[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E234-E235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO JOYCE WILSON HARLEY, ESQ.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the 
work of a woman I am proud to represent in Congress, Joyce Wilson 
Harley, Esq. Ms. Harley was recognized as a recipient of the Essex 
County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Leadership Award on February 15, 
2005.
  It is only fitting that Joyce Wilson Harley be honored in this, the 
permanent record of the greatest freely elected body on Earth, for she 
has a long career of dedication to public service.
  Joyce's recognition today as a recipient of the Essex County Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award is quite appropriate. As the 
first African American elected to the Board of Trustees for the Village 
of South Orange, Joyce has been a leader and a role model in the 
African-American community.
  After completing her honors degree at the Douglass College of Rutgers 
University, Joyce went on to complete her Juris Doctorate at Rutgers 
Law School. In addition to serving as a Village Trustee in South 
Orange, Joyce was also elected Village President.
  Prior to assuming her current position as Executive Director of the 
Newark Downtown District, Joyce has held numerous positions in the area 
of community and neighborhood development. One of her most prominent 
roles was during her tenure as the Executive Director of the New Jersey 
Multi City Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Under her 
leadership, NJ LISC expanded its investment in the 14 municipalities it 
serves to twice its original size.
  Ms. Harley's devotion to community development extends far beyond 
simply completing the task at hand. Her efforts were instrumental in 
the state of New Jersey implementing a Neighborhood Revitalization Tax 
Credit law. This law brings $20 million in new investment in New 
Jersey's most distressed cities.
  Beyond her post with the Newark Downtown District, Joyce also donates 
her time for other worthy projects. She is currently the president of 
the Board of Trustees of the Newark Emergency Services for Families. 
Ms. Harley is also a past president of the Association of Black Women 
Lawyers of New Jersey.
  Mr. Speaker, I am far from the first to recognize the outstanding 
contributions of Ms. Harley. In addition to receiving numerous awards 
for her work as the Director of Community Development for First Union 
and Fleet Banks, Joyce has also been recognized twice by the New Jersey 
State Legislature.
  The New Jersey State Council on the Humanities awarded Joyce its 
first ever Civic Leadership award. In 2003 the Women in Support of the 
Million Man March awarded Joyce the coveted Community Relations award 
for her leadership in facilitating the receipt of financial assistance 
by community groups throughout the state in order to complete much 
needed neighborhood revitalization projects.

[[Page E235]]

  Mr. Speaker, the job of a United States Congressman involves so much 
that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to learning about and 
recognizing the extraordinary efforts of individuals such as Ms. 
Harley. I ask that you join our colleagues, Joyce's family and friends, 
the County of Essex, New Jersey and me in honoring Joyce Wilson Harley, 
Esq. for her history of leadership and community service.

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