[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 1, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3544-H3547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING AND SALUTING FOCUS: HOPE ON ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 295) congratulating
and
[[Page H3545]]
saluting Focus: HOPE on the occasion of its 35th anniversary and for
its remarkable commitment and contributions to Detroit, the State of
Michigan, and the United States.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 295
Whereas Focus: HOPE began as a civil and human rights
organization in 1968 in the wake of the devastating Detroit
riots, and was co-founded by the late Father William T.
Cunningham, a Roman Catholic priest, and Eleanor M. Josaitis,
a suburban housewife, who were inspired to establish Focus:
HOPE by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.;
Whereas Focus: HOPE is committed to bringing together
people of all races, faiths, and economic backgrounds to
overcome injustice and build racial harmony, and it has grown
to one of the largest nonprofit organizations in Michigan;
Whereas the Focus: HOPE mission statement states:
``Recognizing the dignity and beauty of every person, we
pledge intelligent and practical action to overcome racism,
poverty and injustice. And to build a metropolitan community
where all people may live in freedom, harmony, trust and
affection. Black and white, yellow, brown and red from
Detroit and its suburbs of every economic status, national
origin and religious persuasion we join in this covenant.'';
Whereas one of Focus: HOPE's early efforts was to support
African-American and female employees in a seminal class
action suit against AAA, resulting in one of the finest
affirmative action commitments made by any corporation up to
that time;
Whereas Focus: HOPE helped to conceive of and develop the
Department of Agriculture's Commodity Supplemental Food
Program which has been replicated in 32 states, and through
this program Focus: HOPE helps to feed 43,000 people per
month throughout Southeast Michigan;
Whereas Focus: HOPE has revitalized several city blocks in
central Detroit by redeveloping obsolete industrial
buildings, beautifying and landscaping Oakman Boulevard,
creating pocket parks, and rehabilitating homes in the
surrounding areas;
Whereas Focus: HOPE's Machinist Training Institute has been
training individuals from Detroit and beyond for careers in
advanced manufacturing and precision machining since 1981,
and has sent forth nearly 2,500 certified graduates,
providing an opportunity for primarily under-represented
minority youth, women, and others to gain access to the
financial mainstream and learn in-demand skills;
Whereas Focus: HOPE, with assistance from Michigan, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other
generous private and public partners, has within the last two
years invested over $10 million to complete the renovation of
the industrial building housing its Machinist Training
Institute;
Whereas Focus: HOPE has recognized that manufacturing and
information technologies are key to the economic growth and
security of Michigan and the United States, and is committed
to designing programs that would contribute to the
participation of under-represented urban individuals in these
critical sectors;
Whereas, in 1982, Focus: HOPE began a for-profit subsidiary
that was initiated for community economic development
purposes and is now designated with Federal HUBZone status;
Whereas Focus: HOPE created two pioneering programs--FAST
TRACK and First Step--designed to help individuals improve
their reading and math competencies by a minimum of two grade
levels in 4-7 weeks;
Whereas these programs have graduated over 7,000
individuals since their inception, a new offsite training
facility in Detroit's Empowerment Zone in southwest Detroit
has been established to reach out to individuals in other
parts of the city, and the success of the programs has
inspired Michigan (in its State-wide FAST BREAK program) and
other States to replicate the efforts of Focus: HOPE;
Whereas, in 1987, Focus: HOPE reclaimed and renovated an
abandoned building and opened it as a Center for Children,
which has now served over 5,000 children of colleagues,
students, and neighbors with quality child care, including
latchkey, early childhood education, and other educational
services;
Whereas Focus: HOPE, through an unprecedented co-operative
agreement between the Departments of Defense, Commerce,
Education, and Labor, established a National demonstration
project--the Center for Advanced Technologies--in which
candidates earn associates and bachelors degrees in either
manufacturing engineering or technology, and engage in hands-
on manufacturing within-real world conditions, producing
parts for DaimlerChrysler, Detroit Diesel, Ford Motor
Company, General Motors Corporation, the Department of
Defense, and others;
Whereas Focus: HOPE has caused over $22 million to be
invested in renovating a previously obsolete building to
house the Center for Advanced Technologies, transforming the
building into a model facility for 21st century advanced
manufacturing, education, and research;
Whereas Focus: HOPE has made outstanding contributions
toward increasing diversity within the traditional homogenous
science, math, engineering, and technology fields, and 95
percent of currently enrolled degree candidates are African-
American, representing perhaps the United States' largest
producer of bachelor-degreed minority graduates in
manufacturing engineering;
Whereas Focus: HOPE's unique research and development
partnership with the Department of Defense has resulted in a
nationally recognized demonstration project, the Mobile Parts
Hospital, whose Rapid Manufacturing System has recently been
deployed to Kuwait in support of the Armed Forces' current
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas Focus: HOPE began a community arts program in 1995,
presenting multicultural arts programming and gallery
exhibitions designed to educate and encourage area residents,
while fostering integration in a culturally diverse
metropolitan community, and over 43,000 people have viewed
sponsored exhibits or participated in this program;
Whereas Focus: HOPE established an Information Technologies
Center in 1999, providing Detroit students with industry-
certified training programs in network administration,
network installation, and desktop and server administration,
and has graduated nearly 475 students to date, and has
initiated, in collaboration with industry and academia, the
design of a new bachelors degree program to educate
information management systems engineers;
Whereas Focus: HOPE's initiatives and programs have been
nationally recognized for excellence and leadership by such
organizations as the Government Accounting Office, the
Department of Labor, the International Standards
Organization, the National Science Foundation, the Cisco
Networking Academy Program, Fortune Magazine, Forbes
Magazine, the Aspen Institute, and many others, and former
Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton have visited
Focus: HOPE's campus;
Whereas Focus: HOPE is currently led by Eleanor M.
Josaitis, its co-founder and chief executive officer, and she
has received honorary degrees from 11 outstanding
universities and colleges, was named one of the 100 Most
Influential Women in 2002 by Crain's Detroit Business, has
been inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame, has
received the Detroit NAACP Presidential Award, the Arab-
American Institute Foundation's Kahlil Gibran Spirit of
Humanity Award, as well as many other awards;
Whereas through the generous partnerships and support of
individuals from all walks of life, Federal, State, and local
government, and foundations and corporations across the
United States, the vision of Focus: HOPE will continue to
grow and inspire;
Whereas Focus: HOPE has been blessed with an active board
of directors and advisory board from the senior most levels
of corporate and public America, and has benefited from an
annual average of 25,000 volunteers and countless colleagues;
Whereas Focus: HOPE has been a tremendous force for good in
the City of Detroit, the State of Michigan, and the United
States for the past 35 years;
Whereas Focus: HOPE continues to strive to eliminate
racism, poverty, and injustice through the use of passion,
persistence, and partnerships, and continues to seek
improvement in its quality of service and program operations;
and
Whereas Focus: HOPE and its colleagues will continue to
identify ways in which it can lead Detroit, the State of
Michigan, and the United States into the future with creative
urban leadership initiatives: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) congratulates and salutes Focus: HOPE for its
remarkable commitment and contributions to Detroit, the State
of Michigan, and the United States; and
(2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
make available enrolled copies of this resolution to Focus:
HOPE and Ms. Eleanor M. Josaitis for appropriate display.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
General Leave
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res.
295, the concurrent resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as
I might consume.
Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the 1967 terrible Detroit riots, Father
William Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis founded Focus: HOPE as an
organization to fight racism and poverty in the metropolitan Detroit
area. This resolution congratulates and salutes Focus: HOPE for its
remarkable commitment and contributions to Detroit, to the State of
Michigan, and to the entire United States.
[[Page H3546]]
I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers),
for introducing this resolution. The entire Michigan delegation has
cosponsored the resolution, and I am pleased that we can recognize
Focus: HOPE and all of the great things that this organization has done
for its surrounding communities.
Mr. Speaker, outside of the metropolitan Detroit area, Focus: HOPE
may not be well known to our average citizen, but people who are
familiar with this organization know how great an organization it is.
In 1971, Focus: HOPE began providing food for children, as well as
pregnant and post-partum women. The program soon expanded to include
senior citizens; and today, with food that is provided through the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Focus: HOPE provides food to an incredible
number, 43,000 children, women and senior citizens, each month in the
Detroit metropolitan area.
Focus: HOPE has provided hope to individuals and families for over 35
years. In addition to providing food for those in immediate need, the
organization's revolutionary job-training and education programs
provide people with the tools and the resources necessary to pull
themselves and their families out of the brutal cycle of poverty.
{time} 1415
Mr. Speaker, Focus: HOPE opened its Machinists Training Institute in
1981. It is a 31-week program in which students receive over 1,100
contact hours. The training is very comprehensive and at a fraction of
the cost of traditional job training. Along with their FAST TRACK
program and First Step programs, students develop necessary skills to
enter the workforce.
In 1993, Focus: HOPE developed the Center for Advanced Technologies
to form a coalition of universities and corporations to design a 21st
century curriculum for manufacturing engineering education. Very sadly,
Father Cunningham passed away in 1997. But along with the incredible
Eleanor Josaitis, who still acts as the Chief Executive Officer, their
great visions and hard work has provided people with an opportunity
which would not exist otherwise.
Mr. Speaker, Focus: HOPE's value to the poor and disadvantaged of the
Detroit metropolitan area cannot be measured. It is a great
organization run by individuals who truly care about our Nation's
citizens. This resolution, 295, will bring much-deserved attention to
Focus: HOPE and its dedicated employees and volunteers. The work they
do is sometimes thankless and sometimes goes unnoticed, but I urge my
colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 295 and to thank
these outstanding individuals for their great work.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is often asked, what makes a person a hero? Working
with others to improve one's community, I believe, is the act of a
hero. In 1967, a riot left metropolitan Detroit sharply divided along
racial lines. By early 1968, shock had deepened into bitterness and
hostility.
Among all of this chaos and confusion, two members of the Detroit
community, Father William T. Cunningham and Eleanor M. Josaitis, joined
together to make a difference. Soon, Focus: HOPE was born, and out of
it came a tightly-knit movement of like-minded people who are committed
to intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and
injustice.
Over the last 37 years, Focus: HOPE has participated in countless
projects that have improved the quality of life for thousands of
America's neediest people. In 1971, after gathering scientific evidence
of the effects of hunger and malnutrition on the critical early
development of infants, Focus: HOPE designed a supplemental food
program for children up to age 6 and for pregnant and postpartum women.
The program, which was later expanded to include senior citizens, was
the first and remains one of the largest Commodity Supplemental Food
Programs in the country. Food for this program has been provided to as
many as 43,000 women, children, and senior citizens each month in the
Detroit metropolitan area.
Focus: HOPE's contributions are not limited to its food program. When
years of negligence turned one of Detroit's oldest neighborhoods into a
canyon of vacant and dilapidated homes, Focus: HOPE took the initiative
and revitalized several blocks of the once prosperous neighborhood by
redeveloping outdated buildings, improving the landscape of Oakman
Boulevard, developing parks and rebuilding homes. In addition, over the
past 2 years alone, Focus: HOPE has helped raise $10 million to
complete renovations of an old industrial building that is to house its
own Machinists Training Institute.
Today, we stand united in this Chamber to pay homage to Focus: HOPE
for its remarkable commitment and contributions to Detroit, the State
of Michigan, and the United States. Americans who possess the vision
and generosity of Eleanor M. Josaitis and the late Father William T.
Cunningham are truly American heroes, and Focus: HOPE is a tribute to
their legacy.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for
introducing this legislation, and I urge its support.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume to urge all Members to support the adoption of House
Concurrent Resolution 295.
Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my Michigan
colleagues in rising in support of House Concurrent Resolution 295,
which congratulates and salutes Focus: HOPE on its 35th anniversary.
Focus: HOPE, located in Detroit, is the result of the vision of
Father William T. Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis, who were compelled
to make a difference as the 1967 riot left metropolitan Detroit sharply
divided along racial lines. Ever since, Focus: HOPE has been committed
to bringing together people of all races, faiths, and economic
backgrounds. In short, the accomplishments of this organization are
nothing short of remarkable. For example, Focus: HOPE helped to
conceive and develop the Department of Agriculture's Commodity
Supplemental Food Program, which has been replicated in 32 states.
Through this program, Focus: HOPE helps feed 43,000 people monthly
throughout Southeast Michigan.
Additionally, Focus: HOPE has revitalized several city blocks in
central Detroit by redeveloping obsolete industrial buildings,
beautifying and landscaping Oakman Boulevard, creating pocket parks,
and rehabilitating homes in the surrounding areas.
For these reasons, as a senior member of the House Appropriations
Committee, I have been pleased to assist Focus: HOPE over the past
several years. Their growing list of accomplishments fills me with
pride and I will continue to support them in future years.
And so, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating
this pillar of the community that has achieved so much in the great
state of Michigan. I am confident Focus: HOPE will continue down this
path for many years to come. Their mission statement states in part:
``Recognizing the dignity and beauty of every person, we pledge
intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and
injustice.'' Focus: HOPE's years of excellence have demonstrated that
they do indeed stand behind their message.
Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Con. Res. 295
introduced by Congressman John Conyers. This resolution congratulates
and salutes Focus: HOPE on its 35th anniversary and for its remarkable
commitment and contributions to the City of Detroit, the State of
Michigan, and the United States.
FOCUS: HOPE was founded in 1968 by Father William Cunningham and
Eleanor M. Josaitis in response to the Detroit riots that left the city
in turmoil. It is a nationally recognized civil and human rights
organization in Detroit, Michigan and is one of the largest nonprofit
organizations in Michigan.
Since its beginning, Focus: HOPE has been committed to fighting
racism, poverty, and injustice. In 1968, in response to a study by the
Detroit Free Press and the Urban League, Focus: HOPE organized a search
for evidence of widespread discrimination in food and prescription drug
prices. From the investigation, the HOPE '68 study was published. The
study was the first to offer definitive proof of systematic
discrimination in food pricing.
In 1971, after gathering scientific evidence of the effects of hunger
and malnutrition on the critical early development of infants, Focus:
HOPE developed a supplemental food program for children up to age six,
and for pregnant and post-partum women. The program, later expanded to
include senior citizens, was the first and remains one of the largest
Commodity Supplemental Food Programs in the country, with food provided
[[Page H3547]]
through the Department of Agriculture to 43,000 women, children and
senior citizens each month throughout Southeast Michigan.
In addition to addressing the societal needs of the community, in
1981, the organization opened its Machinist Training Institute (MTI),
to provide skills development in precision machining and metalworking.
The institute has graduated more than 2,300 machinists.
Focus: HOPE created two pioneering programs--FAST TRACK and First
Step--designed to help individuals improve their reading and math
competencies by a minimum of two grade levels in 4-7 weeks. The
organization also opened a Center for Children, which has now served
over 5,000 children of colleagues, students, and neighbors with quality
childcare and early childhood education.
Focus: HOPE has also partnered with many businesses and schools
through the years. In 1993 Focus: HOPE developed the Center for
Advanced Technologies to address the shortage of manufacturing
engineers with hands-on skills. The organization formed a coalition
with three university partners: Lawrence Technological University,
Wayne State University and the University of Detroit Mercy and several
corporations to design a curriculum for manufacturing engineering
education.
The volunteer effort of Focus: HOPE brings together thousands of
people each year to operate various programs including preparing boxes
of food that are delivered to low-income families during the holidays,
neighborhood cleanup and revitalization projects and programs that
concentrate on education, the arts, manufacturing, engineering, and
information technology training.
Last year in October, I joined Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm
and Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow for Focus: HOPE's Walk
2003. This annual walk through the streets of Detroit, to celebrate our
rich diversity, is patterned after the nonviolent marches led by Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Approximately 8,000 people from metropolitan
Detroit walked an eight-mile route through Highland Park and Detroit.
The route includes the area where the 1967 riots broke out, the first
Ford Motor Company automotive production facility, and the original
Motown recording studios.
Again, I would like to thank the late Father Cunningham and Eleanor
M. Josaitis for their vision. Focus: HOPE has helped thousands of
people fulfill their purpose in life. Focus: HOPE's commitment to
bringing together people of all races, faiths, and economic backgrounds
to overcome injustice and build racial harmony is an inspiration for us
all.
I also thank the leadership for allowing this resolution to be
included on today's suspension calendar.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent
Resolution 295, which congratulates Focus: HOPE on the occasion of its
35th anniversary. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this
measure, and urge all my colleagues to vote for it today.
Focus: HOPE was established in 1968 by the late Father William
Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis. The riots of 1967 had a deep impact on
the entire Detroit metropolitan area. For all the damage the riots did
to our communities, one positive and lasting impact was that they
served as a catalyst for the creation of Focus: HOPE. This organization
started out as a food program and grew into a broad-scale attack on
poverty, racism and injustice. Today, Focus: HOPE is a vital part of
Detroit and the surrounding metropolitan area, focusing its energy and
innovation on practical solutions to the difficult problems of Hunger,
economic disparity, joblessness, discrimination, and educational
disadvantage.
I feel fortunate to have known Father Cunningham during the many
years of his work with Focus: HOPE. This work continues under the
guidance of my dear friend, Eleanor Josaitis, who co-founded this
organization and serves as its chief operating officer.
As the resolution notes, Focus: HOPE has been a unique force for good
for the past 35 years. For all of us who share Father Cunningham's
dream that all people may live and work together in freedom, harmony,
trust and affection, this resolution congratulates and salutes the
contributions of Focus: HOPE to Detroit, the State of Michigan, and the
nation.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House
Concurrent Resolution 295, congratulating Focus: HOPE on its 35th
anniversary. For three and a half decades, Focus: HOPE has been a
leading voice for the poor and underprivileged in Southeastern
Michigan. It has helped feed the poor, educate our young, and foster
cultural understanding between diverse populations. Focus: HOPE
deserves our recognition and gratitude for all that is has done and
will continue to do.
Co-founded by Father William Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis, Focus:
HOPE is a community based organization dedicated to employing practical
and intelligent action to eliminate racism, poverty, and injustice. It
has the largest United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Commodity Supplemental Food Program in the nation. Each month, more
than 43,000 mothers, children under age six, and senior citizens living
on meager incomes get help through the Focus: HOPE Commodity
Supplemental Food Program. That alone would garner recognition and
plaudits for Focus: HOPE.
Yet, this organization has made economic opportunity the primary
focus, leading to the development of some of the most highly respected
and innovative education and training programs in the nation. By
partnering with industry, universities, and governments, Focus: HOPE
has created a pipeline of programs that offer both the technical and
educational knowledge critical for a 21st century workforce. Moreover,
Focus: HOPE supplies the opportunity, including childcare on campus and
softskills training, for its students to be successful in their chosen
career. More than 3,000 individuals have graduated from Focus: HOPE's
Centers of Opportunity, obtaining jobs in the manufacturing,
engineering and information technology fields. Mr. Speaker, I have long
supported the efforts of Focus: HOPE, and congratulate them on their
35th anniversary. I ask my colleagues to recognize the importance of
this very fine organization by supporting this concurrent resolution.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Focus: HOPE, a
non-profit organization inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., and founded by Father William T. Cunningham in 1968 in the city of
Detroit. Focus: HOPE was founded as a civil rights organization, and
now works to overcome racial and economic injustices, and has numerous
other accomplishments
Focus: HOPE has played an important role in acquiring affirmative
action commitments from many employers through supporting African-
American and female employees in class-action lawsuits. The non-profit
organization has also helped to develop a program through the
Agriculture Department's Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which is
now responsible for feeding more than 43,000 people per month in
southeast Michigan. Additionally, it has assisted in the revitalization
of several areas in central Detroit by creating parks, rehabilitating
homes, and redeveloping obsolete buildings.
Additionally, Focus: HOPE has trained individuals for courses in
advanced manufacturing and precision machining, which has resulted in
the graduation of 2,500 people from their certification programs,
thereby providing work opportunities to under-represented youth, women,
and many others. Focus: HOPE has also developed two programs aimed at
helping individuals improve their reading and math competencies. The
organization has also enrolled candidates toward associate and bachelor
degrees in engineering and technology programs, and as a result, has
made contributions toward increasing diversity within these fields.
Most of all, this resolution recognizes Focus: HOPE for its commitment
and contributions to human rights in Detroit and the United States.
Focus: HOPE is a critically important organization that has been a
tremendous asset to the city of Detroit. For this reason, I commend
Focus: HOPE's work in improving the quality of life for citizens of
Detroit who may not have had access to many opportunities, but who have
the desire to succeed in life, and want to become contributing citizens
of the economic mainstream.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
295.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________