[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 48 (Thursday, March 22, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E434-E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING LONG-TIME LOS ANGELES RESIDENT AND DEDICATED COMMUNITY 
                      SERVANT: MS. IRENE PORTILLO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2012

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great loss to our 
community, Ms. Irene Portillo, who passed away on March 13, 2012, after 
a valiant battle with cancer. My heart goes out to her two children, 
Desiree Portillo Rabinov and Darren Rae Portillo; her son-in-law, Paul 
Rabinov; her grandchildren Paloma Irene and David Darren Rabinov; her 
brothers Henry Jr., Armando, Mario and Arturo Esparza; her nieces and 
nephews; and all of her family and friends.
  Irene was an extraordinary citizen of the city and county of Los 
Angeles. Born and raised in East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights, she led 
a life dedicated to community service and improving the lives of her 
fellow Angelinos.

[[Page E435]]

  Ms. Portillo's most lasting legacy was her service as founding member 
and Executive Director of Project Amiga, a non-profit, community based 
organization that provides education and computer training, support 
services, job placement and other assistance to at-risk youth and 
adults in Los Angeles County. Irene personally oversaw Project Amiga's 
training programs, and mentored many Welfare to Work participants and 
at-risk youth to help improve their lives and become self-sufficient.
  Irene truly loved her community. Not only did she create a whole new 
organization in Project Amiga to provide badly needed support services 
for our most economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, but 
she also dedicated much of her life to educating and molding our youth. 
She did this through many different avenues, as a tenured instructor at 
Rio Hondo College and as a Presidential Appointee on the National 
Advisory Councils on Vocational Education and Women's Educational 
Programs.
  Irene also worked hard to give folks a second chance at life, as the 
first Hispanic woman to manage one of the largest California State 
Employment Development Department offices. Through the EDD, she worked 
with felons recently released from the penal system and transitioning 
back into the community. Irene received many awards for her work, from 
L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and 
many others.
  I urge my House colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Irene Portillo 
for her record of community service, her indomitable spirit and her 
remarkable service and contributions to her community and to our 
nation.

                          ____________________