[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 43 (Sunday, March 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E429-E430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO ADUKE AREMU

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Sunday, March 21, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Aduke Aremu, 
an educator and writer whose work has helped children in Brooklyn and 
throughout the world.
  Aduke Aremu was born in Brooklyn, New York where she graduated with 
honors from George W. Wingate High School. She received scholarships 
and awards to attend Hunter College where she graduated from with a 
Bachelor's Degree and Masters Degree in Education and Theatre. She 
received her degree in Education Administration and Supervision from 
the College of New Rochelle and a Ph.D. from New York University.
  Her success as an educator and writer took her to Africa many times 
and eventually she received the loving name Aduke Aremu which she uses 
as an international writer along with her birth name Gwendolyn given to 
her by her parents.
  Aduke Aremu worked for the Department of Education of New York City, 
the Department of Education of Connecticut and the Department of 
Education of Westchester County. During this 27 year period, she opened 
two Innovative schools: The Star Academy was created and opened by 
Aduke in the South Bronx for Bi-Lingual Students and the International 
Arts Business School at Wingate High School. The International Arts 
Business School was the brain-child of Aduke Aremu and funded by the 
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the United 
Federation of Teachers and the New York City Board of Education. Aduke 
organized a committee of business people, political leaders, artists 
and community leaders to galvanize interest in this project which found 
a home as a small school

[[Page E430]]

at Wingate High School. Ms. Aremu partnered with Ana Goldson-Walker who 
introduced the business community and bi-lingual educators and artists.
  During the 27 year period as an educator and administrator she 
created and organized numerous children projects, productions and 
workshops to include innovative practices in education and progressive 
arts and reading programs.
  For 20 years she created and administered the world renowned Harlem 
Children's Theatre, a not-for-profit education and arts organization 
that performed in Nigeria, Jamaica, Barbados, France, Spain, England, 
Bermuda and Germany.
  This Education Theatre company was also a special guest of the 
Nigerian Government at Festac (an International Festival of the Arts) 
and the Jamaican and Barbados Consul General. In Jamaica and Barbados 
she organized education missions. In 1985 she formed two additional new 
education nonprofits for the children of Brooklyn: New Dove and the New 
York Youth Consortium, Inc.
  Aduke Aremu is also a published writer whose children books were 
published by Gumbs and Thomas of New York, a book of poetry published 
in Germany and in Atlanta, Georgia and ten plays that have been 
produced at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Public Theatre by 
the late Joseph Papp, the Negro Ensemble Company by renowned Director 
Douglas Turner Ward, The Billie Holiday Theatre, Lincoln Center for the 
Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Town 
Hall, and 42nd Street Theatre Row.
  Aduke also received an Award from the Nigerian Government for her 
writings.
  Aduke has studied education abroad and worked with educators, artists 
and writers in Ghana, Germany, Nigeria, Benin, Tanzania Kenya, Jamaica 
and Barbados.
  Aduke Aremu has serviced as a consultant for NEA in Washington, DC, 
the New York State Council for the Arts, the Governor's Office of New 
York and the United Nations with the late Mrs. Andrew Young. Presently 
Aduke is the CEO of the International Public Relations and Fund Raising 
Company--Dove LLC of Atlanta, Georgia and New York City.
  Aduke Aremu is married to Calvin Anderson of New Rochelle, New York 
and has an extended family of four young adults (Hakim, CJ, Mimi and 
Tricia).
  Aduke Aremu owes her success to Jehovah-God and great mentors, family 
and friends especially Vivian Y. Bright, Ana Goldson-Walker of 
Brooklyn, New York and Dawn Alli of New Jersey. These ladies have 
served as mentors and positive role models for Aduke's life goals and 
accomplishments.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
achievements and contributions of Aduke Aremu.

                          ____________________