[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E70]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PUEBLO GARDENS NEIGHBORHOOD DR. 
                   MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BREAKFAST

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 14, 2015

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the Pueblo Gardens 
Neighborhood Association's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on the 
occasion of its 25th Anniversary this Saturday, January 17, 2015.
  This breakfast tradition was established in Tucson in 1990 by 
community activists John McNair and Edwina Gomez along with others to 
honor the great civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They 
are working to keep his dream of fair and equitable treatment alive by 
fundraising for at-risk neighborhood youth to help them achieve their 
own dreams. In turn, youth are asked to perform community service 
projects that benefit the city of Tucson. In 1997, long-time community 
activist, James E. Christopher became Chairman of the program. As 
Chairman for the past eighteen years, the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Breakfast has increased in attendance from thirteen people in its first 
breakfast to an average of one hundred and seventy-five in current 
years.
  Pueblo Gardens' Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast has the 
distinguished honor of being the sole neighborhood in Tucson to attract 
city, county, state, and federal dignitaries, along with radio, 
television and newspaper coverage for an event of its kind.
  Dr. King's dream has started to come to light with the election of an 
African-American president, Latina woman sworn into the Supreme Court, 
the acknowledgement of gay members in the military, and so forth. The 
Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast funding has enabled many youth to 
graduate from high school and continue on to receive post-secondary 
education certificates and degrees. Many of these youth have become 
part of the Tucson workforce and are valuable assets to the community.
  Finally, I must acknowledge the cast of dedicated volunteer board 
members who work diligently to fundraise and continue the breakfast 
tradition while working through the Pueblo Garden Neighborhood 
Association, a designated 501(c)(3) organization.
  Congratulations and best wishes to the Pueblo Gardens Neighborhood 
Association in Tucson as we join them to celebrate on January 17, 2015, 
for its 25th Anniversary of their Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast. I 
thank the Pueblo Gardens MLK Breakfast Committee for their steadfast 
determination to keep Dr. King's dream alive while helping youth 
achieve their goals.

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