[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 68 (Thursday, April 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF MS. MAMIE HUGHES' 90TH BIRTHDAY

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                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 25, 2019

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor a dynamic woman in 
my district. On May 3, 2019, Mamie Currie Hughes will celebrate her 
90th birthday. While turning 90 is a major feat in itself, it's what 
she has done during these years that makes her so special. Mamie Hughes 
has been a civil and women's rights champion in Kansas City since the 
1950's.
  Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Hughes graduated from Stanton High 
School at sixteen years of age. At that young age, she left Florida to 
attend Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee where she met her 
husband Leonard Hughes, Jr. Upon graduation in 1949, the couple married 
and moved to his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.
  Ms. Hughes taught elementary school upon arriving in Kansas City. By 
1958, as a member of Community Committee for Social Action, she became 
part of a movement to abolish discriminatory practices of the major 
department stores in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
  During the 1950's and 60's she continued to fight segregation while 
also raising a family, after giving birth to five children. Even so, 
her commitment to her community never wavered. From 1957 through 1975, 
Ms. Hughes served with women of all races on the Panel of American 
Women, an organization that gave presentations describing how 
discrimination, racism and bigotry affects lives. These community 
discussions were often held in areas that blacks and other minorities 
were not welcomed. In 1972, Ms. Hughes was the first black woman 
elected to the Jackson County legislature where she served two terms. 
During her time in the legislature, Ms. Hughes was the Chair of the 
Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Board of Directors and its 
Commission on Aging. While at MARC, she assisted with the 
implementation of the 911 emergency assistance development and worked 
on the establishment of the Meals on Wheels program that provides food 
delivery for senior citizens.
  In 1978, my House colleague, Rep. John Lewis, interviewed Ms. Hughes 
and recommended her to President Carter, who appointed her the Regional 
Administrator to ACTION/VISTA, the predecessor of AmeriCorps VISTA and 
the United States government agency that serves as the federal domestic 
volunteer agency. The agency's responsibilities included the domestic 
volunteer programs established under the Office of Economic Opportunity 
including the Foster Grandparents programs and the Peace Corps. It also 
assumed logistical support responsibilities for the volunteer programs 
of the SBA's Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the senior 
companion programs that later became the Senior Corps.
  After her federal service, Ms. Hughes' became President of the Black 
Economic Union (BEU) of Greater Kansas City, one of the country's 
oldest community development corporations. During her tenure at BEU, 
Ms. Hughes's efforts focused on the stabilization and preservation of 
buildings with historic significance. That work ultimately laid the 
foundation for the Cleaver Plan, which resulted in Kansas City's 
Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District.
  In 1986, Ms. Hughes resumed her governmental service and became the 
City of Kansas City, Missouri's Ombudsman for the Bruce R. Watkins 
(BRW) Roadway. Her responsibilities included working on behalf of 
residents affected by the construction of the BRW Roadway. During her 
tenure with the city, Ms. Hughes' reputation as a fierce neighborhood 
liaison grew because of her tireless dedication to assisting those 
adversely affected.
  Over her lifetime, Ms. Hughes has received various awards and honors 
too numerous to mention here. Most recently, however, she was included 
in a special group honored by former First Lady Laura Bush and inducted 
into the University of Missouri at Kansas City's Starr Hall of Fame 
recognizing women who have made the Kansas City community a better 
place through impressive lifetime accomplishments.
  In 2016, Ms. Hughes penned her autobiography entitled Mamie Who? The 
Life and Times of a Colored Woman, chronicling her efforts against 
racism and championing women's rights. For over 70 years she has fought 
for equal rights for all and for the improvement of Kansas City as a 
whole. Because of her incredible service to our community, I would like 
to congratulate her on celebrating her 90th birthday and thank her for 
making Kansas City a better, more just place for all to live.

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