[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1693-E1694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO DR. DIVINE PRYOR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 2010

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
achievements and contributions of Dr. Divine Pryor.
  Dr. Pryor is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Center for 
Nu Leadership on Urban Solutions, the world's first and only academic 
center and problem solving public policy think tank created, developed, 
and administered by formerly incarcerated professionals, representing 
every discipline from law to medicine. One of the many goals of the 
Center, located at the City University of New York's historic Medgar 
Evers College, is to offer an alternative voice in the analysis of 
criminal and social justice issues by including the combined lived and 
academic experiences and expertise of people who have had firsthand 
knowledge of the social, judicial, and economic systems that scar so 
many communities.
  Before ever attending a formal institution, Dr. Pryor acquired his 
very first degree from

[[Page E1694]]

the ``school of hard knocks'' with a Ph.D. from UCLA. That is the 
``University on the Corner of Lenox Avenue in New York City.'' While 
incarcerated, he would rediscover his love for learning and resume his 
educational journey. After his release in 1991 he successfully 
completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at the State 
Universities of New York in Albany and New Paltz, ultimately acquiring 
his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice with a major in forensic psychology.
  Dr. Pryor is a social scientist who has extensive knowledge and 
experience in the health and social service fields, having spent over 
half his career administrating HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, substance 
abuse and other social service non-profits. He has traveled extensively 
providing expertise counsel on criminal justice issues to judges, 
prosecutors and others for the purpose of influencing policy decisions. 
In addition, he has developed trainings and workshops for professionals 
that address issues such as anti-gang initiatives, poverty, literacy, 
unemployment, housing and healthcare. He is a highly sought after 
technical assistance provider who has helped countless organizations 
build infrastructure and capacity. He continues to offer his insights 
in a number of arenas as a consultant to help agencies build capacity 
and create new innovations in the field of social and criminal justice 
reform.
  In 2001 he was appointed by the Council of State Governors to the 
National Reentry Policy Council, where he and over 100 national experts 
produced the most voluminous work in re-entry in the nation. He is 
currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Legal AID 
& Defender Assocation and the National Council of Previously 
Incarcerated Professionals, both based in Washington, DC. He is also 
Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Community Justice Center 
of New York and Chair of the Advisory Board for the Developing Justice 
Project in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Pryor is also Co-Chair of the 
Criminal Justice Policy Cluster for the Black Brooklyn Empowerment 
Coalition. Most recently, Dr. Pryor was appointed by the Majority 
Leader of the New York State Senate to co-chair the New York State 
Anti-Gang Violence Reduction Commission. In addition to his leadership 
roles, he is also an active member of a number of local, regional, and 
national legislative, social and political advocacy groups whose focus 
is to effect positive change.
  Dr. Pryor is an eloquent public speaker, lecturer, trainer, and 
overall educational specialist, whose delivery is insightfully 
powerful, informative, and extremely impacted by the depth of research 
and analysis he has been engaged in over the years. More recently, he 
has been traveling outside the United States promoting innovative 
thinking, alternative leadership concepts and the emergence of this Nu 
and provocative approach to problem solving. Throughout his life, Dr. 
Pryor has remained a dedicated student and is honored to be here with 
us today.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
achievements of Dr. Divine Pryor.

                          ____________________