[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 63 (Friday, May 13, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING FLINT/GENESEE COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD ROUNDTABLE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2005

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to stand before you today to 
recognize the Flint/Genesee County Neighborhood Roundtable, a group of 
men and women committed to improving the quality of life for residents 
of my hometown, Flint, Michigan, and Genesee County. On Saturday, May 
14, civic and community leaders will join the Roundtable to honor 
fallen neighborhood leaders James Dover II, Melvin McFadden, Adele 
Smith, C.J. Beasley, Virginia Brown, Genevieve Donnelly, and Guy 
Rogers.
  The Flint/Genesee County Neighborhood Roundtable was formed in 1995, 
the result of a state initiative known as Communities First. The goal 
of Communities First was to bring together neighborhood groups and 
organizations working to improve their areas, providing networking 
opportunities and the chance to share thoughts, ideas, and strategies 
toward making their towns a safer and better place in which to live.
  In its 10 years, the Roundtable, in conjunction with the University 
of Michigan-Flint Outreach, the Neighborhood Violence Prevention 
Collaborative, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, and the 
Community Coalition, facilitated the Technical Assistance Training 
Institute, where future community leaders were trained in coalition 
building, grant writing, and other subjects designed to strengthen 
their skills. Many of the Institute's graduates can now be found 
working with the Roundtable and the Neighborhood Violence Prevention 
Collaborative, helping others identify potential grants and assisting 
with many neighborhood projects.
  Other partnerships the Roundtable has established have addressed 
issues including health, youth violence, race relations, and the 
environment, among many others, and its members can frequently be found 
on the boards of local and state organizations. In addition, the 
Roundtable serves as a member of the Prevention Research Center of 
Michigan's Community Advisory Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, as a Member of Congress, I consider it my duty and my 
privilege to work to promote, protect, defend, and enhance human 
dignity. I am pleased that the efforts of the Flint/Genesee County 
Neighborhood Roundtable make this task easier. Their mission to provide 
training and share information to enable residents to empower 
themselves, and to develop strong neighborhoods and form partnerships 
to be a collective voice and positive force in our community will 
improve Flint and Genesee County for years to come. I ask my colleagues 
to please join me acknowledging their success.

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