[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 147 (Monday, October 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JAMES W. HEAD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 20, 2003

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James W. Head on the 
occasion of his retirement as President of the National Economic 
Development & Law Center (NEDLC). James has provided creative 
leadership and inspired vision for seventeen years. He leaves behind an 
organization that is nationally recognized for its success in creating 
strategies to address the economic and social conditions of low income 
and communities of color.
  James is a pioneer in the community economic development (CED) 
movement. Along with being NEDLC's longest serving President, he served 
on the Board of Directors of the National Congress for Community 
Economic Development and led the formation and served on the Board of 
Directors of the California Community Economic Development Association, 
it's California statewide affiliate. During his tenure, the CED 
movement grew to encompass over 3,000 organizations.
  Additionally, Mr. Head was instrumental in the expansion of the 
number of federally-funded legal services programs that provide CED 
representation and the formation and support of CED pro bono legal 
services within the private bar. He has also trained hundreds of law 
students in CED, and led the formation of numerous law school CED 
clinics and courses.
  Within his field, James is a national leader in developing new 
strategies for securing jobs for disadvantaged persons. He promoted the 
sector concept, which links low-income and communities of color with 
regional labor markets. Under his leadership, the National Network of 
Sector Partners, an association of over 150 sector practitioners, was 
founded. Sector initiatives are being used by public agencies, 
community groups and Workforce Investment Boards across the county. As 
well, James is recognized for his work in developing new tools for 
investment in low-income communities. He played a key role in the 
creation of the Community Capital Investment Initiative, a model 
program that will result in the investment of millions of dollars in 
the San Francisco Bay Area's poorest communities.
  Lastly, I would like to applaud Mr. Head for his efforts to promote 
the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 as a tool for bringing new 
financial resources to impoverished communities. James chaired the 
Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board, promoting 
community banking and helping leaders understand the potential market 
in low-income areas. He served on the Board of Directors of the 
California Reinvestment Committee, a statewide advocacy organization 
that holds financial institutions accountable for meeting the banking 
needs of low-income communities.
  On behalf of the 9th Congressional District of California, I take 
great pride in joining his friends and colleagues to salute an 
extraordinary leader, James W. Head.

                          ____________________