[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 180 (Tuesday, November 12, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1426-E1428]
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:
  Bobbi Abold is a dedicated, passionate, and invested advocate who 
brings over a decade of experience in education to her work on behalf 
of at-risk students. Bobbi currently serves as the Assistant 
Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the Yuba County Office 
of Education. In this position as well as during her time as Principal 
at Durham Elementary School, Bobbi has leveraged her unique capacity 
for positive reinforcement and decision making to administer critical 
resources and engaging programs for all her students. As a true model 
and champion of the very best in leadership in alternative education, 
Bobbi has continuously gone out of her way to improve her skills by 
training in restorative practices and is always challenging others to 
become better educators. Her inclusivity allows her to foster a 
positive and constructive environment for students to learn and grow as 
individuals, and she lends a special focus to those facing the greatest 
challenges. Bobbi is a passionate public servant who consistently 
demonstrates her unparalleled dedication to securing bright futures for 
her students.
  Rose Mary Avila is a dedicated advocate for members of the Yuba 
County community. She is a highly regarded volunteer, community 
servant, and business woman. Rose Mary works to help the Marysville 
business community thrive through her involvement with the Focus on 
Marysville business forum. Rose Mary has been an executive member at 
the Alliance for Hispanic Advancement in Yuba County for 15 years and 
contributes her time to many events and fundraisers. Through this 
organization she has worked to enrich the lives of people of Hispanic 
heritage in her community by awarding scholarships to Hispanic 
students, providing health resources and bilingual information for 
community members, and administering numerous other community programs. 
Rose Mary is also a member of the Marysville Kiwanis where she lends 
valuable assistance to their fundraising efforts. Rose Mary is also an 
active member of her church where she helps with annual fundraisers and 
volunteered as a catechism teacher. Rose Mary is a loving mother of 
two, grandmother of four, and a cherished friend to many. A lifelong 
resident of Yuba County, she has had a positive impact on countless 
members of her community.
  Lisa Baker is a tireless advocate working at the forefront of some of 
the most pressing issues facing her community. Her activism encompasses 
issues such as housing, social equality, and climate change. Her 
efforts to provide affordable housing, connect residents with social 
services, improve social equity, and address issues related to climate 
change have had a profound and positive impact on our district. As CEO 
of the Yolo County Housing Authority, Lisa works tirelessly to realize 
the organization's mission of working to provide quality affordable 
housing and community development services for all. Her organization 
and its allies provide essential services that meet the needs of 
thousands of underprivileged households throughout Yolo and Solano 
counties. Under her leadership, the Yolo County Housing Authority works 
with community partners to combat homelessness and does innovative work 
on climate resiliency. Over the years, her organization has earned 
numerous national recognitions, and last year won the City of Davis 
Environmental Special Recognition award for ongoing work in 
sustainability and equity. Beyond her groundbreaking work in building 
climate resiliency and sustainability into affordable housing, Lisa 
lends her time and expertise to a variety of community organizations. 
She is Vice Chair of the Winters Planning Commission, serves on the 
Citizen Advisory Committee for the Yolo County Transportation District, 
is a member of the Cool Davis Council of Advisors, serves on the Prop 
47 Steering Committee, and is a member of the Yolo Resilience 
Collaborative. She is also a member of a number of statewide and 
national organizations focused on advocating for affordable housing in 
underserved communities. Lisa's passion for public service and positive 
impact on her community cannot be overstated.
  Navjot Bala-Singh has a unique and unparalleled ability as an 
educator. When Navjot came to the United States in 2002, it was her 
dream to become an educator and share the history of Indian women with 
her community. The challenges of adjusting to a new culture and 
learning to communicate effectively in a foreign language did not stop 
her from pursuing her goals. On the contrary, this experience endowed 
her with patience and a unique perspective she could share with others. 
In 2010 she became a U.S. Citizen, enrolled in college, and later 
completed her degree in early childhood education. She became a Mentor 
Teacher at Yuba Community College where she shared her skills as a pre-
school teacher and her passion for cultivating young minds flourished. 
Throughout her educational career she has learned the value of sharing 
her Indian culture with students and her community. Navjot now plays a 
leadership role in the annual Indian Women's Teejan Meda, an event 
which shares the important contributions Indian women have made to 
national and local communities. She also plays a crucial role in 
putting on the annual Sikh Parade, Nagar Kirtan, which attracts over 
100,000 visitors to Yuba City and provides a special opportunity to 
share Indian culture with the local community. Navjot and her husband 
lend the use of their local landmark restaurant, the Star of India, to 
make this event a resounding success year after year. Navjot plays an 
integral role in fostering cultural exchange and understanding that has 
helped to make Yuba City a vibrant and diverse community.
  Dennise Burbank is a life-long resident of the Yuba-Sutter area with 
an extensive record of service to her community. Dennise is well known 
for her kind heart and unparalleled generosity. Fulfilling a lifelong 
dream to open her own business, Dennise founded Burbank Insurance in 
2007. Outside of work, she spends her time doing a variety of volunteer 
work. Dennise and her son give their time training service dogs that 
are placed with children with autism all over the country. Dennise can 
also be found overseeing everything from the Olivehurst Christmas 
Parade to operating her non-profit organization SoYouCan. Under her 
leadership, this organization aids needy families across the county. 
For the last seven years, SoYouCan has partnered with the Yuba County 
Sherriff's Department, Olivehurst and Linda Fire Departments, and 
countless local schools and volunteers to put together Operation Turkey 
Swap. This annual event brings Christmas dinners and toys to over 250 
families and 600 children, allowing those who might go without to 
participate in the Christmas spirit. Additionally, as President of the 
Marysville Kiwanis club, Dennise oversaw the BUGS program which focuses 
on incentivizing local middle school students to raise their grades 
with the promise of a new bicycle for the top-five most improved 
students, as well as an ice cream social for all who take the pledge to 
improve. In 2012, Dennise ran for Director of Public Utilities, going 
on to serve as President of the Board until 2015. With her vast array 
of accomplishments and caring spirit, Dennise serves as a shining 
example of philanthropic generosity and passionate service to everyone 
in her community.
  Neelam Canto-Lugo is a community servant who has made contributions 
to the Yuba-Sutter area and beyond that cannot be overstated. As a 
retired adjunct professor of communications at Yuba College and a 
feminist ahead of her time, her main mission and purpose has always 
been to better the lives of students, children, and women in 
disadvantaged communities. In her two-plus decades at Yuba College, 
Neelam developed and coordinated the Crossing Borders--Building Bridges 
Events Series. Here she effectively promoted cultural, socio-political, 
and religious understanding through countless events and projects, 
including museum exhibits on the Japanese-American Internment 
experience, interfaith panel discussions promoting religious tolerance, 
as well as annual panels on women's health, domestic violence, human 
trafficking, and Women's History Month. Whether in the fight to reduce 
hate crimes in Yuba City or support women's entrepreneurship in Nepal 
and Bangladesh, Neelam's presence and service-oriented mindset are felt 
by all she meets. For her efforts, she has been recognized with 
numerous awards, including but

[[Page E1427]]

certainly not limited to, the United States President's Gold Volunteer 
Service Award for volunteer work in developing countries and the John 
W. Rice Equity and Diversity Award. Neelam's leadership has made 
a positive impact on women's issues locally and internationally, where 
her trailblazing approach to social justice, women's rights, and equity 
has broken many a glass ceiling.

  Jill Cook has a heart of service that is clearly and consistently 
demonstrated in her commitment to serving those in need. In her work as 
the Yolo County Deputy Administrator she does just that, focusing on 
bringing health and wellness to the community. Jill passionately 
infuses her commitment to community health and wellness with her 
focused determination and natural ability to forge cooperation amongst 
partners. In doing so, Jill was at the forefront of the local 
Affordable Care Act implementation, secured over $6 million in new 
funding through an intergovernmental transfer with the Medi-Cal managed 
plan, and helped the County transition to a regional public health 
laboratory through a joint powers agreement with two adjacent counties. 
More recently, Jill oversaw the completion of the Tuli Mem Park and 
Aquatic Center spanning 8 acres of rural western Yolo County. Her 
steadfast belief that underserved communities throughout Yolo County 
deserve access to outdoor recreation for play and exercise, inspires 
her to find ways of galvanizing support. Jill uses her strong public 
health background to champion for her community and successfully 
secured funding from the California Department of Parks and Recreation 
for Knights Landing in order to provide new outdoor recreation space in 
her community. Jill continually seeks ways to help others and has 
implemented workgroups focused on improving the quality of life for 
residents of Yolo County. Her hard work and determination make her a 
strong advocate for the well-being of her community and her generosity 
and volunteerism are an example for future leaders.
  Jenalee Dawson is a young professional who has accomplished more in 
her career than many do in a lifetime. She puts her unparalleled 
determination and focus to work as a fierce advocate for those at risk 
in her community, working to address issues of interpersonal violence, 
senior poverty and isolation, affordable housing, homelessness, mental 
health and substance abuse, and accessibility to services. While she is 
currently employed as the Resident Social Services Coordinator for the 
California Department of Human Development, Jenalee continuously finds 
additional opportunities to contribute to the well-being of those in 
her community. Whether it is in her role as Service Coordinator for 
Parkway Plaza Senior Apartments, serving as the Chair of the Solano 
Partnership Against Violence, or as co-organizer of the Family Justice 
Center, Jenalee's impactful presence is always felt. As a member of the 
Senior Coalition of Solano County, Jenalee was responsible for 
launching the Savvy Seniors Program, which seeks to avail seniors of 
resources and benefits for everything from budgeting to avoiding 
becoming the victim of fraud. Jenalee shows immeasurable strength and 
courage in compassionately using her own experience overcoming violence 
and adversity to serve as a role model for others looking to rise above 
difficult circumstances and build resiliency. Jenalee is a talented and 
selfless individual who has made countless contributions to the lives 
of others and I look forward to seeing what more she accomplishes in 
the years ahead.
  Pat Dennis has had an immeasurable impact on the town of Vacaville, 
where she displays a commitment to sustaining and enriching fine arts 
in her community. Pat has always been eager to shoulder communal 
responsibility and began volunteering for the North Bay Opera Guild 
shortly after moving to Vacaville. Here she quickly rose to become 
President of the organization, leading it to its peak while fostering 
an inviting environment at its 354 seat Opera House facility. Pat has 
facilitated numerous school and community outreach programs, such as 
the annual Young Performers Concert, while also working with the 
Vacaville Museum Guild to support the preservation of Vacaville's local 
history. Pat has logged over 16,500 volunteer hours for the North Bay 
Volunteer Guild and has made significant contributions to the cause of 
Alzheimer's research. Pat has also become a crucial part of the 
Vacaville Arts Council, where she holds the position of Vice President. 
In this position she helped to advance the organization's impact, 
expanding events, adding membership, and acting as an integral piece of 
the ``Salute to the Stars'' event. Pat's work in the community is 
invaluable and she is pillar of the community, beloved by all who know 
her.
  Ana Dineen has continuously sought out ways to support and engage the 
underrepresented in Solano County. During her decades-long career as a 
school nurse, Ana oversaw the Healthy Start Family Resource Center in 
Fairfield and Suisun City. Under her leadership, the Family Resource 
Center has grown into a model child abuse prevention program, providing 
families in crisis a place to receive basic necessities, crisis 
counseling, and parenting education. Ana has also served as President 
of the Solano Children's Alliance, providing crucial insight on child 
and family needs to the Solano Board of Supervisors. Under the steady 
hand of her leadership, these organizations have continued to expand 
the range and depth of available community resources. Now retired, Ana 
founded Voces Unidas (United Voices), a non-profit organization focused 
on availing the Latino community of resources, including know-your-
rights workshops, information sessions on obtaining proper 
identification, and education on human trafficking. With her tireless 
dedication to aiding those in need, Ana is truly a treasure of Solano 
County whose impact will be felt for generations to come.
  Deborah Dunham has led a life of service, dedicated to volunteer work 
and philanthropic efforts. Deborah served her country in the United 
States Marine Corps, where she was one of the first four female marines 
to be selected for IBM's Computer Programming School and received two 
Meritorious Promotions. This alone would make her worthy of 
recognition, but her service did not end there. Over the last 44 years, 
Deborah has served as a professional fundraising executive, volunteer, 
and generous supporter of numerous charitable organizations throughout 
her community. She has a passion for developing and improving nonprofit 
organizations and consistently makes invaluable contributions with 
unmatched selflessness and dedication. To many, she is known for her 
work with Gorilla Doctors, a joint program between the Mountain Gorilla 
Veterinary Project and the UC Davis One Health Institute of Veterinary 
Medicine which provides veterinary care to wild mountain and Grauer's 
gorillas throughout East Africa, playing an important role in saving 
the species from extinction. As chair of their Board of Directors, her 
leadership, purpose, and drive helped lead the organization to new 
heights. Through her efforts, she has brought international renown and 
accolades to our community and her work received recognition from the 
President of Rwanda. Deborah is an inspiration to many in our 
community, having effectively juggled the responsibilities of family, 
career, and community involvement and twice beating cancer while always 
maintaining her commitments to the many organizations she supports. 
Deborah is admired and revered by friends and colleagues locally, 
regionally, and around the world because when she sets her mind to it, 
she brings about indelible change.
  Nancy Geweke Elrod has made vast and meaningful contributions to the 
Yuba-Sutter area over her lifetime. As a Yuba City High School 
graduate, Nancy went on to get her degree in Recreation Administration 
at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She subsequently served as sales manager 
for the Lodi Conference and Visitor's Bureau, before settling in as 
Recreation Coordinator for the City of Yuba City. During her time in 
this position she oversaw the budget and implemented festivities for 
Yuba City's Centennial Celebration while simultaneously supervising the 
city's youth programming and senior activities. When she decided to 
join the family business, Geweke Ford, in 2009, Nancy couldn't wait to 
continue getting involved in her community. She has contributed 
immensely to her family's non-profit organization, Geweke's Caring for 
Women Foundation, where she served as Director since 2011. This 
organization financially assists local women facing cancer and has now 
provided over 10,000 women with 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. Nancy has co-chaired the Pink October Race for Awareness for 14 
years alongside her sister and under her leadership fundraising efforts 
have grown up to 35 percent, raising over $150,000 each year. Nancy has 
also been an active member of Early Risers Kiwanis, finds time to 
volunteer with the Beale Military Liaison Committee, and has proudly 
served on the Sutter Medical Foundation Philanthropy Committee since 
2009. Through her effective leadership and enthusiastic approach, Nancy 
has touched the lives of many throughout the Yuba-Sutter community.
  Catherine Farman is a dedicated advocate for the most vulnerable 
populations of her community. For years, Catherine has donated her time 
and expertise to the Empower Yolo Board of Directors, where she has 
been instrumental in furthering their mission to promote safe, healthy, 
and resilient communities. Empower Yolo is the county's leading 
resource for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human 
trafficking, and child abuse. Catherine has served in numerous 
leadership roles at the organization, where she has helped to raise 
thousands of dollars, volunteered at countless events, and grown 
Empower Yolo's extensive network of support.

[[Page E1428]]

Additionally, she takes the time to inspire and mentor her colleagues, 
helping them to harness their own skills, knowledge, and passion to 
serve their community. Catherine is also the founder of the Davis 
Schools Foundation, which has helped every school in Davis and 
thousands of children over the years. She has also given her time and 
support to such organizations as 100 Women Who Care, the Yolo Crisis 
Nursery, and the Yolo County Food Bank. Catherine is a fierce advocate, 
caring friend, loving mother, and inspirational leader whose dedicated 
service to her community has changed countless lives in Yolo County.
  Diana Fuentes-Michel is a dedicated advocate not only within the Yolo 
and Sacramento regions, but throughout the entire state of California. 
For years, Diana has applied her skills and expertise in higher 
education policy to ensure that migrant, low-income, and moderate-
income students from the state of California can pursue a higher 
education. Diana has also been instrumental in ensuring that upwards of 
50,000 undocumented students can attend college by ushering in 
California's Dream Act Application. Diana also contributed to the 
establishment of the bilingual career and college fair called Steps to 
College: Paseo de la Universidad, which was the first of its kind in 
Yolo and Sacramento counties. Diana's work as an establishing member 
and volunteer for the Chicano-Latino Youth Leadership Program has 
provided thousands of California's young Latinx with the opportunity to 
visit Sacramento, stay on college campuses, and participate in state 
government affairs. She has also volunteered her time with Cien Amigos 
where she helped to raise funds for the nonprofit that serves 300 
students and helps administer the organization's yearly scholarship 
program. Diana is an inspirational leader whose dedicated service to 
her community has changed countless lives in our community and 
throughout the state of California.
  I congratulate each of them and commend them for their work. I am 
inspired by them and firmly believe when women succeed, America 
succeeds.

                          ____________________