[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING CHERYL McCLENNEY-BROOKER AT THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2012

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, the Philadelphia arts community is losing a 
highly talented administrator and dedicated advocate with the 
retirement in February of Cheryl McClenney-Brooker as Director of 
External Affairs for the Philadelphia Museum of Art after a remarkable 
28 years of service.
  Ms. McClenney-Brooker, born, raised, and educated in Chicago, has 
worked in the cultural field and the museum profession for more than 40 
years. Her professional involvement with arts and culture began in New 
York City as Curatorial Coordinator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 
from 1970 to 1974, then two year stints as Assistant Director of the 
Museums Collaborative Cultural Voucher Program and Assistant 
Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. She 
moved to Washington D.C. to serve for five years as Director of 
Humanities Projects in Museums and Historical Organizations at the 
National Endowment for the Humanities.
  Then in 1983 Ms. McClenney-Brooker arrived on the scene of 
Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, to 
begin this most notable stage of her career at the Philadelphia Museum 
of Art--and seemingly everywhere in the cultural community. She has 
shown a special gift for leadership and inspiration in African American 
and Multicultural arts and culture, both in Philadelphia and as a 
roving ambassador around the world.
  Here's just a sampling: Ms. McClenney-Brooker is a member of the 
boards of directors of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, African 
American Museum in Philadelphia, Multicultural Affairs Congress of the 
Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Philadelphia Commission on 
African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, and The Jonathan Phillip Ford 
Memorial Foundation for Bipolar Disorder Awareness. She was Co-Founder 
and, from 1990 to 2005, Chair of the City-wide Philadelphia World AIDS 
Day/Day Without Art observance. She has served on federal, State and 
municipal funding panels, corporate and foundation funding committees, 
and works with several national, State, and local professional and 
community groups.
  Ms. McClenney-Brooker's honors include: a National Scholastic Art 
Magazine scholarship to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; 
International Council of Museums' travel grant to Europe; Partners of 
the Americas' museum travel grant to Brazil; Leadership Pennsylvania 
Certificate; African American Women of Achievement Award from the 
African American Museum in Philadelphia; Individual Achievement Award 
for Arts Administration from the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and 
Historical Organizations; and the Share the Heritage Award from the 
Multicultural Affairs Congress of the Philadelphia Convention and 
Visitors Bureau.
  One thing we know for sure about this tireless and selfless lady: As 
she transitions to ``official'' retirement with her husband, artist and 
art professor Moe Brooker, with the love of daughters Misha and Musa 
Brooker, she will simply have more time and energy to devote to the 
arts and culture projects that have consumed her life. I ask my 
colleagues in this House to join me in wishing good health, good times, 
and a productive ``retirement'' to Cheryl McClenney-Brooker.

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