[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 180 (Tuesday, November 12, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1417-E1419]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE 2019 WOMEN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 12, 2019

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2019 Women of 
the Year. The honorees represent some of the most outstanding and 
dedicated women in the 3rd Congressional District. Nominated by their 
peers, these women and the leadership they have provided are being 
recognized for playing an integral and crucial role in improving the 
lives of everyone in their communities.
  During the last 50 years women have made great strides in America. It 
used to be almost unheard of to see women as elected officials, CEOs, 
senior military officials, doctors or attorneys, but today many of our 
most successful leaders in the world are women. This progress has not 
come easy and many women before you have worked hard and strived to 
achieve the independence and rights you have today. I realize there is 
more work to be done to ensure that women have equal pay, flexible work 
schedules and affordable education. Each of the honorees will be a 
vital part of the future successes for women.
  2019's Women of the Year are:
  Kellie Geweke Sheeran is a Sutter County native who has worked 
continuously to give back to her community. A Yuba City High School 
graduate, Kellie graduated from Chico State with a degree in 
Organizational Communications before returning home in 2003 to join the 
family business at Geweke Ford Kia Collision. Over the years, Kellie 
has contributed tremendously through her family's non-profit 
organization, Geweke's Caring for Women Foundation, where she served as 
Director from 2008 to 2010. This organization financially assists local 
women facing cancer, having now provided over 10,000 women low-cost 
mammograms and women's health screenings. Under her leadership, the 
Geweke's Caring for Women Foundation has helped over 430 cancer 
survivors through numerous grants. Beyond her work with her family's 
foundation, she has been a steadfast advocate for breast cancer 
awareness, co-chairing the Pink October Race for Awareness for the last 
12 years alongside her sister. Kellie is also an active member of Early 
Risers Kiwanis and has supported Beale Airforce Base as part of the 
Beale Military Liaison Council for 10 years, where she has been an 
honorary commander since 2011. Kellie's passion and dedication make her 
an invaluable member of the Yuba-Sutter community.
  Joyce Hammond is a dedicated educator who has educated thousands of 
students on topics of health and nutrition. With 24 years of service to 
the Yuba City Unified School District, she has made a lasting impact on 
the community. Recently, Joyce has partnered with Sutter County Public 
Health and CalFresh to promote healthy and active lifestyles by 
teaching her students about good nutrition and how to make healthy 
choices through the CalFresh Healthy Living Program. Joyce's invaluable 
experience in education coupled with her expertise in nutrition has 
allowed her to seamlessly introduce this new program into her Childhood 
Development, Early Childhood Careers and Life Management, and 
Nutritional Science classes. Joyce also takes the time to serve as a 
co-advisor to the campus Family and Consumer Science Club where she 
encourages her students to participate in the healthy living program. 
Joyce's passion, commitment, and professionalism have been a source of 
inspiration to her colleagues who admire her determination to provide 
her students with the skills that will help them lead healthy lives for 
years to come. Joyce's tireless work to improve the quality of life for 
her students and their families will leave a lasting impact on her 
community.
  Ms. Kathleen Heeren served her country in the United States Army and, 
following her honorable discharge, continued her life of service by 
devoting her time to advocating on behalf of her fellow veterans. She 
is a lifetime member of the American Legion, where she has volunteered 
for over 21 years. Over the years, Kathleen has served as Commander of 
the Vacaville American Legion Post 165, Commander of the American 
Legion 5th District, and the Women Veteran's Representative to the 
California American Legion. She now serves as the Women Veteran's 
Representative to the Vacaville Soroptimist International where she has 
been a member for over 10 years and given her time to a number of 
committees within the organization. Her generosity and volunteer work 
have extended to many youth programs in her community including the 
Vanden High School JROTC program, local Boy Scout troops, and the 
American Legion Boys and Girls State programs. Kathleen has truly lived 
a life of service, wearing the uniform for her country before going on 
to honor the men and women who served before, after, and alongside her 
through her work with veteran organizations. Kathleen is an integral 
part of the Vacaville veteran community and has touched the lives of 
many.
  Kelly Heung has committed her life to helping children of all 
abilities and backgrounds thrive. Through her many professional and 
volunteer positions, Kelly has dedicated countless hours to supporting 
children in her community. Throughout her career she has devoted 
herself to understanding and meeting the needs of children and has 
lived that commitment in all her professional and personal actions. 
Having earned her PhD in Human Development, Kelly became an authority 
on autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders and now uses her 
expertise to mentor future leaders in the field. She has also become an 
active advocate for education in Yolo County, volunteering her time 
with the Superintendent Parent Advisory Committee, Davis Parent 
University Board, Davis Joint Unified School District Strategic 
Planning Committee, Davis Schools Foundation, Parent Teacher 
Association, and multiple School Site Councils. Kelly has used her 
positions within all of these organizations to champion the interests 
of underserved children and ensure equitable treatment for all students 
throughout her community. Kelly has inspired others with her 
compassion, conscientiousness, and commitment to being the voice for 
children who are unable to advocate for themselves. She is generous 
with her time, energy, and kindness, and is a devoted mother, wife, 
daughter, and friend.
  Rosemary Hicks is a dedicated advocate for children and families in 
her community. For 42 years, Rosemary has been a devoted part of the 
Colusa Unified School District. As a former para-educator and current 
administrative assistant to the Principal of Burchfield Primary School, 
Rosemary has touched the lives of so many children, teachers, and 
families. She is known throughout her community as someone who will 
always find a way to help a family in need. Around the holidays 
Rosemary is a driving force behind countless community food, clothing, 
and shoe drives, as well as Toys for Tots programs. She has also served 
her community through leadership positions in organizations such as the 
Colusa Little League, IMPACT Thrift Store, the Catholic Ladies 
Auxiliary, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, and many more. She is also 
an active member of the California School Employees Association where 
she has been a strong advocate for her colleagues. Through her tireless 
work and dedication to helping others, Rosemary has become a pillar of 
support for families and children in Colusa. She is known by everyone 
in Colusa as the heart and soul of the Colusa Unified School District 
and the community at large.
  Jaye Hurt is dedicated to giving back to the men and women who serve 
our country and the families who support them. Through her work as the 
Team Lead at the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Jaye is highly 
respected and admired for her constant dedication to ensuring that our 
Airmen and their families get the services and support that they

[[Page E1418]]

need. As Team Lead, Jaye has provided oversight to key support programs 
that have helped over 73,000 military personnel. She coordinated the 
Monthly Hearts Apart Program, which provided activities for children 
and social emotional support for spouses of deployed troops. Jaye has 
focused many of her efforts on supporting troops and their families 
during deployment. She facilitated over 50 pre-deployment briefings and 
ensured that family members felt prepared and supported by the base 
community. She organized a Deployer Care project that sent more than 
400 care packages to deployed troops. She has also worked with local 
community leaders to ensure viable employment opportunities for 
Military Spouses. Jaye was also the driving force behind the Annual 
Base Freedom Walk, where her coordination efforts resulted in the 
participation of more than 900 students. She also played a role in 
starting the Travis Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance, is 
a founding member of the Special Needs Task Force for families with 
exceptional family members, is a Traumatic Stress Response Team member, 
and oversees many other support services encompassed by the Diversity 
Working Group. Through her commitment to excellence and continual 
support, Jaye has changed the lives of thousands of military personnel 
and their families.
  Erica Hurtado has dedicated herself to improving the lives of 
children within her community. As a member of the Founding Families for 
the Dixon Montessori Charter School, Erica assisted in setting up 
classrooms, offices, and other sites around the campus in preparation 
for the first school year. For years, she donated her time and skill as 
a professional photographer to capture photos of students and staff. It 
was during this time that Erica joined the DMCS board of directors 
where she is still active today. Erica also helped form the first Dixon 
Little League Challengers Team, which gave children with cognitive 
and physical disabilities the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of 
participating in a team sport. After receiving immense support for the 
organization from the community, Erica was inspired to create T.E.A.M. 
Dixon with the emphasis that ``Together Everyone Always Matters.'' In 
founding this non-profit organization, Erica was instrumental in 
helping to break down barriers facing those with special needs while 
simultaneously helping to build their confidence and increase community 
awareness and understanding. T.E.A.M. Dixon's mission, with the help of 
Erica's vision and generosity, has spread to nearby towns where they 
wish to bring the same compassion and kindness to their community. 
Through her hard work and dedication, Erica has had a positive impact 
on the lives of countless children in her community.

  Roberta James is an active member of her community who has devoted 
her time to promoting education, reading, and an appreciation for the 
arts and literature in Colusa. As an educator, she dedicated her career 
to keeping students engaged in their education, working with families, 
and mentoring new teachers. Ten years ago, Roberta founded the Virginia 
Yerxa Community Read and formed a committee of women who established 
the first one-book project in Colusa County, doing so in memory of 
another Colusa woman who was a tireless advocate for literacy. Every 
year, a new book selection is chosen to shine a light on different 
areas of the community. Several events are planned throughout the year 
that bring everyone together to share their interests and experiences 
through a shared appreciation of that year's book. Thanks to Roberta's 
commitment to the project, the Virginia Read has become part of the 
fabric of the Colusa community. Roberta still teaches part time while 
using the rest of her time to focus on art. She founded an Artist-in-
Residence program which offers a space for artists to work on their 
craft in exchange for sharing their talents with the local community. 
Through this program and her support of the Colusa County Arts Council, 
Roberta works to promote her community as a destination for those 
interested in the arts. Roberta is an integral member of her community, 
consistently finding and addressing the needs of Colusa.
  Mary Rose Kennedy has devoted her career and personal life to caring 
for and educating children. A mother of five, retired teacher, and 
current classroom volunteer, Mary Rose has touched the lives of 
countless children in her community. Having retired after more than 25 
years of service to the Orland Unified School District, she now has the 
pleasure of seeing the impact she has made on her community when she is 
fondly greeted by her former students. Mary Rose was a strong and 
dedicated educator who was honored as a Glenn County Teacher of the 
Year, and later inducted into the Glenn County Educator's Hall of Fame. 
Though now retired, she continues to volunteer her time in classrooms 
helping children learn the joy of reading. Her volunteer work also 
extends beyond the classroom where she uses her grant writing skills to 
help secure funding for community organizations such as the Orland Arts 
Commission, the Orland Beautification Committee, and a local club 
providing scholarships to deserving high school students. Mary Rose is 
an integral member of the Orland community and has played a vital role 
in its improvement and growth.
  Through her diligent dedication to her community, Juantia Menefee has 
become an unwavering pillar of support for those in her community with 
the greatest need. She has devoted her career to serving those in need 
of housing assistance and ensuring they receive the services they need. 
Through her work with Volunteers for America, Juantia became part of a 
national network of service organizations providing life altering 
support to 1.5 million people every year. She has also worked with the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development to help underprivileged 
individuals and families find affordable housing and employment. 
Juantia also volunteers with arts and reading programs at local 
schools, working to ensure that the students within her community are 
engaged and successful in their academic endeavors. Juantia's service 
to her community can be seen in everything she does, from her career 
path to her volunteer work, she devotes her time to serving others.
  Glenda Nelson was born and raised on Enterprise Rancheria, instilled 
with the importance of honor and duty in serving her Native People. She 
surmounted many hardships before becoming one of the first Native 
American women to graduate college. Glenda then used her voice and her 
education to protect the Rancheria Lands and the sovereign rights of 
indigenous peoples, leading to her eventual election to the Tribal 
Council. Her desire to serve expanded to active involvement in 
political advocacy at the state and federal level, where she provided 
testimony on legislation and advocated for increased funding, 
protection of tribal sovereignty, and protection of the Indian Child 
Welfare Act. She has served as a delegate to the California Nations 
Indian Gaming Association and the National Congress of the American 
Indians. Glenda played an integral role in developing educational 
programs and participated in the founding of the Ipakanni Early College 
Charter School. Glenda has fought on behalf of her community on every 
issue, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Feather River 
Tribal Health, a board member for the Enterprise Rancheria Indian 
Housing Authority, a delegate to the National American Indian Housing 
Council, and a delegate to the California Tribal Families Coalition. 
After years of hard work and leadership, together with the Tribal 
Council, Glenda is credited with creating hundreds of jobs in the 
region by making the vision of opening a casino in Yuba County a 
reality. Glenda's passionate and effective advocacy on behalf of her 
community will have a lasting impact for generations to come.
  Pat Nicodemus has spent the last 35 years serving her community and 
working to improve the lives of some of the most disadvantaged 
populations. Early in her career, Pat helped found an emergency foster 
program where she helped recruit and prepare families to adopt drug 
exposed infants, ensuring a safe place for children facing unimaginable 
challenges. Later in her career she began to work on decreasing 
recidivism by helping incarcerated individuals access parenting 
classes, drug treatment programs, and other educational services 
essential for survival outside of the prison system. Pat co-founded the 
Women's ReEntry and Achievement Program, a program to guide 
incarcerated women to address their past trauma, deal with their 
addictions, and have the best possible chance to become productive 
members of their communities. Through this program, Pat has helped 
hundreds of women and their families lift themselves into prosperity. 
Her compassion, wisdom, patience, and devotion to serving women and 
families has transformed many lives and her positive impact on her 
community will span generations.
  Vangie Porras has been an integral part of her community of Glenn 
County and has served in some form since 1989. As one of the first 
Latino students welcomed into the Orland School district, Vangie faced 
stark challenges to having her voice heard. But that didn't stop her 
from finding ways to become involved in her community. Vangie began her 
path of service at the Democratic Party booth at the Glenn County Fair 
in 1989. From there she eventually became treasurer of the Glenn County 
Democratic Party, holding the organization together with her many years 
of hard work and well-earned wisdom. Outside politics, Vangie Porras 
expanded her portfolio of service to the Orland Unified School Board 
and the Glenn County Fair Board. Her work ensured that current students 
never had to face the same challenges she faced in Glenn County and 
held together a tightly knit county fair community. Vangie Porras has 
become a permanent fixture of public service in Glenn County. On behalf 
of the people of Orland and the 3rd Congressional District, I offer 
Vangie Porras my congratulations and well wishes for her future 
endeavors.

[[Page E1419]]

  Navneet Randhawa is a dedicated community servant who has routinely 
taken the time to reach out to people in need and bring communities 
together. In 2012 Navneet participated in the Sutter County Library's 
Citizenship Preparation class, where she learned of their Literacy 
Services Program. She was interested in the opportunity to give back to 
the library and volunteered a tutor for ESL students with the lowest 
reading levels. Colleagues and students alike attest to her friendly 
and welcoming manner as she provided critical assistance with the 
program. Navneet also worked tirelessly for Casa de Esperanza, a 
shelter, counseling, advocacy, and education facility for adult and 
child survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, 
elder abuse, and human trafficking. Through her work as a bi-lingual 
counselor advocate she was instrumental in bridging the gap between the 
organization and her Southeast Asian community, helping Casa de 
Esperanza reach more people in need of their services. She also worked 
to help her colleagues better understand her culture so they could 
better serve the community. Though Navneet now works as a nurse, she 
continues to volunteer her time with Casa where she continues to make a 
positive difference in people's lives. Navneet's unique skill and 
compassion in bringing together communities and treating everyone with 
compassion is a joy and inspiration to everyone around her.
  Margaret Renn has dedicated her life to educating children throughout 
her community. Margaret taught in elementary school classrooms for 16 
years at schools in San Jose, Vallejo, and Fairfield before going on to 
serve as an elementary school principal in the Fairfield-Suisun Unified 
School District for 16 more years. Now in retirement, Margaret 
continues her passion for education by volunteering with the Solano 
County Chapter of the California Retired Teachers Association. In 
addition to her many years of service as a public educator, Margaret 
now spends her free time serving special needs children and adults at 
the Horseplay Therapeutic Riding Center in Dixon, where she has been 
volunteering for five years, is one of two volunteer coordinators, and 
serves on their Board of Directors. Through her work at the Horseplay 
Therapeutic Center she has the privilege of getting to see special 
needs riders develop physical strength, social skills, and self 
confidence while expanding their horsemanship skills. Margaret has 
dedicated herself to the education and wellbeing of others and her 
service in the classroom and at the stables have had a lasting positive 
impact on her community.
  Jenn Rexroad is a fierce advocate for children and families 
throughout our community. As the Founder and Executive Director of the 
California Alliance of Caregivers, Jenn consistently fights for the 
needs of at-risk foster care children. Jenn was instrumental in 
creating and implementing a policy agenda that advocated for the rights 
of foster children and played a vital role in establishing numerous 
projects important to children and families. Her work on the Resource 
Families' Policy Summit and the Mental Health Services Parent 
Stakeholder Engagement Project has furthered the goal of improving 
mental health services for all children and youth statewide. Her 
fervent advocacy has helped to create stronger protections and 
opportunities for those in need. Jenn is in position to continue her 
vital work by serving as a First5 Yolo Commissioner and volunteering as 
the Child Welfare Policy Director for the organization Children Now. 
Her unbridled energy and concern for those in need are instrumental in 
creating a more caring and compassionate community. Her work on behalf 
of children and families in our community will have a lasting impact on 
generations to come.
  Jen Roberts is a passionate activist whose strong and energetic 
leadership has had a real impact on her community. As founder of 
Indivisible Colusa, a local volunteer organization focused on engaging 
in progressive political advocacy, Jen has been tireless in creating 
ways for local community members to develop their voice. In doing 
everything from organizing postcard campaigns to composing the 
Indivisible Colusa newsletter, Jen has been relentless in pursuing ways 
for community members to engage in the political process on the local, 
state, and federal levels. She has been known to regularly open her 
home for meetings and debate watch parties. Her courageous, thoughtful, 
and principled leadership has allowed Indivisible Colusa to rapidly 
transform from its humble beginnings in 2017 to the lively and visible 
presence it is in the community today. Jen is also a founding member of 
the Colusa County Democratic Central Committee, which held its first 
meeting in February 2018. Kickstarting this process, Jen was integral 
in establishing a Democratic party committee in one of the few 
California counties that didn't already have one. Jen is tireless in 
her efforts to engage others and ensures that those in her community 
have a place to develop and express their beliefs while delving into 
the democratic process.
  I congratulate each of them and commend them for their work. I am 
inspired by them and firmly believe when women succeed, America 
succeeds.

                          ____________________