[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN TRIBUTE TO SHARON ADAMS

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 18, 2015

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sharon Adams, a 
mentor, community leader, and administrator. She is the Founder and 
Director of Programs for Walnut Way Conservation Corp and after 15 
years of service transitions from her position on December 21, 2015.
  Sharon Adams moved back to Milwaukee in 1997 from New York and found 
the once-vibrant Lindsay Heights neighborhood where she grew up lined 
with boarded-up houses, trash-filled lots, gangs, prostitution and 
drugs. This spurred her and her neighbors to organize Walnut Way, a 
grassroots association whose motto is to ``Reclaim, Restore, and 
Repurpose''. The organization's headquarters is a former drug den and 
100 year old structure that has been restored and transformed into the 
community's nerve center.
  Ms. Adams and Walnut Way pushed for the revitalization of North 
Avenue and the Lindsay Heights Community. The blight is now gone, 
replaced by restored and newly built houses, rain and vegetable gardens 
and fruit orchards, youth trained in urban agriculture, a bee aviary to 
harvest and sell honey, a tree nursery to expand the canopy, and work 
with police to improve safety. They run an award winning business 
called Blue Skies that employs youth and others from the community for 
their landscaping operation.
  Sharon has capped off her remarkable urban renewal effort with the 
completion of The Innovations and Wellness Commons. The Commons will 
serve nearly 8000 residents living in and surrounding the Lindsay 
Heights neighborhood. Funds for this venture include significant 
dollars from federal, state and local governments, the Zilber Family 
Foundation, and many others. Nearly 30 jobs were created for low income 
workers by this project. The Commons include Outpost Natural Foods Coop 
that operates four large organic grocery stores in the Milwaukee area, 
the Juice Kitchen, a business operated by experienced entrepreneurs 
specializing in vegetarian meals all sited in a setting that allows for 
holistic approaches to healthy living such as healing circles, fitness 
classes and meditation. This economically distressed area is no longer 
a food desert but a haven providing an environment for healthy living 
and jobs.
  This is Sharon Adams' second retirement, she left the University of 
Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2008 as Director of Service Learning to head 
Walnut Way. She helped create other neighborhood organizations, 
including the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood Health Alliance to reduce 
health disparities and the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood Quality of Life 
Plan, part of the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative, a $50 million program 
to revive low-income Milwaukee neighborhoods in 10 years.
  Sharon Adams is also the Wisconsin 2010 Social Innovation Prize Award 
Winner, an award given to an individual over age 50 who addresses 
critical social problems. The prize includes $5,000, as well as, 
another $5000 to be designated by the winner to an organization.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ms. Sharon Adams who leaves a 
legacy of advocacy and compassion. She is a true trailblazer who has 
labored to attract investment and lead the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood 
to prosperity and good health. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional 
District, the State of Wisconsin and the nation have benefited 
tremendously from her dedicated service. I am honored for these reasons 
to pay tribute to Ms. Sharon Adams.

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