[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING DR. ODETE AMARELO ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

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                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2008

  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a wonderful 
Massachusetts resident, Dr. Odete Amarelo, on the occasion of her 
retirement.
  Maria Odete Cordeiro Morgado Amarelo was born in Arrifes, Rua da 
Saude, in the Azores. After a visit from Cardinal Humberto de Sousa 
Medeiros that served as a great inspiration, her family made the 
decision to make a new life in the United States.
  Dr. Odete used her great energy, drive and passion to help others. 
She enrolled in a night program at Bristol Community College, 
eventually transferring to the University of Massachusetts. Two years 
later, she was hired by the Fall River School Department as a Teacher 
Assistant in the bilingual program. She later earned a BA from the 
University of Boston, a Master's Degree from Lesley College and a 
Doctorate Degree in Literacy from the Union Institute.
  Madam Speaker, that final degree I mentioned, a Doctorate in 
Literacy, says it all. Dr. Odete believes that education based upon 
literacy is a fundamental right. This has been her life's work, and her 
life's passion. As Dr. Odete has said, ``literacy can't exist in an 
isolated form, it's a process that is a part of our continued 
development.''
  Currently, Dr. Odete serves as the School/Parent coordinator for the 
Magnet Program in the Fall River Schools.
  I am proud to rise today in honoring Dr. Odete Amarelo and to thank 
her for her extraordinary work on behalf of the people of Fall River. 
Dr. Odete once said, ``it's not sufficient to say that we care, but to 
act and identify what is not right.'' Dr. Odete has been acting and 
identifying--and fixing--what is not right for many, many years. I know 
that my colleagues in the House join me in paying tribute to this 
remarkable woman.

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