[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 131 (Wednesday, September 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE VETERANS OF HOPE PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2011

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary work of 
Dr. Vincent Harding and the Veterans of Hope Project, VOHP, 
headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1997 by long-time human-
rights activists and educators Dr. Harding and the late Rosemarie 
Freeney Harding, the Project encourages a healing-centered approach to 
community building, creativity and education regarding religion, 
culture, democracy, reconciliation and nonviolence.
  The couple founded the Project on the Iliff School of Theology 
campus, where Dr. Harding was a decades-long faculty member. Borrowing 
from Dr. and Mrs. Harding's deep roots in the Southern Freedom Movement 
of the 1960s, the Veterans of Hope Project took shape as a spirit-
centered social justice and humanitarianism campaign.
  With the help of their daughter, Rachel, the Hardings honed the 
Project as an education resource for spiritual, intergenerational 
community building and compassionate leadership development. One 
example of their multi-faceted work is a series of professionally 
filmed interviews with over 70 pioneering activists from around the 
world, including Grace Lee Boggs, Staughton and Alice Lynd, Charles 
Long, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Tom Feelings, Katherine Dunham, Imam 
Warith Deen Muhammad, Dolores Huerta, Vine Deloria, Corky Gonzales, 
Andrew Young, Dorothy Cotton, Bishop Samuel Ruiz, Gwendolyn Zoharah 
Simmons and others.
  Currently, the Project is creating a ``Network of Hope'' that engages 
youth and elders to demonstrate and develop compassionate leadership 
skills. With the help of Executive Director Gloria Smith, staff, 
volunteers and Dr. Harding's guiding and inspirational vision, the 
Veterans of Hope Project is preparing a compassionate leadership force 
for the 21st century. VOHP's effective programming includes an 
``Ambassadors of Hope'' program that utilizes creative mentorship 
opportunities between elders and youth, workshops and training in 
compassionate leadership development, and a public symposium series.
  Moreover, as Dr. Vincent Harding celebrates his 80th birthday, I 
would like to personally thank him for his continued work to build 
community bridges across national, racial, ethnic, religious, class and 
gender lines. His ever-expanding network of friends, colleagues and 
collaborators, including Education for Liberation, The Black Star 
Project and the Tewa Women's Project, speak of the breadth of his 
recent travels and the vast extent of his altruism.
  Therefore, I salute Dr. Vincent Harding and the Veterans of Hope 
Project as they continue to tell the stories of faith, peace and 
justice that communities around the world must recognize, promote and 
impart. Thank you, once again, for all that you do to educate and 
encourage a new generation of compassionate leaders. I wish you all the 
best in the coming years.

                          ____________________