[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING MARRAKECH, INC. ON ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2011

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand today to join the many 
who have gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Marrakech, Inc., 
a wonderful organization dedicated to providing an array of services to 
persons with disabilities. This is a remarkable milestone for this very 
special organization.
  Marrakech was founded in 1971 with the establishment of the first 
halfway house in Connecticut for women with mental retardation. What 
began as a pilot program has grown into a respected organization and 
recognized leader in the development of innovative programs and 
services for people with challenging behaviors, families with complex 
needs, youth who are at risk, and people without disabilities who are 
unemployed and underemployed.
  Marrakech, Inc. began as a crusade to prove a point, the brainchild 
of two young Yale undergraduates, Susan Waisbren and Francie Brody. It 
was all because of a young woman named Valerie Chain who Susan had met 
through Yale Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Susan and Francie came to know 
Valerie's friends as well. They soon realized how capable these young 
New Haven women with mild mental retardation were, and how they would 
thrive in a halfway house. Thus began their mission of creating an 
environment which would highlight the talents of these women and 
promoted their ability to self direct their lives. Marrakech House 
opened as a summer pilot program and eight young women, including 
Valerie, spent the summer in a sublet, supervised apartment on Crown 
Street. Forty years later, Marrakech, Inc. subscribes to a practice 
that assures that each person who is referred for services has a highly 
individualized service plan.
  One of Marrakech, Inc.'s goals has always been normalization, 
achieving a level of independence that would allow all people to become 
more a part of the community. Susan once said, ``Normalization does not 
mean merely adjusting to society's norms. It means educating the 
community to expand its definition of `normal.' '' Yet, after the first 
summer of Marrakech, she added, ``We never really wanted normalization. 
We wanted something better. Too often, normalcy in our society means 
conformity and compromise. We strove for consciousness, tolerance, and 
imagination.''
  In its forty year history, Marrakech has transformed the lives of 
thousands. For all of the good work that they are doing in our 
community and in the lives of their clients, I am proud to rise today 
to extend my sincere congratulations to Marrakech, Inc. on their 40th 
anniversary. I have no doubt that this extraordinary organization will 
only continue to enjoy great success in all of their endeavors on 
behalf of our community.

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