[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 170 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1769]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF RODNEY FERNANDEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIA BROWNLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 3, 2013

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize 
and honor the life of Rodney Fernandez, a pioneer of affordable housing 
in Ventura County, California. The impact that Mr. Fernandez made on 
the community is significant and noteworthy. Mr. Fernandez was the 
Founder of the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), a non-
profit community development corporation and an affordable home 
builder, established in 1981, and served as Executive Director of CEDC 
until his retirement at the end of 2011.
   In the mid-1970s through the Cabrillo Improvement Association, Mr. 
Fernandez assisted Latino farm workers living at Cabrillo Village in 
Saticoy to prevent the razing of their substandard homes and eviction 
by the farm's owners. Under Rodney's guidance, the farmers pooled money 
to purchase the land where their homes were located. The group then 
formed a cooperative, redeveloped their community and ultimately became 
captains of their own economic destiny through homeownership.
   This work gave birth to the non-profit organization, CEDC, as a 
means to continue to empower and provide housing for those who cannot 
afford market-rate homes. Under Rodney's leadership, CEDC has grown 
from a start-up non-profit focused on farm worker housing, to a full-
service, diversified organization that develops and manages affordable 
housing as well as offers homeownership education and lending services, 
and resident leadership development opportunities. Over 32 years, CEDC 
has developed 1,465 units of safe, high-quality affordable for-sale and 
rental housing in eight cities within Ventura County for farm workers, 
persons with low incomes, minorities (mostly Latinos) and the elderly.
   Rodney dedicated his career with CEDC to increasing the supply of 
affordable housing, while empowering community leaders and being a 
leading advocate for economic development in the process. CEDC has 
received honors from various organizations over the years, including 
the American Institute of Architects, the American Planning Association 
and other professional groups, including the prestigious ``Affordable 
Builder of the Year'' award from Build It Green in 2012.
   Rodney was especially committed to seeing that youth and residents 
in CEDC-built communities and the surrounding neighborhoods excelled at 
home and in life. In 2011, CEDC's Board of Directors established the 
Rodney Fernandez Community Building Fund to assist in cultivating the 
leadership capacity of CEDC residents to attain their goals and empower 
themselves to take action and improve the quality of life in their 
communities.
   In heartfelt recognition and appreciation of the tremendous, far-
reaching and impactful contributions that Mr. Fernandez made to Ventura 
County and beyond, I wish to send my sincere condolences to his wife, 
Melinda, his immediate family, and to all who knew him. His work and 
legacy are valued, and his presence in the community will be greatly 
missed.

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