[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 21 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING BERKELEY VICE MAYOR MAUDELLE SHIREK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2005

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of an 
extraordinary woman and one of my political heroes, Berkeley Vice Mayor 
Maudelle Shirek. In the nearly four decades Maudelle has spent as an 
activist, community leader, and elected official in the East Bay, she 
has exemplified not only what it means to be a true public servant, but 
through her efforts as a leader and a mentor has inspired countless 
members of younger generations to become involved in politics and to 
actively work for positive change within their communities and beyond.
  A granddaughter of slaves, Maudelle came to the Bay Area over 60 
years ago from Jefferson, Arkansas. Before long she became an activist 
for fair housing and civil rights for African Americans as well as 
other disenfranchised populations. She later went on to become an 
office manager and labor organizer at the Co-Op Credit Union, helping 
many people get loans to buy their first homes, pay for education or 
start small businesses, making it possible for many families and 
individuals in the 9th District to achieve financial stability.
  Following her service at the Credit Union, Maudelle went on to found 
two senior centers. When she worked for the City of Berkeley as 
Director of the West Berkeley Senior Center, she simultaneously served 
on the State Executive Board of Service Employees International Union, 
Local 535, and initiated the first municipal Labor Commission in 
California. She also founded the New Light Senior Center in 1976, which 
she still actively oversees. Active in politics throughout this time, 
she mentored and encouraged others to become active as well. She 
convinced me, as well as my predecessor in the 9th District, 
Congressman Ronald Dellums, that to become truly effective in the fight 
for lasting change, we must become active and directly engaged in 
politics in our communities.
  After decades of service to her community, Maudelle herself became a 
candidate for public office, and was elected to the Berkeley City 
Council in District 3 in 1984. Maudelle was the first Berkeley City 
Councilmember, and one of the first elected officials in the state, to 
take action against the AIDS pandemic by spearheading efforts to 
provide educational materials, needle-exchange programs, and housing 
for AIDS patients. When the county hospital tried to close its 
facilities serving AIDS patients, she chained herself to the doors to 
call attention to the plight of AIDS victims. As a result of her 
efforts, that facility remains open today. Throughout her tenure on the 
City Council, her dedication to her constituents and commitment to 
bettering the lives of those in her community earned her the unwavering 
support of residents within her district, and resulted in seven 
reelections as well as her election as the Vice Mayor of Berkeley.
  Maudelle recently completed her eighth and final term on the Berkeley 
City Council, but her devotion to her community remains steadfast. At 
the New Light Senior Center, she continues to work to promote healthy 
eating habits and lifestyles for all residents, and still does all the 
shopping for lunches at the Center every Tuesday. She continues to be a 
role model and a tireless worker for civil and human rights, peace, and 
justice and persists in the fight to reorder our national priorities. 
She is a mentor, a friend, and a woman who I look to for advice and 
care.
  On Saturday, February 26, 2005, Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek will be 
honored in Berkeley, California for her extraordinary life and 
accomplishments. Though we recognize and honor the truly incomparable 
contributions Maudelle has made to our community, we have barely begun 
to realize the true profundity of her social and political legacy. 
Maudelle's uncompromising fidelity to her ideals and compassion for 
people will never cease to be a source of hope, purpose, and conviction 
for those seeking to continue her work for peace, equality, and 
justice. Maudelle's vision for a better and more peaceful world is one 
that transcends time and place, and the lasting effects of the work 
inspired by that vision will shape the lives of countless individuals 
for generations to come. On this very special day, I salute, 
congratulate, and thank Maudelle Shirek for what she has given her 
community, our country, and the entire world.

                          ____________________