[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 101 (Friday, July 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       A TRIBUTE TO WILMA CARTHAN

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ms. Wilma 
Carthan for her service to and excellence throughout her community as a 
model citizen.
  Ms. Wilma Carthan is an individual who understands and fully utilizes 
the opportunities provided by the Great Society programs. Ms. Carthan 
is a revered community leader who successfully raised six children as a 
single mother, and tirelessly worked her way from welfare recipient to 
social service executive.
  Over a period of fifteen years anti-poverty programs assisted Ms. 
Carthan in obtaining a high school diploma, a Bachelor's Degree and a 
Masters Degree. A career which started as a neighborhood community 
action worker steadily changed into social worker positions. She became 
administrator of youth programs and eventually Director of Community 
Affairs, Marketing and Patient Advocacy at the Brownsville Multi-
Service Family Health Center, one of the nation's oldest community 
health centers.
  Because of her insights, team-work skills and bountiful grass roots 
wisdom, Wilma Carthan has been called upon to serve in many research 
studies, group counseling and community planning efforts. At Syracuse 
University she assisted in the study of violent criminal behavior, was 
a co-author of a book on criminology entitled Pro-Social Gang: 
Implementing Aggression Replacement Training. She served on the New 
York City Board of Education Board of Examiners and also was on teams 
evaluating Title I reimbursable programs. For two decades she served as 
chairperson of the Board of the 200 Central Avenue Day Care Center. She 
is the recipient of numerous honors and awards but the most appropriate 
and revealing one is the unofficial title conferred upon her once as 
``The First Lady of Brooklyn Community Action''.
  As she celebrates this 75th birthday Wilma Carthan is probably most 
proud of the success of her sons and daughters who, despite the 
hardships of poverty, have all become productive family builders with 
more than a dozen grandchildren now climbing the ladder to self-
sufficiency as they fulfill their American dream. More than can be 
communicated with hundreds of slogans and thousands of words Wilma 
Carthan's life sends a message of revelation and how the highest 
returns are realized through our government's investment in our 
neediest citizens. With great admiration and appreciation we salute 
Wilma Carthan.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the work 
of Wilma Carthan.

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