[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO PAMELA M. JUNIOR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Pamela Mary Johnson-Junior 
who has committed herself to strengthening her community through her 
work on the Community Planning Board.
  Pamela was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and 
still resides there today. Pamela and her twin brother are the last of 
10 children born to Booker T. Johnson and Ina L. Johnson.
  At age 16, Pamela graduated a year early from high school and 
attended Long Island University. Later, she transferred to John Jay 
College of Criminal Justice and majored in Criminal Justice 
Administration and Planning.
  Pamela learned at a very early age the importance of community 
involvement and as a teenager, she became actively involved in her 
Block Association. Soon thereafter, she was elected President of the 
Teenage Association of the 500 Decatur Street Block Association. 
However, her interests in politics extended beyond the local level. 
When Jesse Jackson ran for the Presidency of the United States, she 
took a two month leave of absence from her position as a Legal 
Assistant at one of Wall Street's top law firms, where she had been 
employed for over 16 years, to volunteer her services at Jesse 
Jackson's Bedford Stuyvesant based campaign headquarters. Nearly twenty 
years later, Pam continues to maintain a 50+ hour work week at the 
firm.
  In the 1990's, Pamela became actively involved in Bedford-Stuyvesant 
community affairs and began attending monthly community meetings at 
Community Board No. 3 and at the 81st Precinct. This opportunity 
provided her with first-hand experience and knowledge of the needs of 
the community. In 1996, she was appointed to Community Planning Board 
No. 3 by then Borough President Howard Golden. In 2000, she was elected 
to the position of 2nd Vice President of the Board and in 2001 she was 
elected to the position of 1st Vice President of the Board, which she 
has held for several years.
  During her tenure as Economic Development Chairperson of the Board, 
Pamela has spearheaded the 197a Plan for Bedford-Stuyvesant, 
collaborating with health professionals, churches, tenant associations, 
community activists, block associations, and Pratt Institute. She also 
solicited and helped raise over $250,000 to fund the 197a Plan. Pamela 
has forged relationships between the Community Planning Board and 
various New York City agencies in an effort to build the commercial 
corridors in Bedford-Stuyvesant and has worked closely with the 
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and elected officials in the development 
of the Fulton F.I.R.S.T. Initiative. Finally, she has held weekly 
meetings during the summer months to ensure that community residents 
were informed of new and upcoming developments.
  Mr. Speaker, Pamela Mary Johnson-Junior has been a leader in her 
community through her efforts to improve our educational system and 
serve those in need. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our 
recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this 
truly remarkable person.

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