[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E416]]
                      TRIBUTE TO MR. HANS HAGEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, during this month dedicated to the 
celebration of Black History, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Hans 
Hageman, an outstanding individual who has dedicated most of his life 
to helping children in East Harlem, NY.
  Hans is the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Harbor, Inc., a 
67 year old multi-service youth organization located in East Harlem. 
The Harbor's mission is to empower children and their families to 
become full, productive participants in society through education, 
cultural awareness and social services.
  A lifelong East Harlem resident, Hans is a graduate of the Collegiate 
School for Boys, Princeton University, Columbia University Law School, 
and the U.S. Army 101st Airmobile Air Assault School. As former Chief 
Counsel for the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, he worked on 
solutions addressing long term and entrenched problems facing the East 
Harlem Community. Frustrated by the familiar faces he saw coming 
through the system, he realized that to truly impact the social 
pathology in East Harlem, he must reach out to the children of the 
community and help guide them before they fell victim to the cycles of 
poverty, violence and crime.
  This strong belief motivated him to return to Exodus House, one of 
the nation's first residential drug rehabilitation centers, with a 30 
year history of serving the East Harlem Community which was founded by 
his parents Reverend Dr. Lynn and Mrs. Leola Hageman. In September of 
1993 Hans and his brother Ivan opened the East Harlem School at Exodus 
House, an independent intermediate school on the Exodus House site 
designed to more fully address the needs of at risk children and their 
families.
  Hans has also served as Minority Chief Counsel and Staff Director to 
the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution and as an Assistant 
District Attorney in the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecution of New 
York's County District Attorneys Office.
  Hans is the recipient of the 2001 Essence Award; the Robin Hood 
Foundation's Hero Award; the East-Harlem Urban Center's Community 
Service Award; the Black Princeton Alumni Community Service Award and 
numerous others.
  Mr. Speaker, this past week we bid farewell to Ossie Davis, a great 
American who was a strong voice for social justice and human dignity. 
Ossie, who got his start in Harlem, may be best remembered for the 
moving Eulogy he delivered at the funeral of Malcolm X. In speaking of 
Malcolm's relationship to Harlem he said: ``For Harlem has ever been 
gracious to those who have loved her, have fought her and have defended 
her honor . . .''
  During this month devoted to the celebration of Black history I want 
to pay tribute not only to these two great sons of Harlem but also to 
those who continue to work on behalf of those who are voiceless. In 
that spirit I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring another son of 
Harlem who continues to love her, fight her and defend her honor, Mr. 
Hans Hageman.

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