[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 66 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E769-E773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2012

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize May as Asian Pacific 
American Heritage month and to a service organization from my district, 
the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) that provides crucial 
services to our community. This month gives us an opportunity to 
reflect and honor the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) who 
have enriched our nation with their countless contributions to American 
history.
  While generations of AAPIs have had profound impact on our nation and 
have achieved the American Dream, the AAPIs community is extremely 
diverse and some AAPIs have challenges and require assistance from 
federal programs to overcome obstacles in the journey to achieve the 
American Dream. Around the country, there are number AAPI community 
based organizations that provide assistance to the diverse AAPI 
community and doing great work to support AAPIs families. I applaud 
them for the work that they do everyday to help AAPIs to overcome these 
obstacles and to support to better their lives for themselves and their 
families.
  An example of an outstanding AAPI organization is the Pacific Asian 
Consortium in Employment (PACE) that is lead by a committed and 
dedicated individual--Kerry Doi, the President and CEO. The mission of 
the PACE is to create economic solutions to meet the challenges of 
employment, education, housing, business development and the 
environment in the Pacific Asian and other diverse communities. PACE is 
a non-profit community development organization founded in 1976 to 
address the employment and job training needs of the Pacific Asian 
Islander communities. PACE has since expanded into a variety of service 
areas, all tailored to meet the growing

[[Page E770]]

and changing needs of the multi-ethnic communities in Los Angeles 
County. Now, in addition to job training and employment services, 
significant PACE programs encompass: business development; early 
childhood education; financial education and asset building; housing 
and rehabilitation services; weatherization and energy-conservation 
programs; and affordable housing development. PACE's guiding principle 
in all their programs is the idea of expanding opportunity. A small 
sample of their business lines include:
  An extensive workforce development center which offers a variety of 
job training opportunities.
  190 affordable housing units and a home repair service to enable 
elderly and disabled persons to stay in their homes.
  An extensive energy and environmental program that promotes energy 
conservation.
  A business development center that provides entrepreneurial training, 
business counseling and access to capital.
  28 school sites offering early childhood education programming for 
more than 1,900 low income children and their families.
  A financial literacy and asset building program that provides 
financial skills training.
  This year, PACE established a new initiative called the Diversity and 
Democracy: America's Strength program that celebrates the important 
contributions that our nation's many diverse ethnicities, nationalities 
and races have made to our way of life--and the important role that 
government has played in their success. With the donation of 40 tickets 
from Southwest Airlines, PACE embarked on a journey to bring a diverse 
group of Federal program participants to Washington, DC to meet and 
hold a briefing with their elected representatives in Congress and 
representatives of federal agencies and the White House to tell their 
stories of how these programs have helped them on their journey to 
achieve the American Dream. The clients who are of various ethnic 
backgrounds will tell their own unique story describing how various 
programs empowered them to be able to become productive, economically 
self-sufficient Americans. They hope by conveying their real stories 
from PACE program participants will illustrate the key role that the 
various Federal programs have played in the lives of low income, ethnic 
minority, refugees, immigrants and asylees. Numbers tell one story; 
faces tell an even more important story.
  As we in Congress debate the funding levels of the Federal programs 
that have helped numerous PACE participants, it is important that we 
listen to the voices of the PACE participants who have been helped by 
these programs that helped them--to start a business, to get the job 
training they need to secure good paying jobs, to provide early 
childhood education and to help refugees gain the skills they need to 
begin a new life in America. I encourage all my colleagues to read the 
compelling stories of these individuals who have become productive, 
economically self-sufficient Americans because of the existence of 
these Federal programs.

                         Workforce Development

       I am Arax Nazarian.
        My story is about hope--how I almost lost it and then 
     found it again.
        In April 2009, my family and I arrived in the U.S. as 
     refugees from Iran. We fled our country seeking opportunities 
     for a better life and to raise our son in a safe place 
     without harsh discrimination. We came here without any money. 
     But we had lots of hope.
        The U.S. was going through one of its worst economic 
     downturn in 2009. I worried about how I could get a job to 
     support my family, repay my debt and help my parents back 
     home. I spoke very little English. I didn't have any work 
     experience in the U.S. I also needed some time to adjust to a 
     new society, new culture, and new rules.
       I applied for different full time jobs but I was denied 
     repeatedly for different reasons. I was studying days and 
     nights to improve my English and at the same time working in 
     any odd jobs that I could find. But I was barely making ends 
     meet. I felt helpless, desperate, frustrated and sad. I was 
     losing hope.
       My worry and sadness must have shown on my face.
       Because my 11-year old son came to me one day and said, 
     ``Don't worry, Mom. I don't need a new bow for my violin and 
     I am not interested in going on the school's field trip. I 
     just need your smile.'' I choked back the lump in my throat 
     with a sense of guilt that I could not provide for my child's 
     needs. I also felt a tinge of pain and pride in my heart that 
     my child would sacrifice his own needs for his mother. I must 
     not give up hope.
       A ray of hope came to me when I heard about the 
     Transitional Subsidized Employment program. I started my 
     first Work Experience job at PACE's Home Energy Assistance 
     Program Department where needy families get helped by paying 
     their gas and light bills. Through this on-the-job training 
     opportunity I became more skilled and confident. I learned 
     about my new society, work environment, rules and 
     regulations. Little by little I adjusted myself to a new life 
     here in the United States.
       Then I was offered a permanent job and I am now working at 
     PACE Weatherization Department as a Program Support Clerk. I 
     have earned recognition and respect from my coworkers.
       And the best of all, I am able to support my family. I am 
     happy that I am no longer dependent on public aid. My husband 
     has a peace of mind to focus on his education in pursuing his 
     carrier as an Electrician. My son has been growing up with 
     good manners. He is one of the best students in his school, 
     and receiving many awards.
       I hope the program will continue to give other people the 
     same opportunities I received. These programs give people 
     hope, create jobs and change people's lives. They gave me my 
     hope and changed my life.
                                  ____


                       Early Childhood Education

       My name is Benjamin Alcaraz.
       My story is about a Legacy through Education.
       Like many other families in my neighborhood my mother and 
     father emigrated from Mexico to America for a better life. 
     One thing my mother always preached to her children was to 
     get an education and bring her a High School Diploma. This 
     for any immigrant family was considered a great 
     accomplishment. After my father abandoned our family, my 
     mother's determination to give her children an advantage 
     through education became more acute.
       That was when Head Start became a focal point in our lives. 
     My mother enrolled me in a neighborhood Head Start school. I 
     have vivid memories of her cleaning and helping to prepare 
     food for the classroom as a parent volunteer. But what it did 
     more than anything was what education meant to her and what 
     it should mean to me. Once I was in the K 12 system, I 
     flourished. I joined the honors program, and was the 1st in 
     my family to go to a four year university straight after high 
     school.
       Now at the age of 33 I have two sons of my own, Mario and 
     Alexander. And I do all of the things my mother did with me 
     like reading books, counting, and learning. And I told them 
     to bring me their College Degrees, one step up from the goal 
     my mother set for me. Once Mario was old enough, I began to 
     look for a preschool for him. I still live in the same 
     neighborhood and I still have vivid memories of my Head Start 
     days. Behold, the same school is still there! Mario loved it 
     once he was enrolled in the same school.
       Every day was a new adventure and a new learning 
     experience, for both Mario and me. Just like my mother some 
     29 years ago, I was now the one helping out with the school, 
     joining the policy councils and looking for ways to grow as a 
     parent.
       Head Start did not just give Mario a leg up in learning, 
     but it also helped me to become a better parent. Mario has 
     moved on to the K 12 system, but the experience, the social 
     interaction, and the growth he gained from Head Start was 
     immediately noticeable by his Kindergarten teachers. They 
     expressed that they appreciate those parents who send their 
     kids through Head Start program because they noted those 
     children are more prepared for the K 12 system. Now Mario 
     still sees me involved in his Elementary school and knows how 
     much we as a family emphasize the importance of education.
       And I know he understands this expectation because he 
     declared that he will be attending UCLA after high school. 
     Head Start instilled a love of education with Mario and I 
     know it will do the same with my second son, Alexander. And I 
     know they will carry on my mother's legacy of an emphasis on 
     education, especially early on, with their young ones when 
     the time comes. And I know they will also be looking for ways 
     to be as involved as I am as parents.
                                  ____


                       Early Childhood Education

       My name is Estella Navarrette.
        My story is about Mariana and her Head Start experience.
        Mariana is my 6th child out of 7. Being a single mom for 
     so many years putting all my children through schools was a 
     well-adjusted routine for me by the time Mariana reached the 
     pre-school age. Playing both mommy and daddy for my seven 
     children were all about finances, feeding and clothing them. 
     Educating my children was not on my radar screen.
        As Mariana grew older, she started to be curious and 
     interested about school because of her older siblings coming 
     home talking about their days at school. Right around this 
     time I became a stay-at-home mom because of the learning 
     disability of my youngest child.
       Realizing Mariana's interest in school became more 
     persistent, I began looking for information about a Head 
     Start program. And that was when I came across PACE Early 
     Childhood Education and enrolled her in the program.
       Mariana was a very quiet and timid child. She was afraid to 
     do anything. With the Head Start program I saw the change in 
     her. Mariana went from always being quiet to being very 
     outspoken. She expresses her feelings whether they are good 
     or bad, and accepts them.
       Before Head Start, Mariana reminded me of the same traits I 
     had when I was her age. But unlike me, Mariana will not grow 
     up with a sense of insecurity. I did not have the same 
     opportunity as she does. Mariana will have the opportunity to 
     grow with confidence. She will feel secure and develop a 
     sense of independence because of the learning that the Head 
     Start education has instilled in her. What Mariana has 
     learned at school, she brings home to share with her

[[Page E771]]

     other siblings. She is so proud and animated in explaining 
     how her day at Head Start went to her siblings. She even 
     dished out project assignments to them. While explaining the 
     projects to them she gets everyone to sit around like she did 
     at school. I was watching Mariana playing this lead with her 
     sibling and can't help but feel proud and appreciative of how 
     important education is at this early age. Through the process 
     that Mariana has been going through, Head Start has not only 
     brought an interest in education to her, but it has also 
     brought our family together.
       Our schedules were always crazy and there was never any 
     family time. Everyone was so busy with school and I was 
     occupied for being a single mom caring for a child with 
     disabilities. Now, after dinner Mariana brings everyone 
     together for family time and to appreciate education.
       I appreciate PACE Early Childhood Education because of the 
     love, compassion, and interest that their staff has for our 
     children. I want to thank the PACE organization for showing 
     how warm hearted and caring they are about early childhood 
     education.
                                  ____


                    Energy & Environmental Services

       My name is Francisco Talamantes.
       I work for PACE's Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP. 
     The HEAP program helps families pay their utility bills. I 
     help hundreds of families each week to pay for their 
     electricity, water or gas bills.
       For example, a lady in her late 20s walks into the office 
     one day with a notice from the utility company that her 
     electricity was about to be disconnected. She had that worry 
     and weary look on her face. Her husband lost his job recently 
     and they have 3 young children to support. Her situation was 
     dire. Should they not feed their children or live in darkness 
     without electricity?
       Her electric bill was over $1000. I calmed her down and 
     told her to not worry and this program is here to help her. 
     Right away you can see the relief on her face. She filled out 
     her application and we got the proper documents copied, and I 
     was able to call the utility company and help her with $1000, 
     which was enough to prevent disconnection. So perhaps for a 
     little while, they can feed their children with hot food that 
     can be cooked on their electric stove. And perhaps for a 
     little while, her children can read and do their homework not 
     in the dark.
       These stories are very common. My coworkers sometimes asked 
     me why I could be so patient and empathetic for so many 
     clients that line up all way down the hall way each day. Do 
     you know why? Because I was one of those children like this 
     lady when I was young. This lady reminded me of when I was 
     growing up when my family also often faced the choice between 
     having food on the table or paying the utility bills.
       I feel very honored and proud to be here today. You see, I 
     come from an immigrant family. My parents were born and 
     raised in Mexico and when my father lost his job there he 
     decided to come to this country for a better life. With 
     little education and not being able to speak English, it was 
     hard for my father to find a job. He did his best and was 
     able to find a job to support his family, but still struggled 
     because he did not make much.
       What my father brought home was barely enough to pay for 
     rent and food for my eight brothers and sisters. It was great 
     that we had food and a roof over our head but we still 
     worried about our lights being disconnected. So my dad had to 
     work extra shifts to pay the electric bill since we did not 
     know about HEAP program like this.
       With the HEAP program families can find relief and hope 
     that they will have a good chance to overcome their financial 
     struggles. I know what it feels like for not having 
     electricity, water or gas. I feel for the struggle our 
     clients are going through when they come to my window for 
     assistance. My job makes it easier for families to succeed 
     and I feel honored to help them.
                                  ____


                          Business Development

       My name is Guojian Cui.
       My story is about my transformation as an F.O.B.
       I am a trained artist specializing in Chinese calligraphy 
     and traditional Chinese framing. But since I came to America 
     in 1993 with one suitcase and a big dream, I had worked in 
     various other odd jobs for 17 years. But I had always yearned 
     to follow my true passion.
       You can tell that I am getting old, thin on top and losing 
     my teeth. For 17 years, I felt like an F.O.B.--``Free on 
     Board''. It is a shipping term. For 17 years, I felt like a 
     shipping good in between departure and destination. I was 
     going somewhere but have not yet arrived. With one push, I 
     could fall into the ocean; or with a push in a different 
     direction I could land in my dream.
       In 2009, a push helped me land in my dream. I decided to 
     set up an art gallery business providing framing and Chinese 
     calligraphy services. But my plan ran into a lot challenges. 
     I faced the challenges of having limited start-up capital. I 
     faced the challenges that my traditional way of using water, 
     paste, brush and simple tools can't compete with modern 
     framing technology. I faced the challenge of declining demand 
     for valuable art because of the near economic crash in 2009. 
     The sharp increase of price of oil did not help either 
     because it made all materials and supplies more expensive. I 
     needed to buy equipment and machines to make my framing more 
     precise. I needed a computer and gave up my abacus. I needed 
     some technical assistance. I felt like an F.O.B. again 
     because I could give up and get dumped into the ocean like a 
     piece of damaged good. Or I could get a different push and 
     land where I wanted to land.
       I met PACE's Business Counselor Dandan Shan right around 
     this time. He is a smart young man. He encouraged me to step 
     forward and not give up. He told me that PACE has programs to 
     help small business to start up. So, I was encouraged. I was 
     transformed to become a different F.O.B.--Focus on Business. 
     I was given a little push to step forward on boarding the 
     battle field of business. PACE offered me some technical 
     assistance and some financial support through its Individual 
     Development Account or IDA program designed especially for 
     business start-ups. With the help of PACE, I started my 
     gallery in September, 2010. And I became another FOB--
     Fighting on Board of the business battle field. I was having 
     fun because I was also a different F.O.B.--Fun on Board.
       Now, I have more and more customers and they become my 
     friends. They are satisfied with my services and getting good 
     prices in the deal. For this Year of Dragon, my Chinese 
     calligraphy of ``Dragon'' was prominently displayed on all 
     the lamppost banners in Los Angeles Chinatown. My conclusion? 
     Micro businesses do need that assistance and that critical 
     push to move forward because it really can help people to go 
     forward with their own business.
       This is my F.O.B. Story.
                                  ____


                         Workforce Development

       My name is Hasmik Sargsyan.
       My story is about reaching for the American Dream.
       My family and I immigrated to the US in 2007. As an 
     immigrant family, we had to start our life from zero. We had 
     no job, no car, not knowing English, and no one to support 
     morally or help with any advice. In my home country I was a 
     Certified Public Accountant. In the new land my husband and I 
     took any job that came along, and attended school to learn 
     English as a fourth language. Besides taking English classes, 
     I pushed myself to take classes in accounting with a dream 
     that someday I will return to my profession. I got very 
     little sleep in those days for always being busy going to 
     classes, working, washing, cooking, and taking care of my 
     three children.
       As I was improving my English skills and beginning to 
     acclimate with my new environment, I did not realize that my 
     own struggle paled in comparison to what my children were 
     going through.
       My eldest son always wanted to be an artist and in those 
     days he could only afford to draw pictures with regular 
     pencils. Understanding our financial situation, at his young 
     age, he never asked for anything. I don't know enough about 
     his potential as an artist or if I was just an adoring 
     portant, but I liked his drawing very much. But I could not 
     afford to buy him any art supplies or pay for any art 
     classes. It was extremely painful for me for not being able 
     to help my child to reach his dream as I was struggling to 
     reach mine.
       At that time, I was attending Glendale College. I heard 
     about programs that help people with employment. I called 
     many workforce programs in Los Angeles but only PACE 
     responded to me. PAC's Transitional Subsidized Employment 
     program helped me to land a temporary job that helped me to 
     gain work experience, knowledge, skills and confidence. Then 
     PACE offered me a permanent position in the Department of 
     Energy and Environmental Services in Weatherization Program 
     as a Program Specialist. It was unbelievable to me when I was 
     being interviewed and they said to me ``you are hired''. I 
     started to cry because they gave me hope that I had lost.
       I am so thankful for this program. Now I am self sufficient 
     and I feel happy awakening every day with the sense of joy 
     knowing that I have a job. I have gained recognition from my 
     co-workers. I am grateful that I no longer live at the 
     expense of the government. I cannot find words to express my 
     gratitude for what PACE and the federal government program 
     has done for my family, especially for my son. Now I can 
     afford to pay for his art lessons and buy him art supplies 
     for his drawing. Because of this, he is taking part in many 
     Art exhibitions. I believe that one day he will become a 
     famous artist and he will write about the history of his 
     family and the struggles of immigrant lives.
       My story is neither a special nor an extraordinary one, but 
     it is similar to the lives of many other people who have been 
     struggling. We are truly grateful with the support we 
     received to reach for our American Dream. I wish the 
     opportunities afforded me will continued to be made for other 
     families like mine.
                                  ____


                          Business Development

       My name is Judy Thang.
       My story is about how a passionate entrepreneur got 
     started!
       Starting a business as a young woman is tough in any 
     industry. Being a graphic designer working with small 
     business owners is even harder. As a recent graduate from a 
     California State University, I've always had two passions--
     starting my own business and helping other small business 
     owners build their brand image. I guess my parents passed 
     their entrepreneur bug to me.
       My parents owned a restaurant where I worked as a little 
     cashier at age 12 and graduated to potato peeling when I got 
     older.

[[Page E772]]

     They promoted my little sister from janitor to cashier. We 
     grew up with lots of work ethic, eating lots of delicious hot 
     wings. When my parents moved to Australia, my sister and I 
     kept the restaurant operating for a while. So naturally, out 
     of school, I couldn't wait to open my own business. I took a 
     low-paying job in marketing to gain some experience, then 
     quit a few years later to start my business, girlwithflair 
     design.
       I had no money, no formal design experience, and no 
     connection in the industry since I majored in business. There 
     were a lot of obstacles. Age was my biggest difficulty. Here 
     I was, trying to convince a client to let me build his brand 
     image and generate sales, but I looked like I was fresh out 
     high school! I charged peanuts for what I did three years 
     ago.
       Fortunately, I found Swann, my savior and mentor at PACE 
     Woman Business Center. Here are a few important things she 
     and PACE have done for me: 1) Great Advice--When I had 
     problems with my pricing, she gave me invaluable advice on 
     how to stick to my guns; 2) Networking--I've gotten to know 
     other small business owners, which makes me not feel so 
     lonely; 3) I've gotten a lot of referrals to other small 
     business owners.
       It has only been a year, but I am far from where I started. 
     I now have an office space in Chinatown, a much steadier 
     clientele and lots of happy customers that help me constantly 
     with new referrals. Without Swann's guidance in the past 
     year, I would probably be eating instant noodles everyday for 
     dinner. That, or go find a `real' job, as my parents would 
     say. I'd rather eat instant noodles.
       I have come forward to share my story because I believe in 
     the value of social programs that empower people to start 
     their own businesses. Programs such as PACE Woman Business 
     Center provide hope and opportunity for underrepresented 
     segments of society. These are the people working at 
     restaurants for minimum wages, making tamales, bookkeeping or 
     assembling furniture in between work who dream of becoming an 
     entrepreneur one day. The fact that they are great at their 
     hobby and passionate enough to invest their energy, time and 
     money to pursue it merits the support that programs such as 
     PACE Women Business Center provides.
                                  ____


                       Early Childhood Education

       My Name is Kimberly Hua. I am a Head Start Parent.
       My story is about ``The Window of Opportunity''.
       When my family and I emigrated here from Vietnam, my 
     parents could barely provide food and shelter for me and my 
     two siblings, much less taking us on buses to go places. My 
     parents did not speak English and did not know where to look 
     for help. They did not know that they could have put my 
     siblings and me through free pre-schools that would prepare 
     us for kindergarten. Their concern was working two jobs to 
     make ends meet. So from the beginning, school was hard for me 
     and I struggled every day. I ended up hating school and did 
     not appreciate the value of a quality education.
       The ``window of opportunity'' opened for my children when I 
     enrolled my two sons in the PACE Head Start Program. I wanted 
     to make sure that my sons would have the opportunity that I 
     did not have when I was a child. Although I appreciated the 
     benefits and resources that PACE Head Start education offered 
     to my children, I was working a lot and did not spend enough 
     time with my children.
       I did not know at the time that this ``opportunity'' was 
     for me too. What changed was when I became a PACE parent 
     policy committee member.
       My active volunteerism inspired and empowered my children 
     to develop their own sense of independence and self-
     confidence and love of learning. In my children's eyes, I was 
     no longer just their mother; I was also a teacher and a 
     mentor. Because of all that, I believe that my children will 
     establish a solid educational foundation and acquire the 
     early learning skills to carry them throughout their higher 
     education.
       Watching my children blossoming at the Head Start Program, 
     I was inspired to grow with them. I decided to follow my 
     life-long dream of pursuing an advanced degree. I completed 
     my master's degree with a 3.80 GPA in April this year. I will 
     always be grateful to the parenting and empowerment programs 
     that Head Start program had to offer to parents like me. My 
     story of ``The Window of Opportunity' is why I am here today 
     to show my support for the Head Start program. I believe 
     early education can play a critical role for young children 
     and increase their odds of success in later life.
       The Head Start program also played a critical role for 
     parents like me. It helped me to become a better parent to my 
     children. Along the way, I became a better person and an 
     advocate for my community.
                                  ____


                             Business Loans

       My name is Linda Wong.
       My story is about sacrifice and courage.
       My parents immigrated to the US from Taiwan when I was 6 
     years old so their children could have a better education in 
     America. My sister and I were the only two Chinese children 
     in a new school that taught in a language that I knew nothing 
     of, except my new name, Linda--I was no longer Chih-Ling. I 
     quickly learned that adapting to a new culture would be just 
     as challenging as the language barrier.
       There were many days when I came home crying because I was 
     made fun of for being different. My parents did their best to 
     console me, while hiding their own struggles of assimilating 
     to this country. When I was 16 my father decided to leave my 
     mother, my sister and I to return to Taiwan.
       Since my mother did not speak any English, I was left with 
     all the responsibilities of my father: I made sure all the 
     bills were paid on time, did all the grocery shopping and 
     signed my own letters of excuse when I was sick from school. 
     Some might think a child with that kind of ``freedom'' would 
     take advantage of the situation; however, this had the 
     opposite effect on me. I knew I had to really work hard in 
     school to get into a good college since my parents had 
     sacrificed for us to have a better life.
       After receiving my Bachelors of Arts from Otis College of 
     Art & Design, I was hired by a multi-million dollar jewelry 
     company to help launch their first clothing collection. I 
     took the skills I learned there and formed my own clothing 
     company, The Battalion. In 2011 my business generated 
     $350,000 in sales, but lacked the capital to pay our fabric 
     vendors and contractors. If we could not pay to produce the 
     goods that we had already sold we would lose both the orders 
     and trust of our customers. We turned to PACE to help us find 
     solution to our problem. In March 2011, with the guidance of 
     PACE's Mr. Howard Sun, The Battalion received a loan of 
     $30,000 from PACE SBA Micro-Loan Program. Two months later we 
     promptly delivered our products to our customers' 
     satisfaction.
       Running a business never gets any easier; there are always 
     new challenges and roadblocks that loom ahead. It is easier 
     to summon the courage to face these obstacles when you have a 
     program like PACE in your corner. I believe this is an 
     essential program because it makes it possible to succeed for 
     people who have sacrificed and have courage to charge 
     forward.
                                  ____


                       Early Childhood Education

       My name is Patrick Martinez. I am a Head Start parent.
       My story is about keeping a promise, a promise I made to my 
     son before he was even born. I vowed that I'd be there for 
     him no matter what obstacles we faced.
       My story began with a typical boy meets girl story. Boy and 
     girl fall in love. They give birth to a precious little baby 
     boy after spending eight years together.
       The arrangement was for me to be a stay-home dad to take 
     care of my child and our home. I was very proud of my little 
     family. Then it became the girl leaves boy story.
       My baby boy and I were kicked out of our house. We suddenly 
     found ourselves displaced.
       We found ourselves having to live at my parents' house. In 
     a living room that grew cramped with our play pens and 
     diapers. Why did this happen to us? What was I to do? I was 
     in a lot of pain and felt depressed. I was left with two 
     choices. I either walk the road of self-destruction, or keep 
     that promise I made to my son. One night, to distract my 
     heart and mind, I watched one of my favorite movies, Star 
     Wars. I sat on the couch watching that movie, while my son 
     slept in his playpen in front of me. I tearfully looked into 
     that playpen as he slept and I thought, ``You're my Luke! 
     You're A New Hope.'' We weren't going to succumb to the Dark 
     Side. That promise would be kept.
       Early the next morning my Padawan and I went to seek help 
     at a local agency. That agency led us to services such as 
     food stamps, fatherhood support groups and parenting classes. 
     I took everything and anything I felt that could help my son 
     and me. We were then led to PACE Head Start program. Through 
     PACE and Head Start I watched my son grow socially and 
     mentally. I grew along side of my son through its parenting 
     and Male Involvement programs. I became a more engaged 
     father. I became encouraged to volunteer at my son's site, 
     which I've done nearly every single day. I became involved on 
     the parent policy committees at both the delegate and grantee 
     levels. Through this involvement, I was helping other 
     families as well and by being a positive male role model to 
     my son and to other families.
       PACE and Head Start have made me a man, a better parent, a 
     leader, an advocate, and a representative for my community. 
     It has enriched my son's education, as well as thousands of 
     other children they serve. If Head Start and the services 
     were to be cut, it could surely crumble the future of 
     hundreds of thousands of families like mine. That is how 
     effective and powerful this program is to our children, our 
     families, our community, and our country. Early childhood 
     education is where our future leaders are created and where 
     our families are strengthened. Without this program we may 
     lose all hope.
       My story of that promise is why I am here today to tell how 
     Head Start and early childhood education helps parents keep 
     promises to our children.

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