[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 52 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO AGNES E. GREEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 26, 2007

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Agnes E. 
Green. Agnes E. Green is the eldest of seven children born to David and 
Agnes Cokley, and the mother of one son, Eric. She is currently the 
Assistant Director of Public Affairs at Spring Creek Towers and the 
Editor-in-Chief of its newspaper, The Spring Creek Sun.
  Born and raised in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant and now a resident 
of Prospect Heights, Agnes is an activist who possesses a strong desire 
to obtain the greatest good for her community.
  While living in Crown Heights where her son was raised, she became 
active in the parent associations and often served as president. Her 
leadership was rewarded and she became a member on the Executive Board 
of the citywide United Parents Association and later the Board 
President.
  As a parent leader, Agnes gained a reputation as an independent, 
outspoken voice for all children's entitlement to a quality education 
and parents' rights to participate in their education. Because of her 
advocacy, she was asked by leaders of the CSD 17 Presidents' Council to 
represent them in the race for a seat on Community School Board 17. 
With the collective energy of parents and community support, she was 
elected in 1983 and in every Board election thereafter, until the New 
York City School Board was dissolved in 2004.
  As a first term Board member, Agnes surprised many by becoming 
President of the CSB 17 and held other officer and committee chair 
positions throughout her 17 years as an elected school official.
  She was appointed by Mayor Edward I. Koch to serve on the newly 
created AIDS panel for school-aged children in August 1985. She was the 
first parent representative to serve during one of the most contentious 
periods in the City's public school history. The panel reviewed the 
medical status and family history of children diagnosed HIV positive.
  The end of the School Board did not diminish Agnes' commitment to 
urging the improvement of public school education. She is a founding 
member of Black New Yorkers for Educational Excellence, a citywide 
progressive organization whose mission is to actively work for 
education as a means of liberation.
  Agnes, an honor student throughout public school, was also Bushwick 
High School's first Black and first female to be elected President of 
the Student Government Association. Her college education began at 
Brooklyn College and formally ended at New York University where she 
majored in Broadcast Journalism and minored in English literature.
  After attending NYU, Agnes was hired by WCBS Newsradio 88 where she 
worked for 19 years. She began as a News Desk Assistant and quickly 
rose to Chief News Desk Assistant. Through her many years at WCBS Radio 
she won numerous awards.
  Agnes is currently the producer and host of Everyday People and 
Everyday Voices aired monthly on Brooklyn Community Access Television.
  Her passions include outdoor music concerts, jazz festivals, live 
theatrical productions, taking photos, and collecting Black 
memorabilia.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize this outstanding journalist 
for all of her work.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
Agnes E. Green.

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