[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 25 (Thursday, March 2, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      CONGRATULATIONS TO COLLEEN CROSBY FOR A LIFETIME OF ACTIVISM

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 2, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend one of my 
constituents, Ms. Colleen Crosby, of Santa Cruz, California who, on 
Sunday, March 5, will receive the ``Lifetime Achievement Award'' from 
the International Women in Coffee Alliance (IWCA). I cannot imagine 
another person more deserving than Colleen to receive this award. 
Colleen is one of those rare individuals that has combined a deep 
compassion for others with the intelligence and drive to make a true 
difference in the world. Colleen has been a true leader in raising 
awareness of, and offering effective solutions to, the International 
Coffee Crisis--a crisis that affected 25 million people in some of the 
poorest countries in the world.
  Colleen co-founded Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company in 1978 and in 
1979 became the first Roastmistress on California's Central Coast. In 
her travels to coffee producing countries in Central and South America 
and Africa she encountered abject poverty and an economic system that 
kept small coffee farmers in a vicious cycle of poverty. Being the 
``active activist,'' Colleen jumped headfirst into finding ways to help 
coffee farmers and cooperatives throughout the world. Colleen found 
that fair trade certification--a certification process that guarantees 
farmers a fair price for their coffee beans--was the most effective way 
of improving the lives of coffee farmers.
  Colleen's record for helping coffee farmers and promoting fair trade 
coffee is extremely impressive. Colleen has worked with small farmers 
and cooperatives around the world and helped them gain better market 
access for their coffee, thus ensuring a better livelihood for 
themselves and their children. I asked Colleen to testify before the 
House International Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere on 
the coffee crisis, where she educated Members of Congress on the 
importance of helping coffee farmers.
  Besides the Lifetime Achievement Award from IWCA, Colleen has also 
received a variety of commendations, including a letter of ``Special 
Thanks and Commendation'' for ``the extraordinary warmth and spirit on 
behalf of the people of Ethiopia,'' presented by His Excellency Teruheh 
Zenna, Acting Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United 
Nations in October, 2005; being named Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce 
Woman of the Year 2005; being presented with the Gold Medallion of 
Brotherhood by the small coffee farmers of Nicaragua's Prodecoop; and 
most recently, she is the recipient of the prestigious Lifetime 
Achievement Award from the International Women in Coffee Alliance.
  I congratulate Colleen on a lifetime of dedication to others. She 
truly has made the world a better place and it has been an absolute 
pleasure and honor to know her.

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