[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 109 (Tuesday, September 14, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE LATIN AMERICAN RESEARCH AND SERVICE AGENCY

 Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to 
recognize a significant service agency in my home State of Colorado.
  Forty years ago in Denver, CO a small group of visionaries worked to 
achieve their dream of eliminating the disparities that existed between 
Latinos and the mainstream community.
  Prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964, these 
visionaries incorporated the first 501(c) 3 non-profit agency in the 
Nation to address the specific needs of Latinos. On March 3, 1964, the 
Latin American Research and Service Agency was born. Working with these 
visionaries was an enlightened philanthropic organization that was the 
first in the Nation to take a risk of giving a significant grant to a 
Latino based agency. That agency at the time known as the United Fund 
is today known as the Mile High United Way.
  Much has happened over the past four decades since attorney Roger 
Cisneros first wrote the incorporation papers for LARASA. In November 
of 1964 Mr. Cisneros became the first Hispanic elected to the Colorado 
Senate since the early 1900's. Bernard (Bernie) Valdez, the first 
Hispanic appointed to a Denver Mayor's Cabinet was the first Chairman 
of LARASA's Board of Directors. Ms. Lena Archuletta who was the first 
Hispanic to serve as a school principal in the Denver Public Schools 
system was the first Secretary of the Board. Also serving on the first 
board of directors was Rodolfo ``Corky'' Gonzales a leader in the 
Chicano Movement and Herrick Roth former leader of the Colorado Labor 
Movement and founder of the Colorado Forum.
  Today LARASA continues to provide leadership in the areas of health, 
education, public policy, leadership development and community 
outreach. On the occasion of their 40th Anniversary I am proud to 
recognize their significant achievements by entering this statement 
into the Record.

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