[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 138 (Thursday, November 13, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING CONNIE STEWART AS 2014 NONPROFIT LEADER

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                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 2014

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Connie 
Stewart, who was honored on November 5, 2014, with the Northern 
California Association of Nonprofits 2014 Nonprofit Leader Achievement 
Award, a recognition she richly deserves.
   Connie's service to California and my congressional district has 
been exemplary. Her work on the Arcata City Council, as staff for the 
California Assembly, and as the executive director of the California 
Center for Rural Policy at Humboldt State University has improved the 
lives of many in the community. Connie Stewart has worked tirelessly to 
promote broadband deployment, economic development, food security, 
youth leadership, and improved healthcare for all.
   Raised in New Jersey, Connie Stewart later attended Humboldt State 
University, where she graduated with a B.A. in speech communication. 
She went on to work at the Northcoast Environmental Center for 14 years 
before serving as senior field representative to Assemblywoman Patty 
Berg for seven years. Connie Stewart was elected to the Arcata City 
Council in 1996, was re-elected in 2000, and served as mayor for two 
years.
   Connie Stewart became executive director at the California Center 
for Rural Policy in 2009. Within four years, she had expanded staff 
from three to 25 and cultivated relationships with private foundations 
and government agencies, bringing in millions of dollars for a wide 
variety of rural projects. During this time, she also served on the 
Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group Product Design Advisory Team 
for the Wealth Creation and Rural Livelihoods Initiative. Connie 
Stewart is well respected throughout the community as a civic leader 
and rural policy powerhouse.
   Mr. Speaker, Connie Stewart's commitment to improving community 
services through her nonprofit work in Humboldt County is commendable 
and worthy of recognition. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending 
our congratulations to her.

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