[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 78 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1192-E1193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO HENRY FRANK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2006

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Henry Frank, a 
distinguished member of the Brooklyn, New York community. It behooves 
us to pay tribute to this outstanding leader and I hope my colleagues 
will join me in recognizing his impressive accomplishments.
  Henry Frank was born in the Republic of Haiti, and was trained as an 
anthropologist. His research works have taken him all over Africa, 
Europe, the Caribbean and South America, particularly Bahia, the 
bastion of the African culture in Brazil.
  Dr. Frank has given lectures on the African Preserved Religions in 
the New World especially Vodou as well as other aspects of the New 
World Cultures at many Universities and Museums in the U.S. and abroad. 
For nine years, Dr. Frank was the Assistant Director of Caribbean 
Studies in the Education Department at the American Museum of Natural 
History in New York City. He has also participated in conferences and 
has given lectures at several prominent institutions, hospitals and 
healthcare facilities.
  From 1982 to 1990, Dr. Frank served as a scholar for the New York 
Council for the Humanities program, ``Speakers in the Humanities''. In 
April 1990, he was appointed Consul General of Haiti in New York in the 
government of Mme.Ertha Trouillot, the first woman president of Haiti. 
From 1986 to 1990, Dr. Frank serve as the Executive Director of the 
Haitian Neighborhood Service Center (HNSC) in NYC while simultaneously 
serving as a lecturer on African/Caribbean Culture and History for the 
NYC Council for the Humanities.
  Dr. Frank has participated in many radio and TV programs in the U.S. 
and Europe. He appeared on French and German television and was a 
specialist on African Preserved Religion in the Americas and narrator 
for FINNISH TELEVISION in Finland. He was a consultant for the Voodoo 
segment of the series ``In Search of Voodoo by Landsburg Productions''. 
The program was first aired on WNBC-TV. He also was a consultant for 
WABC-TV in the 20/20 segment on ``Zombification''. He appeared with 
Wade Davis, the author of The Serpent and the Rainbow, as a guest on 
The Geraldo Riviera Show in opposition to the film of the same name. 
Dr. Frank was a consultant for the fabulous exhibit at the American 
Museum of Natural History in New York entitled, ``The Sacred Art of 
Haitian Vodou'' that was on view from October 10, 1998 to January 3, 
1999 and attracted 70,000 viewers. He also gave numerous lecture 
presentations and participated in panel discussions in conjunction with 
the exhibit. He continually serves as a consultant for that scientific 
and cultural institution.
  Since April 1991, Dr. Frank has been the Executive Director of the 
Haitian Centers Council, a consortium of eight Haitian Centers 
nationwide. It is important to note that the Haitian Centers Council 
(HCC) offers the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS education and prevention 
program to the Haitian community at large for over 20 years, but not 
exclusively. It also provides services to other Caribbean and minority 
communities including French-speaking Africans. The oganization has a 
16 unit residential facility with support services for people with AIDS 
(PWA). In collaboration with the NYC Department of Education and United 
Way of NYC, HCC conducts programs for high school students pertaining 
to academic enhancement, cultural and historical enrichment, 
leadership, and socialization skills. HCC also provides a comprehensive 
Domestic Violence Prevention program to the Haitian community at large 
and other minority communities. Under Dr. Frank's direction, HCC has 
been on the forefront of immigration issues, and the protection and 
defense of Haitian immigrant rights in the U.S and beyond.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize 
the accomplishments of Henry Frank, as he offers his talents and 
services for the betterment of our local and global communities.
  Mr. Speaker, Henry Frank's selfless service has continuously 
demonstrated a level of altruistic dedication that makes him most 
worthy of our recognition today.

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