[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 138 (Tuesday, October 23, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JANE RAMSEY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2012

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Jane Ramsey. She is 
a long-time Chicago area resident who has worked for three decades as a 
community leader for social and economic justice.
  Jane Ramsey is retiring this year from her current position as the 
President of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, JCUA. She had been 
the Council's Assistant Executive Director from April 1979 and was 
named its Executive Director in 1982. JCUA combats poverty, racism and 
anti-Semitism in partnership with Chicago's diverse communities. Guided 
by prophetic Jewish principles, JCUA pursues social and economic 
justice for Chicago's most vulnerable neighborhoods by promoting a 
vision of empowering communities from within. Her leadership of over 30 
years has helped enable the JCUA to become one of Chicago's most active 
and important organizations speaking on behalf of human and civil 
rights issues.
  Jane Ramsey led the JCUA in an effort to combat racism facing mayoral 
candidate Harold Washington. Further, when Chicago Housing Authority 
residents were fighting to ensure that their rights were honored when 
the City of Chicago tore down its highrise public housing buildings, 
the JCUA organized a coalition of religious and civil rights groups to 
work for the tenants. When Chicago's Muslim community became the target 
of hate crimes after September 11, 2001, the JCUA formed the Jewish-
Muslim Community Building Initiative.
  Jane Ramsey has also served on numerous boards including the Justice 
Coalition of Greater Chicago, Chicago Coalition to Protect Public 
Housing, Ethics Coalition, KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, Women in 
Charge; and as commissioner for Private Industry Council (PIC), the 
Women's Commission of the City of Chicago, and the Commission on Social 
Action of Reform Judaism. She is currently a board member of CAN-TV, 
the Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Association, and the Illinois 
Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jane 
Ramsey. She is truly worthy of recognition by this august body, the 
U.S. House of Representatives.

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