[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 127 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO BENITA A. ALLISON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Benita A. 
Allison, a distinguished citizen of Brooklyn, New York. It behooves us 
to pay tribute to this outstanding woman and I hope my colleagues will 
join me in recognizing her many accomplishments.
  Born to the late Lamonias Smith-Ody and William Smith, Benita A. 
Allison remains a part of the Brooklyn community today. Ms. Allison is 
a product of the New York public school system and has received 
certificates from Brooklyn College and New York University.
  Ms. Allison has had many firsts in her career and life, among them; 
she was the first Black woman to be an Institutional Stock Trader for a 
major bank in New York City. She was accepted in one of the first 
classes that included woman of color to enter and graduate from the New 
York City Police Academy as a New York City Police Officer where she 
served 18 months.
  Ms. Allison has been very involved in the community. She represents 
her church, 1st Baptist Church of Crown Heights, as a ``Mission 
Advocate''. Ms. Allison holds numerous memberships and sits on many 
community boards. She sits on the Economic Development Board of 
Community Board 8 and is a member of the Service Corp of Retired 
Executives. Ms. Allison is a lifetime member of Church Women United in 
Brooklyn and is a past member of the National Council of Negro Women 
(Flatbush Section). Ms. Allison served as a Regional Resource 
Consultant for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she 
was responsible for providing capacity building services to the 
minority community/faith based HIV/AIDS population. She has also served 
on the Mental Health Advisory Board for Brookdale University Hospital 
in Brooklyn, New York and the Pastoral Care HIV/AIDS Advisory Board for 
Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.
  Since 2003, Ms. Allison has worked as a Parent Coordinator for New 
York City Department of Education. As a Parent Coordinator she works 
and partners with community organizations to assist parents and 
families with such issues as housing, employment, adult training and 
education. She has held workshops to address such topics as adult 
education training, immigration and conflict mediation.
  Ms. Allison's work has not gone unnoticed and has earned her 
recognition from the New York City Conference of Mayors, the New Jersey 
HIV Care Network and Barber-Scotia College.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize 
the work of Benita A. Allison. Her deep commitment to her family and 
community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

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