[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E488-E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO DEBRA A. JOHNSON, 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE 
                               YEAR--2005

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2005

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and 
sacrifices made by our nation's women during the month of March. It is 
an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference 
in my Congressional District.
  I would like to recognize an outstanding woman in my Congressional 
District, Ms. Debra A. Johnson. For many years, Debra has brought an 
abounding spirit and energy to her service in the community. Those 
fortunate enough to meet and work with Debra instantly recognize her 
joy, enthusiasm and passion for helping others, especially young 
people.
  Born in New York, Debra moved to California in 1974, while working as 
a Marketing Representative for Pacific Bell, now SBC. She began her 
nearly 30 year volunteer career in the Pasadena Unified School District 
(PUSD)

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in 1978. She has been a parent/student advocate, a youth mentor, 
Etiquette Institute volunteer and has served on PUSD's Youth 
Motivational Task Force--in fact, she has volunteered at nearly all of 
PUSD's elementary, middle and high schools. Additionally, Debra has 
volunteered for South Pasadena High School, serving as a swim/track 
team motivator and the historian for the Parent Teacher Student 
Association.
  In 1992, Debra founded SMILE Productions Inc., a 501(c)3 organization 
dedicated to supporting, motivating, investing, loving and educating 
youth. Her main goal is to help youth fulfill their dreams and to 
express themselves in creative ways through poetry, music, drama and 
dance, and to teach them basic etiquette, oral communication, job 
grooming, interviewing skills and self-esteem. Ms. Johnson also 
produces her own SMILE cable television talk show.
  Debra is active in numerous organizations, including the Altadena 
Branch of the NAACP, Black Child Development Institute Inc. Pasadena, 
the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, Rosemary Children's 
Services, HearZero Deaf Advocates, Los Angeles County Probation 
Department's Operation Read, NewCo Youth Pasadena, and St. Mark's 
Episcopal Church, where she teaches Sunday School.
  In addition to her service to the community, Debra attends Pasadena 
City College, working to obtain her degree in forensic social work and 
public relations. She and her husband Landy reside in Altadena and 
together they have five children and four grandchildren.
  I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an outstanding woman 
of California's 29th Congressional District, Debra A. Johnson. The 
entire community joins me in thanking Debra for her success and 
continued efforts toward making the 29th Congressional District a more 
enjoyable place in which to live and work.

                          ____________________