[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 206 (Monday, December 18, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING CHRISTOPER GRESHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 18, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Christopher Gresham for his 
participation in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange.
  The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the U.S. 
government's Young African Leadership Initiative, helps to develop the 
next generation of African leaders across government, business and 
civil society. The fellows build strategic partnerships and lasting 
connections through training and networking opportunities at leading 
institutions of higher education.
  The Reciprocal Exchange Component, for which Christopher has been 
competitively selected, provides U.S. experts and leaders a chance to 
expand their work in partnership with Mandela Washington Fellowship 
alumni in Africa. Past participants have included a wide range of 
experts, from entrepreneurs to disability rights advocates, who have 
contributed meaningfully to efforts such as promoting peace, stability 
and economic prosperity in the region. The program provides important 
contributions to U.S. diplomacy efforts.
  A native Washingtonian, Christopher has dedicated his career to 
breaking down barriers and promoting diversity in entrepreneurship. He 
graduated from The George Washington University and went on to obtain a 
Master's from Thunderbird School for Global Management. He then became 
the Vice President of Communities at SEED SPOT, where he works to 
increase startup activity and economic growth with a focus on 
entrepreneurs developing sustainable solutions to address some of the 
world's most pressing problems. In addition, Christopher founded 
Swillings Coffee, an impact-driven venture that works directly with 
small family-owned farms in rural Colombia to apply sustainable growing 
techniques and employ women in the local community. As part of the 
Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange, Christopher 
empowered hundreds of Beninese entrepreneurs with entrepreneurship 
training, educated its largest university on sustainable economic 
development programs and promoted cooperative trade with the U.S. and 
multiple institutional stakeholders.
  Therefore, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
recognizing Christopher Gresham for his accomplishments and for his 
participation in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange.

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