominican 
heritage that have risen to become instrumental players in the usually 
male-dominated world of New York City politics. They are role models 
for boys and girls of all racial and ethnic groups, young leaders that 
are dedicated to making the government live up to its highest ideals.
  They are just some of the many Dominicans who are making a positive 
difference in the lives of Americans in New York and across the nation.

              [From Quisqueya Life Magazine, Apr. 1, 2003]

                 Women With Political Power in New York

                          (By Nathalie Jerez)

       ``Educate a man and you educate one person. Educate a woman 
     and you educate a whole family,'' said Ruby Manikan.
       New York State was one of the epicenters of the Women's 
     Suffrage movement in North America. It took more than a 
     century of struggle for the women of this nation to gain 
     access to the voting booths and participate equally in the 
     election of public representatives.
       This struggle for equal rights is the foundation of a 
     generation of women who now exercise rights prohibited to 
     their ancestors.
       The same state that until 1915 did not permit women to 
     vote, today counts among some of its most important political 
     figures four women of Dominican origin who have overcome 
     discrimination not only against their gender but against 
     their race as well.


     Lourdes Ventura, Assistant District Attorney in Corona, Queens

       Lourdes Ventura's story is an example of what courage, 
     commitment, and determination can do for a person. As a 
     grade-school student, Ventura was told that she would never 
     go very far in life because she was the daughter of Dominican 
     immigrants, her family was dependent on public assistance, 
     and because she was a woman.
       Today, those who tried to discourage Lourdes should know 
     that this Latina is the Assistant District Attorney in 
     Queens. Among her many accomplishments in this office she 
     investigated cases of discrimination in areas like housing, 
     credit, labor, education, and public services.
       Lourdes has also served as the president of the Association 
     for Latin-American Law Students and recently traveled to 
     South Africa with the Center for Legal Resources to do 
     community-based work.
       In 1998 she returned to Queens from the University of 
     Buffalo to start her career as a lawyer. She proved herself 
     by gaining the position of Assistant District Attorney, the 
     first Dominican woman to ever hold the job. Since her return 
     to Queens, she remained active in community work, something 
     she promised herself as a student that she would always do. 
     Lourdes uses a quote from writer Maya Angelou as her personal 
     motto: ``Even though you try to drag me down, like the wind, 
     I will rise.'' The secret to her success, she says, has been 
     to maintain focus, work hard and, above all, to be proud of 
     her origins.
       ``I never forgot my roots. The history of my people is what 
     makes me special. I think the power to dream, to grow, and to 
     make progress is what takes us where we want to go,'' Lourdes 
     said.


               Lark-Marie Anton, Mayor's Press Secretary

       This is a woman who has made good use of her education and 
     grabs the bull by the horns. Lark-Marie is responsible for 
     supervising all press and publicity functions for various New 
     York City agencies and offices, among them the New York City 
     Housing Authority, the NYC Commission for the United Nations, 
     Consular Corps and Protocol, the Department of Records and 
     Information, the Commission on Women's Issues, the Office to 
     Combat Domestic Violence, the Art Commission, and the Office 
     of Veterans' Affairs, to name a few. She is also the voice of 
     the Mayor.
       Of Dominican and Lebanese heritage, Lark-Marie is just 25 
     years old. She was born and raised in New York, and graduated 
     from Marist College with degrees in Communications and Public 
     Relations and Psychology. She later earned a Master's Degree 
     in Communication Studies from the University of West 
     Virginia.
       After returning to New York with her degrees, Anton worked 
     as a producer on projects such as the 2001 MTV Movie Awards 
     and TV Funhouse on Comedy Central. These experiences gained 
     her an internship as a reporter for WNBC and a job as Polling 
     Supervisor for the Marist Poll Institute.
       Lark-Marie is a firm believer in the power of education and 
     has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Marist College and 
     as assistant professor at the University of West Virginia.


                           Alexandra Ventura

       Born and raised in Queens and of Dominican heritage, 
     Alexandra Ventura is the director of the New York State 
     Citizenship Unit [which helps people through the 
     naturalization process]. Through dedicated service, Alexandra 
     built a bridge between the Dominican community and the 
     Governor by bringing the needs of Dominican and other 
     immigrants to the state's attention.
       Before the creation of the Citizenship Unit, Alexandra had 
     worked side by side with Governor Pataki as Assistant Advisor 
     on Special Projects and Protocol since 1997. Alexandra 
     achieved a great deal for the Latino community by fighting 
     for better conditions and developing programs to benefit 
     Latinos in New York. Through her position, Alexandra launched 
     interesting campaigns and oversaw the integration of the 
     state government and the needs of Dominican immigrants. In 
     1998, she helped Mayor Giuliani organize aid for the 
     Dominican Republic after Hurricane George.
       Alexandra graduated from Syracuse University with two 
     Master's Degrees, one in Political Science and another in 
     Public Administration. In 2002, the Dominican-American 
     National Round Table, for which she served as Assistant 
     Secretary, elected her to its Board of Directors. Alexandra 
     is also a member of various organizations such as 100 
     Hispanic Women and the American Society for Public 
     Administration.


              Diana Reyna, District 34 City Councilmember

       Diana Reyna represents Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Bedford-
     Stuyvesant, Brooklyn in the City Council. She has led a 
     distinguished career in public service fighting for community 
     issues.
       Since 1997 until her swearing-in as Councilmember in 2001, 
     Diana worked as the head of personnel for Assemblyman Vito J. 
     Lopez. Before this she was a legislative aide.
       As a Councilmember, Diana has been active and constant in 
     the community that she represents. For example, in answer to 
     the need for bank services in the Bushwick area, she helped 
     found a federal credit union and serves on its board of 
     directors. The credit union provides the community with 
     services that before were absent.
       Councilmember Reyna has also organized community 
     activities. Now she is the coordinator of United Brooklyn and 
     the ``South Side Task Force,'' Latino groups who offer a 
     community forum for residents to express their opinions. She 
     is also the facilitator of the North Brooklyn Public Housing 
     Coalition and the Fathers of Bushwick, two other 
     organizations that help residents get involved in the 
     decision making process.
       Diana is a graduate of Pace University in Pleasantville, 
     New York. She was born in Brooklyn and is the daughter of two 
     Dominican immigrants who came to New York in the early 1960s.

              Las Mujeres Con Poder Politico En Nueva York

       ``Si educas a un hombre estas educando a una persona, pero 
     si educas a una mujer, estas educando a una familia.'' Ruby 
     Manikan
       El Estado de Nueva York fue un lugar clave durante el 
     surgimiento de los movimientos que exigian el derecho a votar 
     de las mujeres en Norteamerica. Mas de un siglo les tomo a 
     las mujeres de esta nacion llegar hasta las urnas y 
     participar, al igual que los hombres, en la eleccion de sus 
     representantes.
       Esa lucha por alcanzar la igualdad de derechos es la base 
     de una generacion de mujeres que ejerce labores antes 
     prohibidas para ellas.
       El mismo estado de Nueva York que hasta el ano 1915 no 
     permitia al sexo femenino tomar decisiones politicas, hoy 
     tiene entre sus ciudadanas mas influyentes en la politica a 
     cuatro mujeres de origen dominicano, que han roto la doble 
     barrera de la discriminacion, por su raza y por su sexo.


             Lourdes Ventura, Una fiscal en Corona, Queens

       La historia de Lourdes Ventura es un ejemplo de lo que el 
     coraje, el compromiso y la determinacion pueden hacer de una 
     persona. Cuando era estudiante de las escuelas primaria y 
     secundaria, Ventura encontro gente que le advirtio que nunca 
     llegaria a ninguna parte porque era hija de inmigrantes

[[Page E968]]

     dominicanos, porque era una mujer y porque su familia 
     dependia de la ayuda publica.
       Hoy aquellos que insistian en poner trabas a las 
     pretensiones de Lourdes deben estar enterados que esa latina 
     es Asistente del Fiscal General. Entre sus actividades como 
     fiscal ha hecho, precisamente, la labor de investigar casos 
     de discriminacion en viviendas, credito, empleos, educacion y 
     lugares de acceso publico.
       Lourdes ha sido Presidente de la Asociacion Latinoamericana 
     de Estudiantes de Leyes y estuvo en Africa de Sur, trabajando 
     con temas de la comunidad a traves del Centro de Recursos 
     Legales.
       En 1998 volvio de la Universidad de Buffalo a Queens para 
     iniciar su carrera de abogada desempenandose como Asistente 
     del Fiscal de Distrito, en ese momento era la unica 
     descendiente de dominicanos ocupando esa posicion. Desde que 
     regreso a Queens se ha mantenido activa en los trabajos 
     comunitarios, algo que se prometio a si misma hacer, cuando 
     aun era estudiante. Lourdes ha hecho suya la frase de la 
     escritora Maya Angelorous, ``Aunque trates de arrastrarme en 
     la tierra, como el viento, yo subire''. El secreto de sus 
     logros, senala, ha sido el mantenerse enfocada, trabajar 
     duro, pero sobre todo, no sentirse avergonzada de sus 
     origenes.
       ``No olvido mis raices. La historia de mi gente es lo que 
     me hace especial. Creo que el poder de sonar, de 
     desarrollarse, de progresar es lo que nos hace llegar a donde 
     queremos.''


Lark-Marie Anton, Secretaria de Prensa del Alcalde Michael R. Bloomberg

       Esta es una mujer que ha impuesto su conocimiento y se 
     mantiene con ``la sarten por el mango''. Lark-Marie es 
     responsable de supervisar las actividades de prensa y 
     publicidad de varias agencias y oficinas de la ciudad de 
     Nueva York. Entre ellas, la Autoridad de Viviendas, Comision 
     de la Ciudad para las Naciones Unidas, Cuerpo Consular y 
     Protocolo, Departamento de Record e informacion, Comision 
     sobre asuntos de la mujer, Oficina para combatir la violencia 
     domestica, Comision de Arte, y la oficina de asuntos de los 
     veteranos, solo para nombrar algunas. Ademas es la portavoz y 
     el contacto del alcalde Bloomberg.
       Con una herencia dominicana y libanesa, esta joven mujer, 
     de apenas 25 anos, nacio y crecio en Nueva York. Se graduo en 
     el Marist College en Comunicacion y Relaciones Publicas, 
     ademas de psicologia. Luego, estuvo en la universidad de West 
     Virginia en la que obtuvo una maestria en Estudios de 
     Comunicacion.
       Al llegar a Nueva York con los titulos obtenidos, Anton 
     trabajo como productora en proyectos como 2001 MTV Movie 
     Awards y TV Funhouse en el canal Comedy Central. Su 
     experiencia abarca un internado como reportera de WNBC, canal 
     4 y como Supervisora de Encuestas del Instituto Marist Poll.
       Lark-Marie es una fiel creyente del poder de la educacion y 
     ha participado como instructora adjunta en el Marist College 
     y como asistente de profesor en la Unversidad de West 
     Virginia.


                           Alexandra Ventura

       Nacida y criada en Queens, de raices dominicanas, Alexandra 
     Ventura es la Directora de la Unidad de Ciudadania del Estado 
     de Nueva York. Ventura con su dedicacion ha logrado crear un 
     puente entre la comunidad dominicana y el gobernador George 
     Pataki, llevandole a este, las inquietudes y necesidades de 
     los inmigrantes dominicanos, y por supuesto de otras 
     nacionalidades.
       La directora de esta unidad, creada por Pataki en ano 2001, 
     trabaja al lado del gobernador desde el ano 1997 con las 
     labores como Asistente Especial de Proyectos Especiales y 
     Protocolo. La senora Ventura ha desempanado funciones de gran 
     importancia para la comunidad hispana, abogando por mejores 
     condiciones, y desarrollando programas en beneficio de los 
     hispanos de Nueva York. Desde su posicion Alexandra ha 
     desarrollado interesantes campanas y ha permitido la 
     integracion del gobierno estatal en asuntos relevantes para 
     los inmigrantes dominicanos. En el ano 98, debio asumir la 
     tarea de asistir al alcalde Guiliani en los trabajos de ayuda 
     a la Republica Dominicana tras el paso del huracan Georges. 
     Graduada en Syrcuse University, con una maestria en Estudios 
     Politicos y otra en Administracion Publica, en el ano 2002 la 
     Mesa Redonda Dominico-americana la designo como miembro del 
     Consejo Directivo y presto servicio como Secretaria Asistente 
     del mismo. Ademas la Ventura es miembro de varias 
     organizaciones como ``100 Hispanic Women and the American 
     Society for Public Administration.


     Diana Reyna, Concejal de la Ciudad de Nueva York, distrito 34

       Diana Reyna, representa a Williamsburg, Bushwick y Bedford-
     Stuvesant en el Consejo de la Ciudad. Ha desarrollado una 
     carrera distinguida por el servicio publico, destacandose 
     como parte del personal de La Asamblea Estatal, abogando por 
     los asuntos de la comunidad.
       Desde 1997 hasta su juramentacion como Concejal en el ano 
     2001, Reyna trabajo como jefa de personal del asambleista 
     Vito J. Lopez, antes de esta designacion, fue ayudante 
     legislativa.
       Su trabajo como concejal ha sido activo y constante en la 
     comunidad a la que representa. Como ejemplo podemos citar 
     que, en respuesta a la necesidad de servicios bancarios en la 
     comunidad de Bushwick, coopero en la fundacion de una union 
     federal cooperativa, en la que fungio como miembro del 
     consejo directivo. La cooperativa provee a la comunidad donde 
     opera servicios que antes estaban ausentes.
       La concejal Reyna tambien ha realizado actividades 
     comunitarias. Actualmente es la coordinadora de Brooklyn 
     Unidos y ``South Side Task Force'', agrupaciones latinas que 
     proporcionan a los residentes locales un foro para expresar 
     sus intereses sobre los temas de sus vecindarios. Ella es 
     tambien la facilitadora de la Coalicion de Viviendas Publicas 
     del Norte de Brooklyn y de la Coalicion de Padres de 
     Bushwick, otras dos organizaciones que ayudan a los 
     residentes a envolverse en los procesos de toma de 
     decisiones.
       Reyna es graduada de la Pace University de Pleasantville, 
     Nueva York, nacio en Brooklyn y es hija de dos inmigrantes 
     dominicanos que llegaron a Nueva York a principios de los 
     anos 60.

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