[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 86 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING CONSTANCE RAU

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2008

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I stand today to pay tribute to Constance 
Rau as she retires from the Flint Community Schools. A celebration is 
planned for May 22 to recognize her work and contributions to Flint 
area youth.
  Connie Rau's work with the community began long before Flint 
Community Schools employed her. From 1975 to 1985 she was a senior 
therapist with the substance abuse program at Flint Osteopathic 
Hospital. She became a program manager at Insight Outpatient Chemical 
Dependency Clinic and then became the director of Children and 
Adolescent Services with the Genesee County Commission on Substance 
Abuse Services. It was during this time that Connie also started to 
write a column in the Flint Journal entitled ``Considering Kids'' and 
she was an instructor at Mott Community College. She also was an intern 
field supervisor for several area universities.
  As a member of the Flint Community Schools Youth Projects staff, 
Connie has had tremendous impact on the children of Flint. She was 
instrumental in organizing several programs that directly benefited the 
most vulnerable children in the Flint school system. She coordinates 
two intervention programs for the Genesee County Family Court, the 
Youth Projects Diversion and the Youth Projects Diversion--Attendance 
Court. She established the ``Roast and Toast'' fundraiser for student 
activities, She established the ``Shoes that Fit'' Flint Chapter, the 
Language Exchange program, and the Teen Female Expo. Working with Quota 
International of Flint, Connie launched the Cops and Kids program.
  Recognized by the Woodrow Stanley Foundation for her work with 
children, Connie is a co-founder of the Mayor's Committee for National 
Youth Service Day recognizing the thousands of Community service hours 
the youth of Flint have contributed to improving the quality of life in 
their hometown.
  In addition to her work with children, Connie is active in Peace 
Lutheran Church, at various times she has held the positions of 
Director of Education, Director of Finance, and currently is Director 
of Stewardship. She is on the Board of Directors for the Intake, 
Assessment and Referral Center and she is a mentor in the Big Brother, 
Big Sisters Lunch Buddies program.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me and 
applaud the work of Constance Rau as she retires from the Flint 
Community Schools. She has spent her life devoted to children and has 
enriched their lives through her work. All will miss her insight, 
innovative spirit and enthusiasm for her work and community. However, 
we know that she will always be meaningfully involved.

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