[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 60 (Monday, April 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E417]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING MR. RICHARD FIMBRES AND MRS. MARY FIMBRES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANN KIRKPATRICK

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 8, 2019

  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to recognize 
two special individuals, Mr. Richard Fimbres and Mrs. Mary Fimbres, for 
their three decades of work and commitment to bettering the lives of 
local youth. In response to their concerns about the state of education 
in their community, Richard and Mary Fimbres helped to found the LULAC 
Youth Leadership Conference, a program that promotes and develops 
leadership in middle and high school students.
  With the cooperation and involvement of local public, private, and 
charter schools, as well as institutions of higher learning, the LULAC 
Youth Leadership Conference has become a nationally recognized program 
that assists students with resources, mentoring, and leadership skills, 
thereby equipping them with the necessary tools to help them remain in 
school, graduate, and further their education.
  For 29 years, Richard and Mary Fimbres have worked to build and grow 
the conference, and to date, it has hosted over 118,000 participants. 
Over the years, these participants have gained invaluable experience 
thanks to the conference, including attending a Resource Fair where 
they can discover high-paying careers that will enable them to make a 
difference by creating the social and technological advancements that 
will define the future of our world. The fair also gives them access to 
health, educational, and life resources and features a strong public 
safety component with law enforcement, fire, and medical emergency 
professionals who display the latest vehicles, technologies and 
equipment in their fields. Additionally, the fair offers 30 interactive 
workshops that focus on leadership, health, culture, issues affecting 
teens, student resources, and technology. Professionals from various 
fields are present to provide information about community resources and 
ways to access them, as well as offering information about their career 
paths. It should also be noted that, thanks to Richard and Mary Fimbres 
and local school systems, students are provided secure transportation 
to and from the conference.
  The LULAC Youth Leadership Conference has been nationally recognized 
by former First Ladies Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton, as well as 
Louis Caldera, former Secretary of the Army, and Lauro Cavazos, former 
Secretary of Education. In tandem with the Youth Leadership Conference, 
Richard and Mary Fimbres also formed the LULAC Educator's Awards and 
Scholarship Banquet, which honors educators, community leaders, and 
elected officials for their work on improving the lives of youth and 
the community, as well as raises funds to go toward educational 
scholarships.
  Mr. and Mrs. Fimbres' standing as community leaders is evident in 
their commitment and countless hours of work throughout the community 
over the past three decades. Madam Speaker, I ask you to join me in 
recognizing these outstanding citizens and exemplary leaders for their 
work and dedication to improving the lives of our young people.

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