[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO ANNA GONZALEZ

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Anna 
Gonzalez, a resident of Brooklyn for more than 40 years. Anna is the 
current director of the Hope Gardens Multi-Service Center; a community 
center that seeks to educate and empower the people of Bushwick, 
Brooklyn.
  Anna Gonzalez, formerly Anna Rodriguez, attended Clara Barton High 
School. Ms. Gonzalez worked as a nurse during her 20s until she decided 
to take time off to raise a family. She first became involved in 
community activism at Public School 86, the elementary school her 
children attended. She worked as a parent leader, volunteering to help 
improve the school and then as a leader of a successful boycott to 
prevent the school's rezoning by local officials.
  Ms. Gonzalez's participation in the boycott was a springboard to her 
next position as Community Associate with the Knickerbocker-Wycoff 
Service Center, an organization that assists residents with their 
problems and concerns. Ms. Gonzalez then worked at St. Barbara's Roman 
Catholic Church, organizing and running youth activities and religious 
educational services. In 1981, she accepted a position at the P-60 
Senior Center, now the Hope Gardens Multi-Service Center. Within 6 
months she was promoted to director.
  Ms. Gonzalez's tenure as the Director of Hope Gardens has been marked 
by huge growth in the number of services that are being offered as well 
as the number of people being served. Today, Hope Gardens is an 
important community resource. However, her professional 
responsibilities did not interfere with her community involvement. Ms. 
Gonzalez was elected twice, the first time as a write-in candidate, to 
Community School Board #32, serving as chair for 2 years. She has also 
served on Community Planning Board #4 for more than 20 years, serving 
as chair for more than 6 years.
  Ms. Gonzalez has been married to Pablo Gonzalez for 46 years; is the 
mother of four children: George, Aida, Jose, and Ralph; and the 
grandmother of seven children: Christopher, Justin, Anissa, Jacob, 
Megan, Kelsey, and Jeremy.
  Madam Speaker, I cannot say enough about Anna Gonzalez. She is 
extremely generous with her time and cares a lot about her community.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
this awesome woman.

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