[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 25 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E272-E273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTOPHER HOUSE OF CHICAGO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2006

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
congratulating Christopher House of Chicago on the occasion of its 
centennial celebration.
  I believe Christopher House is a successful and absolutely essential 
organization for the livelihood and well being of the great city of 
Chicago. Let me explain why.
  In 1906, the First Presbyterian Church of Evanston founded 
Christopher House as a settlement house on Chicago's North Side. Over 
the course of a century, it has grown in response to the needs of new 
immigrants and others in our community.
  Today, Christopher House is a seven-site resource center that helps 
families overcome the consequences of poverty, enabling them to thrive. 
Through early childhood and youth development, parent enrichment, 
literacy, counseling, pregnant and parenting teen support, and the 
meeting of basic human needs, Christopher House is a catalyst in a 
family's journey towards stability, resiliency and self-sufficiency.
  Christopher House is a premier human service organization that 
provides assistance to all in need without regard to race, creed, 
religion or national origin.
  Shortly before his death, Cesar Chavez said, ``You are never strong 
enough that you don't need help.'' I think he was speaking to all of 
us.
  Obviously, we are all touched by the 100 years of work of Christopher 
House. We see the lives Christopher House changes--the children who 
receive Head Start, the people who benefit from English as a Second 
Language classes, the families who are enlightened by literacy 
classes--and we are pleased that we can help in some small way.
  So we volunteer. Or we write a check. Or we attend a fundraiser or a 
rally or make a donation. Or support legislation and federal funding. 
All of which are critically important, and we extend our gratitude to 
all of those who have given time, money and resources to help 
Christopher House.
  But here is an important part of what I believe Cesar Chavez meant 
when he said, ``You are never strong enough that you don't need help.''
  Christopher House does more than serve 3,500 children and their 
families in need. It does more than help teen moms who have nowhere 
else to turn. It does more than help children who would have few 
options for summer camps and tutoring programs. It does more than help 
kids by providing comprehensive early childhood education to families 
across our neediest neighborhoods.
  Christopher House helps us. Christopher House helps all of us--
whether we are a CEO or a partner in a law firm or a member of 
Congress. Because of the work that the organization's staff does every 
day, the lives of all of us are enriched and improved--not just the 
families who receive direct service.
  Because Cesar Chavez was right--none of us are ever strong enough 
that we don't need help.

[[Page E273]]

  Perhaps we don't need a literacy class. But we all benefit from an 
educated and capable work force.
  Perhaps we don't need to put our own children in Head Start. But we 
need to know that every child with a desire to learn and grow and reach 
toward their dreams has a place to go and people to help them.
  Perhaps--if we're lucky--many of us will go through our lives and 
never have a desperate need for emergency services--for food and 
shelter and for clothing.
  But we need to be part of a community where every person in need has 
somewhere to go, someone to turn to, someone who cares.
  And perhaps, if we are fortunate, few of us will have a need for the 
day-to-day, make-or-break help that Christopher House routinely 
provides. But that doesn't mean we don't rely on Christopher House.
  Because it comes down to this--all of us rely on Christopher House to 
answer this important question: Who can we count on? Who is there for 
us? Who cares enough to do the hardest work for the people who need 
help the most?
  Every day, the people who devote their lives as staff and volunteers 
and donors to Christopher House answer those questions through their 
actions.
  We can count on Christopher House. Christopher House is there for us. 
And Christopher House has been doing this vital work for 100 years, and 
with our support should continue for many more.
  Christopher House's history means a lot to me--because it has always 
served precisely the population that I work with every day as a member 
of Congress. When it started a century ago as part of the settlement 
house movement, Christopher House focused closely on the population 
that has always been the sustaining life of our city--the immigrant 
community.
  Today, Christopher House still serves our immigrant population--now 
largely Latino. It is a population whose steady influx breathes oxygen 
into Chicago's lungs and reimagines our city every generation.
  From the time it opened, Christopher House has been there for all of 
us, because its leaders have understood that treating the newest 
Americans well means that all of us are treated better.
  So, Mr. Speaker, with this resolution, we recognize Christopher House 
for its century of contributions to Chicago.
  To the ``House with a Heart,'' I say from the bottom of my heart--
thank you very much. Thank you for enriching and improving the lives of 
Chicagoans for the last 100 years and we look forward to many more 
years of your services.

                          ____________________