[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF LUIS ALEJO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 19, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Luis Alejo on 
being awarded the 2005 Democrat of the Year for Santa Cruz County, 
given by the Democratic Central Committee, DCC, of Santa Cruz. Luis is 
an amazing young man with many attributes that make him a perfect 
candidate for this special award. He is a passionate, zealous, and 
intelligent person with a drive to educate and assist those who need it 
the most.
  Luis' academic achievements help him work to better the community and 
residents of Santa Cruz County. Luis, a native of Watsonville, 
California, received dual B.A. degrees from UC Berkeley in 1997 and his 
Juris Doctorate (JD) from UC Davis School of Law in 2001. He received 
his master's degree in education from Harvard University in 2003. His 
academic accomplishments led him back home, where he has been an active 
member of the community.
  After graduating from Harvard, Luis came back to Watsonville where he 
became a staff attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance, CRLA, 
While working at the CRLA, Luis worked on education, housing, public 
benefits and civil rights cases on behalf of low-income families and 
residents. Luis has always been a champion for empowering those who 
feel their rights have been violated. Luis has also worked to educate 
people on the rights given to them as laid out in the Constitution.
  Luis brought his passion into the classroom as a high school teacher 
in Watsonville. As a former teacher he continues to inspire Watsonville 
youth as the director of the Student Empowerment Project. Luis later 
became a member of the California advisor committee of the U.S. 
Commission on Civil Rights, of which he was nominated by a former 
California Supreme Court Justice, Cruz Reynoso. As a civil rights 
activist, he has been the point person for distributing valuable 
information to Watsonville residents about the process and requirements 
to become naturalized citizens.
  As a member of the DCC, Luis has worked tirelessly to modify by-laws 
and endorsement policies and procedures within the organization. He is 
currently in charge of the endorsement program for all the political 
races for 2006 in Santa Cruz County. As the Watsonville representative 
of the DCC, Luis has effectively organized Watsonville residents in 
order to unite them on Democratic causes through the creation of the 
Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez Democratic Club.
  Luis is currently the chair of the Pajaro Valley Cesar Chavez 
Democratic Club. The Pajaro Valley community points to Luis as the key 
person who has brought inspiration and resources to Watsonville. He 
also spearheaded a registration drive targeting voters in order to 
educate them on how to get their voices heard.
  Mr. Speaker, for all of these reasons, it is with great pleasure that 
I acknowledge Luis Alejo. He has proven himself to be a person who 
works for the people of the community, and his hard work has changed 
Santa Cruz County for the better. He continues to educate people, and 
for that I acknowledge him today.

                          ____________________