[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 133 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF MS. SHELLEY ROBERTS' DECADES OF SERVICE TO THE 
  BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HOUSE AND GREATER SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 9, 2011

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Shelley 
Roberts, President and CEO of the Community House in Birmingham, 
Michigan, as she is honored with the Community House's 2011 Community 
Service Award.
  Ms. Roberts has had a long and illustrious career which has spanned 
both the public and private sectors. For many years prior to her career 
in the non-profit public sector, Ms. Roberts was employed as an 
attorney with Dickinson Wright, beginning as an associate and after 
much hard work, became an equity partner. After her time with the firm, 
Ms. Roberts went on to work in development for Orchards Children's 
Services and the Jewish Federation of Detroit, before joining the 
Community House in 1998.
  Ms. Roberts' support of the Community House and its mission extends 
to well before she joined as its CEO thirteen years ago. Prior to that, 
she served on its board, undertaking many different responsibilities 
during her tenure, such as serving as President between 1988 and 1990, 
where she oversaw the renovation of the Community House and as chair of 
its Community Advisory and Child Care Advisory Boards.
  Under Ms. Roberts' leadership the Community House has been recognized 
by many community stakeholders for the work it has done to develop 
cross-cultural dialogue and foster a healthy, productive community. As 
President and CEO, Ms. Roberts has continued to emphasize the Community 
House's Race Relations Diversity Task Force and 21st Century Leaders 
program; both are designed to foster cross-cultural dialogue. She has 
continued to strengthen its scholarship programs which provide students 
with the ability to further their arts education. Among the awards 
Community House has received are New Detroit's Closing the Gap Award 
and the South Oakland NAACP's Outstanding Community Award for the 
Community House's support of multicultural programs which have 
furthered interracial dialogue and understanding. Additionally, the 
Community House has been recognized as one of the ``101 Best Places to 
Work'' by Metropolitan Detroit.
  While serving in her professional role with the Community House, Ms. 
Roberts has continued to be an active volunteer leader in the 
community, investing considerable energy and time into supporting other 
community agencies and groups. During her volunteer service, Ms. 
Roberts has served on the boards of the Alzheimer's Association, Common 
Ground and Planned Parenthood. As an active member of her immediate 
community, Ms. Roberts also served as President of the Birmingham-
Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Roberts' most current volunteer 
endeavors include work as a member of the boards of Children's Home, 
Big D and YouthVille in Detroit, as well as several organizations 
involving New Detroit.
  Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that Ms. Roberts is being honored so 
publicly by the Community House for her many decades of volunteer 
service, not just to the Community House, but for her work with many 
organizations across Southeast Michigan. Ms. Roberts' decades of work 
have undoubtedly impacted the lives of so many across the Southeast 
Michigan region and I wish her continued success in her future 
endeavors.

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