[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 77 (Friday, May 11, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E635-E636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING MS. TARA LYNN JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 11, 2018

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Tara 
Lynn Jones, a warm and dynamic spirit. It is hard to believe that this 
young woman with her beautiful smile and passion for her community is 
no longer with us.
  Born and raised in Maryland, Ms. Jones graduated from La Reine High 
School before attending Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia where she 
earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry. Tara continued her 
education at George Washington University and received a master's 
degree in public health, epidemiology, and biostatistics and a 
certificate in public management.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout her career Tara seamlessly moved between the 
business world and public service. Many remember her work as the 
Director of Neighborhood Services when Ms. Jones worked to connect 
residents to health, economic, and social justice services and programs 
in Washington, D.C. She continued to apply this experience in building 
coalitions, developing national media campaigns, and coordinating 
effective events across the country.
  I, along with many of my colleagues--especially those of us who serve 
in the Congressional Black Caucus--truly learned to appreciate and 
respect Tara's unique gifts and skills when she served as the Vice 
President of Public Affairs for BET Networks. During a challenging and 
pivotal time in our nation's history, Ms. Jones used her platform to 
bring together young people, corporations, media, and policy makers to 
address the key, core civil rights and social justice matters of the 
day.

[[Page E636]]

  At every opportunity, Ms. Jones built bridges and made new friends. 
She was a communicator and a convener whose faith inspired a deep 
passion for service and mentorship in the Capital City Chapter of 
Links, Inc., Destination DC, and ColorComm. In recent years, Tara 
continued to employ her expertise on a global scale as the founder of 
the Tara Jones Group, LLC, which incorporated brand marketing, 
strategic solutions, and business development with increasing diversity 
and inclusion.
  As an active, engaged member of the National Urban League, and in 
particular during her tenure as President of the Washington Thursday 
Network, Tara continued the mission of integrating the necessary 
pursuit of opportunity, equity, equality, and justice into both her 
personal and professional life.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Jones truly dedicated her life to serving others--
she managed to be everywhere and everything to everyone she met. As one 
who knew and worked alongside the late and great, Whitney Young, Jr., 
who served as the executive director of the National Urban League 
during pivotal years of the Civil Rights Movement, I can say that she 
epitomized his spirit and continued his legacy.
  Tara Lynn Jones was a thoughtful, loving, and kind young woman who 
leaves behind a legacy of excellence as she joins her beloved brother 
Edward V. Jones, Jr. During this difficult time, I extend my deepest 
condolences to Tara's loving parents--Edward and Sharon Jones; her 
cherished nieces--Jasmine, Brittany, Amber, and Nyema Jones; and the 
innumerable family, friends, colleagues, and members of the Spelman and 
Links sisterhoods who mourn the passing of this beautiful spirit.

                          ____________________