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




                       A TRIBUTE TO JOAN EASTMOND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Joan Eastmond who has 
dedicated her life to strengthening our educational system and 
improving her community.
  Joan was born the youngest of 6 children into the Eastmond family and 
long time member of Bedford-Stuyvesant's royalty. The Eastmond family's 
record of community service had a profound influence on her development 
and ultimately, her achievements. The birth of her son, Brian, was 
noted by Essence Magazine.
  She has always been committed to public service. As a teen she got 
involved with NAACP Youth Committee. She also participated in the 
School Integration Movement, led by her former minister, the late Dr. 
Milton Galamison (Siloam Presbyterian Church). She also had a unique 
role as a teacher. She struggled against the wishes of the prejudiced 
school system and the biases of the UFT. Her classroom at JHS 271 in 
the late 1960s was a model of ``africentricism'' and educational 
liberation.
  A Training Coordinator of AFRAM Associates, she nurtured her 
decision-making role of parents on 9 different sites, public and 
private, located in 5 different States and the District of Columbia. 
She co-developed with Preston Wilcox and the late Kenneth W. Haskins, a 
tested and copyrighted educational model: Parent Implementation 
(Decision-Making) in Education. She also is the author of a major AFRAM 
Publication: The HAMPTON Experiences.
  Currently employed at the Fort Greene Senior Citizens Center where 
she combines a variety of services for senior citizens, youth and 
graduate students (Lincoln University of Human Services Program), into 
a simulated social mission.
  Joan is best known for the services she provides to the community as 
Joan has never forgotten where she came from. While serving ``at-risk'' 
youth at Bed-Stuy Restoration, her commitment to others became quite 
evident. She did not approach these youth as potential problems. 
Instead, she worked to convince them that they were in fact, ``diamonds 
in the rough.''
  Mr. Speaker, Joan Eastmond 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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