[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF MIRIAM AYLLON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, today I rise, along with Congresswoman Zoe 
Lofgren, to honor the life and contributions of Mrs. Miriam Ayllon, who 
recently passed away. Miriam is survived by her son, Huascar Castro, 
and her loving husband, Marvin Castro. She will be sorely missed by her 
friends and by the people she helped. Today, I honor her energy, her 
determination, and her lifelong service to many communities here in the 
United States and in Bolivia.
  Miriam Ayllon was born in La Paz, Bolivia, on June 14, 1959. At the 
age of 13, she began volunteering at a nursing home across the street 
from her school reading to elderly patients. Miriam grew up wanting to 
make a difference in the lives of the poor and the underserved.
  Miriam moved to the United States in 1977 to live with relatives. She 
attended both Foothill and De Anza Colleges in California. Later, she 
moved to Houston, where she studied economics at the University of 
Houston. Soon after graduation, she moved to New York where she met her 
husband, Marvin Castro. In New York, she helped start an English as a 
Second Language school.
  In 1988, Ms. Ayllon and her husband relocated to San Jose, 
California, where they later had their son, Huascar. In San Jose, she 
joined the Mexican American Community Service Agency (MACSA), where she 
helped senior citizens find affordable housing and worked to build a 
youth center. Later, she worked at the Santa Clara Valley 
Transportation Authority (SCVTA). At SCVTA, she helped coordinate 
transportation for the poor, especially those in East San Jose. She 
also managed to earn a Masters of Science degree in Transportation 
Management from San Jose State University.
  Ms. Ayllon also served her community through personal volunteerism 
and community projects. Miriam's community advocacy included empowering 
others to advocate for themselves. She co-founded the Latina Coalition 
of Silicon Valley and served on its board, as well as the School Site 
Council of Noble Elementary School, and the Board of MACSA.
  Though the United States was her home, Miriam never forgot her 
Bolivian roots. In 2001, she founded an orphanage for homeless girls in 
Cochabamba, Bolivia, called Casa de la Alegria (``House of Joy''). The 
girls are provided with room, board, health care, clothing, and 
education until they graduate from high school.
  Ms. Ayllon had the vision to address broader issues, yet she remained 
grounded enough to respond to the needs of those immediately around 
her. When an SCVTA co-worker's home burned down, Miriam immediately 
dedicated her time and effort to raising money and collecting necessary 
supplies for the family that had lost so much.
  Miriam always made time for family and friends. Despite her important 
work in so many different professional and community arenas, her most 
important role was being a mother to her 15-year-old son. She loved to 
go dancing with friends and set up family dinners on Sundays.
  Miriam was a gentle and loving soul, committed to justice for all. 
Her involvement in so many projects, which focused on access for the 
underserved, was a reflection of that commitment. Miriam's compassion 
was equaled only by her strength. She left a lasting impression on 
anyone she came across and was a strong champion of women's leadership 
development.
  Miriam Ayllon died at the young age of 47 in a tragic accident while 
vacationing in Bolivia. When she passed away, the San Francisco Bay 
area lost one of its most dynamic leaders. Miriam was an advocate for 
women and the underserved from San Jose to South America. She will 
truly be missed by all those who had the opportunity to benefit from 
her generous service and those of us who were inspired by her 
commitment to community.

                          ____________________