[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             BLACK HISTORY TRIBUTE TO AURELIA JONES-TAYLOR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize 
outstanding African Americans of the 2nd Congressional District of 
Mississippi, and their contribution to Black History. The 23 counties 
of the 2nd District are well represented from both a local and national 
perspective.
  Americans have recognized Black History annually since 1926, first as 
``Negro History Week'' and later as ``Black History Month.'' In fact, 
Black History had barely begun to be studied--or even documented--when 
the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America as far 
back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they 
gained a presence in our history books.
  Though scarcely documented in history books, if at all, the crucial 
role African Americans have played in the development of our Nation 
must not be overlooked.
  I would like to recognize Aurelia Jones-Taylor of Coahoma County. In 
1989, Ms. Taylor met the challenge to journey to Clarksdale, Coahoma 
County, MS to assume the position of Executive Director for the Aaron 
E. Henry Community Health Services Center, Inc. after completion of her 
training for a community health center director at John-Hopkins 
University in Baltimore, Maryland.
  Upon her arrival, the center, founded in 1979, was operating on a 
$190,000 grant. It had lost several Federal grants, the books were in 
bad shape, many of the staff had left and there were numbers of other 
administrative problems. The Clarksdale office had closed, only leaving 
the Tunica office functioning with limited services on limited funding. 
Ms. Taylor's first task was to build a strong, cooperative management 
team with good skills. Secondly, she had to develop proposals and write 
grants to fund the diverse programs needed to serve the community.
  Today, the Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center, Inc., 
operates clinically in six counties from 10 sites (to include school-
based clinics and a mobile medical unit) with over 150 employees on a 
$10M budget. Among those facilities are two new structures--one erected 
in 1995 in Tunica, MS--approximately 5,900 square feet and the newest 
facility in Clarksdale, MS--approximately 12,000 square feet.

  In addition, Aurelia has built a rural general public transportation 
program under the name Delta Area Rural Transit System in seven rural 
Northwest MS Delta counties generating over 207,000 trips per year. 
These services include employee work routes, TANF eligible work-
activity services, elderly and disabled human needs services, 
healthcare non-emergency transit, mental health work activity, shopping 
and other social services needs.
  I take great pride in recognizing and paying tribute to this 
outstanding African American of the 2nd Congressional District of 
Mississippi who deserves mention, not only in the month of February but 
year round.

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