[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 51 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF JULIA SORRENTINO AND MEGAN STOTTS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP OF 
                          HEARTS ACROSS QUEENS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 25, 2019

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I along with 
Representative Ocasio-Cortez rise to recognize Julia Sorrentino and 
Megan Stotts who received a women's history month award from us and 
from Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas at a ceremony in Queens on March 
22nd for their leadership of Hearts Across Queens, an organization that 
is dedicated to protecting, supporting and empowering their neighbors 
and acting together to create positive change. Lifelong activists, Ms. 
Sorrentino and Ms. Stotts joined with other local mothers to create an 
organization to amplify their concerns and bring like-minded neighbors 
together.
  In 2016, an inspired group of women started Hearts Across Queens with 
the goal of sharing information about local events and social issues, 
while advocating for tolerance and diversity in Western Queens. Their 
aim is to help women understand and exercise their own power, while 
fostering beneficial relationships among people with common purpose. 
Hearts Across Queens creates a sense of community through local 
activism and community events that support positive change, enabling 
and empowering people of all ages and backgrounds.
  Every Wednesday, the members of Hearts Across Queens unite to meet 
other mothers and develop alliances, while teaching their children to 
face their fears and make plans for a brighter future. They have 
organized events, including a candidates forum, mini-speakouts, and a 
program to teach children how to get involved and de-escalate violence.
  Ms. Sorrentino teaches at LaGuardia Community College. She is the 
creator of the series, Queens Women in STEAM, where local women are 
featured each day of Women's History Month, sharing their stories with 
District 30 students, and their neighborhoods. Ms. Sorrentino was also 
a founding member of No IDC NY, a highly successful grassroots movement 
that challenged a group of Democrats that had been caucusing with 
Republicans in the New York State Senate. Their progressive, Democratic 
candidates unseated 7 of the 8 Independent Democratic Caucus members in 
the 2018 election.
  Megan Stotts has volunteered for several local organizations and 
campaigns. Her current focus is Immigrant Families Together, which 
works to combat anti-immigrant policies of the current administration. 
She also serves on the Queens County Committee. In 2017, Ms. Stotts 
helped organize a rally protesting the MTA's decision to renovate 
subway stations without making them accessible. She was inspired to 
take action because as a mother of young children she knows how 
difficult it is to travel with a stroller when there is no elevator.
  Ms. Sorrentino and Ms. Stotts were co-recipients of the Taminent 
Regular Democratic Club 2018 Political Activism award.
  Madam Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in honoring the work 
done by Julia Sorrentino, Megan Stotts and the members of Hearts Across 
Queens whose collaborative activism is making a real difference in 
their community.

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