[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 45 (Friday, April 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE OF WESTSIDE WOMEN

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2005

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, although Women's History Month 
has just ended, while riding back on the airplane from Sri Lanka, I was 
thinking of the community where I live and decided to write this 
article about some of the women who have helped shape the Westside of 
Chicago. Obviously, there are many additional women who I could have 
featured and, hopefully, I will have an opportunity to do that some 
day.

             Needed: A New Generation of Community Leaders

       The recent passing of Ms. Leola Spann jarred my thoughts 
     and inspired me to write to put these thoughts down on paper. 
     Ms. Spann was a delightful, committed, dedicated, visionary, 
     hardworking woman of great integrity. She was willing to work 
     hard for what she believed. She revitalized the Northwest 
     Austin Council and kept it alive and thriving until she could 
     work no more. Now we face the question: Who will be the next 
     Leola Spann?
       The Westside of Chicago has been rich with people like 
     Leola Spann. Mary Volpe for many years lived, ate, slept, 
     dreamed her commitment to the Northeast Austin Organization. 
     She worked in a bi-racial environment as her community was 
     experiencing transition, yet she never wavered, and remained 
     steadfast until she could go no more. Who will be the next 
     Mary Volpe?
       Illinois Daggett moved with her husband, Jerry and their 
     children, from the Near Westside to Austin at the beginning 
     of its great transition: a period of block-busting, panic 
     peddling, racial turmoil and community instability. She 
     immediately established herself as an activist and community 
     leader. She became a seriously fierce advocate for education, 
     mental health and community stabilization. She founded, and 
     operated for several years, the Austin Developmental Center, 
     was a WVON ``On Target'' radio talk show host and a social 
     service professional. Unfortunately, Illa was injured by an 
     insane man at her job on the Near Northside where she was 
     running a City of Chicago Community Service Center. As a 
     result of her injuries Illa has been in a coma for the last 
     fifteen or so years. Who will be the next Illinois Daggett?
       The death of Pope John Paul II has caused me to think of 
     Nancy Jefferson, who used to be called the Mother Theresa of 
     the Westside. Nancy was a crusading nurse and social worker 
     who became Executive Director of the Midwest Community 
     Council. In this role Nancy became a premier protector and 
     promoter of the Westside of Chicago which had been the last 
     port of entry for large numbers of African Americans 
     migrating to Chicago from the rural South. Nancy and the 
     Midwest Community Council set up social service programs, 
     organized block clubs and other self help activities, got 
     people actively involved in politics, was credited with 
     helping to elect Jane Byrne Mayor, was one of the architects 
     of the Harold Washington campaigns and was instrumental in 
     getting Leroy Martin appointed Superintendent of Police. Who 
     will be the next Nancy Jefferson?
       Obviously this is a call for new leadership. Nobody 
     appointed these women, nobody moved out of their way, nobody 
     decreed that these women should lead. They simply stepped up 
     to the plate, did what they did, led where they went, and 
     made valuable contributions to the community.
       You can too!




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