[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 27 (Friday, February 14, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E214-E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING O'CYNTHIA WILLIAMS

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 14, 2014

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of Black History 
Month and to recognize the important contributions made by African-
Americans to my congressional district in The Bronx. African-Americans 
have made countless contributions to and sacrifices for this great 
nation, and nowhere is this more visible than in New York City.
  As the Representative of the Fifteenth Congressional District of New 
York, I have had the opportunity and pleasure to get a firsthand 
account of the work and contributions of Ms. O'Cynthia Williams to our 
community, and I am proud to recognize her hard work and dedication to 
The Bronx.
  Known throughout New York City as a champion for education equity, 
Ms. Williams has dedicated her professional life to developing reforms 
and initiatives that improve the quality of education at New York 
City's public schools. As a mother of six New York City Public School 
educated children, she has very keen understanding of what a quality 
public school education is.
  As a Parent Leader & Organizer with the New York City Coalition for 
Educational Justice, and a founding member of the United Parents of 
Highbridge, Ms. Williams has dedicated countless hours to traveling 
across New York City and educating parents on the importance of parent 
engagement, parent leadership development training, and how to make 
principals and teacher more accountable.
  Last year, Ms. Williams won an important victory for a neighborhood 
in my district. While working alongside the United Parents of 
Highbridge, her dream of establishing Highbridge's first middle school 
came to fruition. The Highbridge Green School, the Bronx's first 
``green'' school, opened its door at the start of the 2013-2014 school 
year. For the first time in the history of this part of my district, 
the young men and women of Highbridge will no longer have to travel 
across several neighborhoods in order to get to their middle school. 
And Ms. Williams played a vital role in this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues 
join me in recognizing Ms. O'Cynthia Williams, an important advocate 
for a better future for children in The Bronx and throughout New York 
City.

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