[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 160 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1911-E1912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO RUTH CHERRY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 24, 2011

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor Ruth 
Cherry for her tremendous impact on the lives of Brooklyn youth.
  Ruth Cherry has made a lifelong commitment to educating young 
children and their families by providing them with opportunities that 
encompass the most innovative learning strategies and essential 
services to spark a new-range of possibilities in their lives.
  Born in ``Snakebite'' and raised in Ahoskie, North Carolina, Ruth 
earned her BA degree in Psychology at North Carolina Central University 
and her Masters degree in Education from Bank Street College of 
Education in New York.
  ln 1965 the Federal Government declared a ``War on Poverty'' by 
creating Head Start, a national preschool program for underserved young 
children and their families. It was then that Ruth Cherry would be able 
to hone her skills and solidify her commitment to children and families 
when in 1966 the Bedford Stuyvesant community, under the sponsorship of 
a community based organization named Youth-In-Action, created the 
Bedford Stuyvesant Head Start--now known as Bedford Stuyvesant Early 
Childhood Development Center, Inc.
  Ruth Cherry began her career in education as a Group Teacher and as 
Bed Stuy Head Start's first official employee. Through devotion and 
hard work Ruth was able to diligently move up the ladder. Ruth went 
from her first role as Group Teacher to her current role as Executive 
Director, with many positions in between.
  During Ruth Cherry's 40-year tenure and counting at Bed Stuy Head 
Start she has been the forerunner of the development, coordination and 
implementation of programs that meet the needs of the children and 
families of Bedford Stuyvesant. Ruth has utilized her expertise as an 
``award-winning'' grant writer to acquire millions of dollars to 
supplement existing, and implement additional high-quality services to 
children and families. One such grant allowed Bed Stuy Head Start to 
implement a New York State Even Start Family Literacy Program which 
provided adults who were deemed most in need with an opportunity to 
participate in adult literacy programs that led to a GED.
  After the September 11th crisis, Ruth wrote a grant that created a 
program to support and provide mental health services to Bed Stuy Head 
Start families affected by the tragedy.
  Her latest endeavors include the development and coordination of one 
of the first Universal Pre-Kindergarten programs in the Greater New 
York area and the Bed Stuy Head Start Extended Day Program.

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