[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 183 (Tuesday, November 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1541-E1542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE AWARD RECIPIENTS OF THE 2018 CENTREVILLE IMMIGRATION 
                          FORUM ANNUAL DINNER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 20, 2018

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Centreville 
Immigration Forum on the occasion of its 4th Annual Dinner. The theme 
of this year's gala is ``Celebrating Our Global Community'' and will 
recognize the rich diversity of cultures in Northern Virginia.
  Northern Virginia is blessed by its diversity. In Fairfax County, 
nearly 1 in 4 residents is foreign born. More than 100 languages are 
spoken in our schools, and we are home to more minority-owned 
technology firms than anywhere else in the nation. Our variety of 
cultures and heritages do not divide us; they make us stronger.
  Three exceptional individuals will be honored during this gala who 
have gone above and beyond in ensuring that everyone, regardless of 
their country of origin, has full access to the benefits and 
opportunities this community and our nation provide. I am pleased to 
include in the Record names of the following 2018 Annual Dinner 
honorees:

Mr. Rodrigo Velasquez

  Rodrigo is a proud product of Fairfax County Public Schools where he 
attended elementary, middle, and high school. Rodrigo graduated from 
Robert E. Lee High School in 2012 and later graduated from George Mason 
University in 2016 with a Bachelors in Communication with a focus in 
Public Relations. A formerly undocumented immigrant from Bolivia, he 
was the President of Mason DREAMers, where he helped build the 
organization's ability to advocate for undocumented immigrants to have 
better access to higher education. He was also the first Student 
Support Coordinator at George Mason University, the first position of 
its kind in Virginia. In this position, he helped undocumented, low 
income, homeless, and first-generation college students find financial 
and social support.

Ms. Afeefa Syeed

  Ms. Syeed is a cultural anthropologist who most recently served as 
Senior Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development 
(USAID), where she worked to develop policy, define best practices, 
highlight success stories, and build internal capacity and tools to

[[Page E1542]]

frame country strategies that reflect greater expertise in engaging in 
dynamic cultural contexts. She has advised the White House, National 
Security Council, State Department, UN Democracy Fund, World Bank and 
various in-country government and non-governmental institutions. Afeefa 
also founded and is the current Head of School for Al Fatih Academy, a 
Reston, VA independent school whose core curriculum is peace education 
and civic engagement.

Mr. Ilryong Moon

  Born in Seoul, Korea in 1957, Mr. Moon immigrated to the United 
States in 1974. He quickly became involved in his local community, 
primarily through his service on the Fairfax County School Board, to 
which he was elected in 1995. He has served in a variety. of capacities 
on the School Board, as an At-Large Member, Braddock District 
Representative, Vice-Chairman and Chairman. In addition to his service 
on the School Board, he has also served on the Urban Policy Task Force, 
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, the Police Chiefs Diversity Task 
Force and the Virginia State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil 
Rights Commission.

  Mr. Speaker, the efforts of these individuals are noteworthy not only 
because they are rooted in an appreciation for our region's cultural 
and ethnic diversity, but also because they help to strengthen the 
bonds of friendship and cooperation in our community. I congratulate 
them on their awards and ask my colleagues to join me in commending 
them for their service to the Northern Virginia region

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