[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 16 (Friday, January 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E136]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING BARBARA P. SMITH

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 30, 2015

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, those who dedicate themselves to improving 
their neighborhood become cornerstones of the community. Barbara P. 
Smith is one of those cornerstones in Yonkers, who for 32 years has 
been an educator, civic leader and crusader.
  Barbara began bettering the Yonkers community in 1982 as a teacher at 
the Orchard School at Andrus Children's Home on North Broadway. She 
taught a range of subjects from math and science to social studies and 
home economics. Eventually Barbara was elevated to Assistant Principal 
and in 1994 she and the school were recognized for their efforts and 
achievements with an invitation to the White House to meet then 
President Clinton. Barbara subsequently returned to the classroom where 
she could take a more hands on approach to teaching.
  Outside of the classroom, Barbara has engaged in a number of civic 
groups aimed at serving the community. For the past 36 years she has 
served as board member and President of the Hudson River Community 
Association (HRCA) of Northwest Yonkers, a once dormant organization 
she helped resurrect.
  Barbara has also generously given her time to organizations like the 
Yonkers Committee for Smart Development, which she served as an advisor 
to in 2008, and the advisory board for the First District of Council 
Woman Pat McDow in 2007. When time permits, she also likes to partake 
in a wide array of volunteer work aimed at community improvement. 
Barbara shares the same goals as the organizations she works with: to 
stabilize, improve, support and promote the wonderful city of Yonkers. 
I believe she has achieved those goals admirably.
  Last year, the Luther V. Garrison Masonic Foundation Inc. Scholarship 
Committee honored Barbara as their Woman of the Year for 2014. It was a 
supremely appropriate honor for one of Yonkers' most dedicated 
citizens. Congratulations to her on receiving such well-deserved 
recognition.

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