[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         BARBARA VAN BLAKE: A POINT OF LIGHT FOR ALL AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 9, 2003

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to salute Barbara Van Blake who 
retired from the American Federation of Teachers in December 2002, for 
her past service to her country and the community; and for her 
continued activism on behalf of civil rights, women and education. Ms. 
Van Blake is a POINT-OF-LIGHT for all Americans.
  Barbara Van Blake has been employed as director of the Human Rights 
and Community Relations Department of the American Federation of 
Teachers (AFT) since 1975. Her responsibilities include keeping State 
and local affiliates informed of current trends, publications, laws and 
Federal regulations in the area of civil and women's rights. She 
participates as a consultant in the area of civil rights, 
discrimination, women's rights and desegregation activities to 
affiliates. Her duties also include representing AFT in coalitions with 
national organizations, whether they be civil rights, women, political 
or education.
  Ms. Van Blake is a member of the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Life Membership and 
Labor Committee; a member of the boards of directors of Bethune Museum 
and Archives; a member of the Federal Advisory Commission of the Mary 
McLeod Bethune Council House; and life member of the Bethune-Cookman 
College National Alumni Association. She is also vice president of the 
Coalition of Labor Union Women, Chair of the National Black Caucus of 
State Legislators Labor Roundtable, and Treasurer of the Washington, 
D.C. Chapter Bethune Cookman College Alumni Association.
  Ms. Van Blake has served in numerous capacities: former National 
Treasurer of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; former Chair of 
the Ad Hoc Labor Committee of the National Council of Negro Women, 
Inc.; former Secretary of the NAACP Ad Hoc Labor Committee; former 
executive committee member and Vice President of the A. Philip Randolph 
Institute and former member of the board of directors of the National 
Consumers League.
  She is a legacy member of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; 
a Diamond Life member of the NAACP; a member of the Washington, D.C. 
Urban League; and a member of the Omicron Phi Zeta Chapter of 
ZB.
  Prior to her work with AFT, she taught mathematics in junior and 
senior high school for twelve years in Florida, where she was active in 
support of civil rights and labor union organizing. She visited Somalia 
and Sudan on a refugee fact-finding mission for the labor movement in 
1982, and was an official international observer of the South African 
elections. She has done Trade Union leadership training in Benin and 
Cote D'Ivoire Africa, and Barbados, West Indies. She was also a 
delegate to the International Confederation of Free Trade Union Women's 
Conference in Hague, Netherlands.
  Ms. Van Blake has received numerous awards including the NAACP 
Women's Labor Award, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference 
(SCLC) Fannie Neal Award, the A. Philip Randolph Institute Rosina 
Tucker Award, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist Women's Addie Wyatt 
Award, and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Nation 
Builders Award.
  A graduate of Bethune-Cookman College, Ms. Van Blake holds a Bachelor 
of Science degree in mathematics and chemistry.
  Ms. Van Blake is the proud mother of one daughter and one 
granddaughter. She is also a member of the Corinthian Baptist Church in 
Washington, D.C.
  In recognition of her dedicated leadership and tireless service to 
our youth, I am honored to recognize Ms. Barbara Van Blake as an 
outstanding POINT-OF-LIGHT for all Americans.

                          ____________________