[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 122 (Friday, October 1, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATIONS TO ROGER CAZARES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 2004

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize 
and congratulate Roger Cazares upon the occasion of his retirement as 
the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Area 
Advisory Committee (MAAC) Project, a multi-purpose social service 
agency (with a successful 39 year history of serving various 
communities throughout San Diego County.
  After graduating from San Diego State University with a Political 
Science Degree, Roger headed to the MAAC Project. Thirty years later, 
he leaves MAAC as one of the most successful social service agencies in 
the country with 400 employees, an annual operating budget of over $16 
million and over $100 million in assets.
  Under Roger Cazares' leadership MAAC Project has become an agency 
that serves over 35,000 individuals per year and staffs 35 sites 
bringing to its constituents empowering social services, health 
components, a state of arts charter school, technology centers, 
economic development, and affordable housing. Roger is a man with a 
vision that has empowered his staff at the MAAC Project to serve as 
many people as possible and not be afraid to expand to new services. 
Roger's legacy at the agency includes creating new leaders by mentoring 
a younger generation and inspiring them to believe in their potential.
  The growth that the MAAC Project has seen under Roger's tenure 
includes an increase in the agency's North San Diego County Head Start 
Child Development schools center sites from 4 to 17. Enrollment at 
these centers went up from 400 to 1,100 children, directly impacting 
parental participation and involvement in those children's lives. 
Thanks to Roger's direction MAAC established two residential care 
facilities for recovering drug and alcohol dependent individuals housed 
at Casa de Milagros, for women, and Casa Nosotros, for men. Roger 
Cazares ensured MAAC's summer employment for over 1,000 South Bay youth 
annually, in cooperation with the Private Industry Council. The MAAC 
also provided English as a second language and government classes to 
over 12,000 adults in San Diego County through the Immigration Reform 
Control Act of 1986 for 5 years.
  Roger has made an impact in the community not only by augmenting 
social services that local government provides but also by becoming 
involved in the Housing Crisis that San Diego County faces. Roger 
Cazares created the agency's Housing and Community Development 
Department in 1991 that has developed more than 1,000 rental units of 
affordable housing and 12 single family homes, developed, a community 
development strategy specifically targeting the residents of MAAC's 
apartment communities, and recently expanded the department to include 
a property management component. Under Mr. Cazares' leadership, MAAC 
Project has grown to be one of the premier affordable housing 
developers in the, region.
  Roger Cazares also has left his footprint in the education arena by 
providing leadership and harnessing his national network for support to 
fund and open MAAC Community Charter School in Chula Vista. The Charter 
School is a first class operation that offers hope and opportunity for 
our deserving youth.
  Roger's contributions to the community go beyond the MAAC Project. He 
was president of the National City Chamber of Commerce from 1994-1995; 
he served on the National Council of La Raza Board of Directors and 
Executive Committee for six years. Roger has received a multitude of 
awards for his community service such as the Hispanic Chamber of 
Commerce Business Leadership Award, Hispanic Heritage Local Heroes 
Award presented by KPBS & Union Bank of California, the United Way Ben 
Polak Community Service Award, the UCSD Excellence in Community Service 
Award, recipient of Reconocimiento OHTLI Community Service Award 
presented by the Mexican Government.
  Roger is joined in celebrating his accomplishments by his wife and 
lifelong partner of 30 years, Norma Cazares; their daughters Leticia 
and Nicole; and their son Javier. My best wishes go to my friend Roger 
Cazares, a visionary, an activist, a great leader, and a good man.

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