[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 183 (Thursday, December 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNITION OF THE COMMUNITY ADOLESCENT AND EDUCATION CENTER OF 
                         HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. OLVER

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2011

  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the invaluable 
contributions that the Community Adolescent and Education, Care, 
Center, Inc. of Holyoke, Massachusetts makes to the community by 
improving the lives of teen mothers and their children.
  Among the Care Center's core beliefs is that people living in poverty 
should be exposed to the same intellectual stimulus as those who are 
financially well off and that they will thrive if they receive it. The 
Center, therefore, works extremely hard to provide young mothers with 
high level programming in education, the arts and humanities, and 
athletics. These programs have been incredibly effective with up to 85 
percent of graduates going on to college and many launching careers in 
social services, government and medicine.
  On November 2, 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the Care 
Center with the prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program 
Award for its innovative humanities courses. I have been a proud 
supporter of the Center and its vital work, and I cannot think of a 
more deserving institution in my district.
  Over 500 organizations from across the country were nominated for the 
award which, administered by the President's Committee on the Arts and 
Humanities, is considered to be the highest honor for such programs in 
the nation. The Care Center is one of 12 after-school and out-of-school 
programs to receive the award and it was, in particular, recognized for 
its exceptional humanities programming. This included the Clemente 
Course in the Humanities, a free college course focusing on moral 
philosophy, art history, literature, writing, and American history; 
Introduction to Humanities, a college course offered in partnership 
with Greenfield Community College; and Nautilus II, an annual anthology 
of poetry and art by Center teen mothers.
  The Care Center is dedicated to helping young parents with low 
incomes obtain access to an excellent education. Center Executive 
Director Anne Teschner and her dedicated staff, through their 
revolutionary programming, have opened doors leading to successful 
futures for hundreds of teens and their children. I commend the Care 
Center on these efforts and am confident that this national recognition 
can be a catalyst that allows it to help hundreds more in years to 
come.

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