[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   A TRIBUTE TO JASMINE EDWARDS, ESQ.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 17, 2004

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Jasmine Edwards in 
recognition of her commitment to serving families in need of 
assistance.
  Born to Guyanese immigrants, Jasmine is a member of the first 
generation in her family to be born in the United States of America. 
Her mother emigrated to the U.S. as a registered nurse and later became 
a New York City school teacher. Her father, a former probation officer 
supervisor emigrated to the U.S. to attend the University of 
Connecticut. She recently became the seventh member in her family to 
become an attorney.
  Jasmine is admitted to practice law in New York State and the United 
States District Courts. She is a member of the Association of Black 
Women Attorneys, Brooklyn Bar Association and the New York State Bar 
Association. She is also a licensed real estate broker and an 
instructor at the New York Paralegal School. Her law firm of Edwards & 
Greenidge is based in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Jasmine and her 
partner, both Guyanese-Americans, are committed to serving those in the 
community who desperately need legal advice.
  After graduating from Temple University, she worked as a social 
worker. Jasmine provided services to families that had been accused of 
child abuse and/or neglect. Her goal was to assist parents in 
implementing alternative parenting skills. During her tenure at CUNY 
School of Law, Jasmine accepted an internship at the prestigious 
Federal Defenders Association of Philadelphia in the Habeas Corpus 
Unit. The objective of the Habeas Corpus Unit was to convince the 
appellate courts that certain convicted criminals should not be 
executed. While working as a researcher that summer, Jasmine discovered 
that over 80 percent of the persons on death row shared the same 
painful experiences when they were younger as those abused and 
neglected children, who were part of families that she once counseled 
as a social worker.
  These experiences coupled with her desire to assist others inspired 
her to establish a law office in a neighborhood where many people are 
underserved. Jasmine's goal is to provide outstanding legal 
representation that is proactive as well as reactive.
  Mr. Speaker, Jasmine Edwards has dedicated her life to helping those 
in need, as a social worker for abused and neglected children and now 
as an attorney for the underserved residents of Brooklyn. As such, she 
is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

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