[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 50 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE CENTER FOR YOUTH CITIZENSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2005

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in tribute to an organization with a 
great record of service to the young people of the Sacramento Region. 
Ever since its inception in the 1980s, the Center for Youth Citizenship 
has worked tirelessly and successfully to enhance the significance of 
citizenship and the importance of our laws and institutions to the 
young people of the local region. I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
saluting the Center for Youth Citizenship (CYC), one of Sacramento's 
most respected community organizations.
  Founded in 1984, the Center for Youth Citizenship's mission is to 
have young people respect one another, our institutions, and laws; have 
a working understanding of citizenship, its requirements and 
responsibilities; appreciate the foundation and privileges of 
democracy; and have the skills and character to be engaged and informed 
participants in everyday community matters. To achieve these goals, CYC 
has reached out to a diverse group of school and community partners on 
award winning and recognized school and community programs such as the 
Gordon D. Schaber Mock trial & Moot Court Competition, Laws for Youth 
and Families, and California Conflict Resolution and Youth Meditation 
Project.
  Through its partnerships with a broad-based group of government, 
business and education leaders, CYC initiated the program, With Liberty 
and Justice for All, in 2004. The program is designed to connect the 
generations and groups in the local communities and recommit them to 
the collective pursuit of equity, justice, and character. In its 
inaugural year, CYC, along with a coalition of local businesses, 
community groups, and school districts, attracted a theater full of 
students to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the landmark Supreme 
Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education. As a result of the hard 
work of the CYC staff, hundreds of students were treated to a memorable 
and invaluable learning experience that will likely impact them for the 
rest of their lives.
  This year, CYC has once again brought together an impressive list of 
community entities to celebrate the second year of the With Liberty and 
Justice for All community forum. The event theme for the 2005 program 
is ``A Celebration of Citizenship, Education, and Service.'' Education 
legend Jaime Escalante, profiled in the Academy Award nominated film 
``Stand and Deliver, a group of Mr. Escalante's former students, and 
acclaimed actor Edward James Olmos, who portrayed Mr. Escalante in the 
movie, are all scheduled to participate in a special screening of 
``Stand and Deliver'' and participate in an important dialogue about 
the importance of citizenship, education, and service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Center for Youth 
Citizenship. I would like to especially thank CYC's Executive Director, 
Dr. Joe Maloney, and his great staff for their dedication and hard 
work. I am confident that the Center for Youth Citizenship will 
continue to yield tremendous benefits for the people of Sacramento. I 
ask all my colleagues to join with me in wishing the Center for Youth 
Citizenship a successful 2nd annual With Liberty and Justice for All 
community forum and continued success in all its future endeavors.

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