[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1246-H1248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING CARMEN CARRASQUILLO
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) is recognized
for the remainder of the hour.
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewomen from Wisconsin and
California for their wise words and for invoking the angels that we
lost in Florida as well.
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to recognize Carmen
Carrasquillo.
Carmen is a graduate of New York's Baruch Community College and
earned a business management certification from Columbia University.
She worked as the administrator of the Boriken Health Center for the
indigent community in East Harlem, New York.
Since joining the council in 1992 as the senior center coordinator,
Carmen has worked with residents and leaders to initiate and sustain
programs serving seniors and disabled adults. These have earned the
Osceola Council on Aging Senior Center numerous awards for maintaining
the independence and dignity of our constituents, including Outstanding
Senior Center in the State of Florida.
Her background as a bilingual teacher led to the first English
classes for Spanish-speaking adults in Osceola County. This also led
her to become a founding member of BRAVO, a nonprofit organization that
provided necessary information and referrals to a newly emigrating
Hispanic population in Osceola County. Carmen was also named Woman of
the Year in 1994.
Carmen assisted the Council on Aging with the opening of the first
Hispanic site, Centro Latino Americano Edad de Oro, in the Buena
Ventura Lakes Community Center, also known as the Roberto Guevara
Community Center.
She was also one of the founders of the Senior Follies with the
Osceola Center for the Arts, partnered with Southwest Airlines on a
Home for the Holidays program, organized volunteer activities for AARP
Community Care Days, organized Hispanic outreach for the South Florida
Water Management District, started an intergenerational program with
New Beginnings Educational Complex that partners at-risk high school
students with seniors in various social activities, operating the
Federal Emergency Food Assistance program and local food bank that
supplies commodities to the poor and area organizations feeding the
poor in Osceola County, and was appointed to the Florida Department of
Agriculture TEFAP Advisory Board by Charles Bronson, our former ag
commissioner.
For that, Ms. Carmen Carrasquillo, we honor you.
Honoring Deborah Guerrera Gale
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would
like to honor Deborah Guerrera Gale.
Deborah Guerrera Gale moved to Florida in 1978 from upstate New York,
where she worked as a banking accountant after graduating from Ulster
County College. Once in Florida, she decided to switch careers and
became a draftsperson by studying engineering at Valencia College.
Deborah worked for Walt Disney World Ride & Show Engineering as an
electromechanical designer for 10 years. She later returned to college
to earn a bachelor's degree in human resources at the age of 40 from
Barry University and held positions in Disney Human Resources,
Organizational Development, and HR Information Services.
Deborah was raised by caring, progressive parents, Barbara and John
Guerrera, who instilled in her a belief in the basic human dignity of
all people. Through them, she learned that she could make a positive
difference in the world and that she could achieve anything with hard
work.
This belief inspired a drive for volunteer service in the community,
such as organizing projects for foster teens residing at The Grove, an
adolescent residential center for at-risk teens, and Help Now, a
domestic abuse shelter.
{time} 1545
She also served as president of the Celebration Women's Club,
supporting women's charities and college scholarships. While living in
Celebration, she was a founding member and president of the Democrats
of Celebration.
After retirement, Deborah turned her attention full-time to civic
activism and founded the Democrats of St. Cloud Club and was elected as
chair of the Osceola County Democratic Party in 2019.
Deborah's belief that she can make a difference has fueled her
passion to advance causes that can make our community and our county a
better place for the next generation.
Deborah lives in St. Cloud with her husband, Michael Womick. They
have one daughter, Jenna Womick Stowers, and a grandson, Treston James.
For that, Deborah Guerrera Gale, we honor you.
Honoring Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon
Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to
recognize Dr. Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon.
Dr. Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved
to the United States in 1986. Since then, she earned a master's in TV
production and journalism and a Ph.D. in social psychology.
Giorgina has extensive experience in television, print, and radio and
has worked in various roles for Telemundo Orlando, Casiano
Communications' Imagen magazine, and other local news outlets.
Currently, she works for the city of Orlando as the director of the
Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Giorgina has been very involved in the business community and the
local government of central Florida. She has been recognized for her
work with the following awards: Don Quijote Awards' Professional of the
Year; Girl Scouts of Citrus' Women of Distinction Awards Visionary of
the Year; Orlando Business Journal 40 Under 40; Working Together
Outstanding Community Service Award; and the Executive of the Year,
HABLA Awards.
Dr. Pinedo-Rolon is a board member of the Crimeline and Girl Scouts
of Citrus. She is also chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro
Orlando's Government Affairs Committee and a member of the Central
Florida Commission on Homelessness' Family Homelessness Committee. She
was a former board member and chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
of Metro Orlando, the Economic Development Commission, the Orange
County Membership and Mission Review Board, the Coalition for the
Homeless, the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund, Easter Seals, and a
former president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists'
Central Florida Chapter.
She is a member of the National Association of Professional Women,
National Association of Hispanic Journalists, American Association of
Marketing and Public Relations, Hispanic Public Relations Association,
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando, and a lifetime member of
the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.
Giorgina is married to our Orlando police chief, Orlando Rolon, the
first Puerto Rican to hold that position. She has two stepchildren and
three grandchildren.
For all this and more, Dr. Giorgina Pinedo-Rolon, we honor you.
Honoring Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti
Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to
recognize Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti.
A native Floridian and the daughter of Cuban exiles who completed
their degrees at Florida colleges, Dr. Falconetti has a personal
commitment to the Florida college system and to ensuring all students
have the chance to receive a quality education. She has developed a
vision to strengthen student success and has advocated successfully at
the State level for critical funding.
Her two decades of service in three States include extensive
experience in all aspects of higher education administration. She holds
a bachelor's degree with specializations in communications and
education cognate from New York University and a master's degree and a
doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of North
Florida, with specializations in instructional leadership and
postsecondary education and adult learning.
She later completed an endowed postdoctoral fellowship in community
college leadership with the University of Texas at Austin while working
as a research associate for the Community College Survey of Student
Engagement.
[[Page H1247]]
At the national level, she served as special assistant to the first
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges in Washington, D.C.
Prior to being named president of Polk State College, she served as
vice president of institutional advancement at Virginia Western
Community College and as executive director of the foundation.
Dr. Falconetti continues to serve as an active leader in national,
statewide, and local organizations, including the American Association
of Community Colleges' Commission on Institutional Infrastructure and
Transformation, the Florida College System Council of Presidents'
Steering Committee, the Florida Association of Colleges and
Universities, and the Florida Chamber Foundation Board.
She lives in Winter Haven, Florida, with her beloved husband, Robert,
and their daughter and the light of her life, Sophia.
For that, Dr. Angela M. Garcia Falconetti, we honor you.
Honoring First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones
Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to
recognize First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones.
First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones was born and raised in Jamaica
until the age of 15. In 1979, she migrated to Boston, Massachusetts,
and later joined the Army in 1982. She served on Active Duty for 22
years and retired in 2004.
During her military tenure, she served in many positions, including
squad leader, platoon sergeant, training noncommissioned officer,
customs supervisor, plans supervisor, area support team leader, Korean
linguist, senior transportation supervisor, first sergeant, and acting
division sergeant major.
Her duty assignments included Fort Eustis, Virginia; Seoul, Korea;
Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Haiti; Honduras; Albania; Bosnia; Hanau,
Germany; Orlando, Florida; and southwest Asia.
Her awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star;
Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal, with two oak leaf
clusters; Army Achievement Medal, with three oak leaf clusters;
Humanitarian Service Ribbon; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal;
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Overseas
Service Ribbon; Parachutist Badge; Expert Weapon Marksmanship Badge;
and German Silver Marksmanship Badge.
First Sergeant Espeut-Jones currently serves as the president for the
Association of the United States Army's Sunshine Chapter in Orlando and
chair of the Orange County Mayor's Veterans Advisory Council. She is an
active member of the Women in Defense Central Florida Chapter; Kappa
Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Inc.; Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club
Orlando; National Defense Industrial Association; Semper Fidelis of
America, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4287; American Legion; Orange
County Veterans Treatment Court mentorship program; and mentor at
several schools in Orange County.
In 2015, First Sergeant Espeut-Jones was selected as one of Orlando
Business Journal's Veterans of Influence. She is currently employed at
ZelTech as a program manager.
For all that and more, First Sergeant Daila Espeut-Jones, we honor
you.
Honoring Ernestine Mason Davis
Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to
recognize Ernestine Mason Davis.
Ernestine Mason Davis grew up in the Florence Villa community and
attended Jewett High School. She is a member of the First Missionary
Baptist Church.
She is a founding member and a board member of the Lake Maude
Recreation Center, now known as the Neighborhood Service Center. She is
also a founding member of the Winter Haven Northeast Cultural
Recreation Complex, Polk County Opportunity Council, and Haven Day
Care. She has assisted in organizing the East Central Polk Democratic
Club Council. She presently serves on the board of the Agricultural and
Labor Program, Inc.
Ms. Davis is a regular attendee at Winter Haven Commission meetings
and spends her time working for social and economic justice issues. She
continues to devote her time to the Polk County community by advocating
for homeless, food programs for low-income families, recreation for the
youth, and civic and cultural programs for the community.
She is a member of the NAACP and has received numerous awards and
recognitions. In February 2020, she was honored with a proclamation by
the city of Winter Haven for her commitment to community service. She
has received the Honorary Pioneer Award, the Agriculture and Labor
Program Community Action Partnership Award, Volunteer Service Award,
the J. Owens Academy of Fine Arts Award for being a civil rights
leader, Community Service Award for advocating for children and
families, and the NAACP Exemplary Leadership and Service Award. She has
also received awards from her family for organizing and supporting
family reunions.
She was married to the late John Wesley Davis and has five children.
She is a grandmother and a great-grandmother.
For that, Ernestine Mason Davis, we honor you.
Honoring Maria Ramos
Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to
recognize Maria Ramos.
Maria Ramos Joiner was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. At the age of 3,
her father decided to move the family to the Bronx in New York in
search of the American Dream.
The New York public school system gave her the opportunity to attend
field trips to museums and cultural art centers, sparking her love for
the arts with her first visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Influenced by her mother's old Bible, with its beautiful
illustrations and stories, Maria's passion for artistic expression
further grew. The oldest of six, she collected brown paper bags as her
canvases and confiscated every pen, pencil, or crayon that was
unattended for her pretend studio.
Mostly self-taught, Maria's work has been shown in galleries and
museums. Maria has also donated work for fundraisers to raise money for
various causes.
One of the most important works she has exhibited was at the Mennello
Museum, honoring the Pulse nightclub victims in 2016. After its
exhibition initially, Maria graciously donated the piece to the city of
Orlando.
Maria has also been recognized for her art depicting the culture of
Puerto Rico, with an influence from the European masters she studied.
Maria is an advocate for the homeless and is known for her charitable
work throughout the years, whether through her art donations or when
someone is in need.
For that, Maria Ramos, we honor you.
Honoring Colonel Paulette Schank
Mr. SOTO. In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to
recognize Colonel Paulette Schank.
Colonel Paulette Schank began her outstanding career as a licensed
practical nurse out of high school, eventually achieving her master's
degree in nursing in pursuit of a career in patient care.
After gaining clinical experience, and speaking to several registered
nurses in the anesthesia field, she decided her desire for further
autonomy and utilization of critical thinking skills was perfectly
matched to a career in the anesthesia profession.
Upon successful completion of a post-master's certificate in nurse
anesthesia, she worked for 6 years at Frankford Hospital and later at
Osceola Regional Medical Center in Florida.
However, as the daughter of a retired naval chief petty officer,
family legacy and patriotism drove Colonel Schank's wish to assist
patients in a much different setting. She enlisted in the Air Force and
learned to transport patients in critical conditions.
These skills served her well in support of Operation Desert Storm,
where she evacuated troops, with a 100 percent survival rate of those
transported. During her 24 years in the service, Colonel Schank
provided medical assistance in times of war and in humanitarian
efforts--from Iraq to Turkey, Mozambique to Honduras and beyond.
As both a civilian nurse anesthetist and Air Force Reserve officer,
she has dedicated her life to caring for others, be it in Florida or
around the world.
Her love for education and helping those in need is ever present, and
she
[[Page H1248]]
continues to surpass what it means to be a student, nurse, and a
constituent of Florida's Ninth Congressional District.
For that, Colonel Paulette Schank, we honor you.
{time} 1600
Honoring Yasmin Flasterstein
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would
like to recognize Yasmin Flasterstein.
Yasmin Flasterstein is the cofounder and executive director of Peer
Support Space, Inc., which serves as a hub for diverse peer communities
in central Florida. She also works as a wellness recovery action plan
facilitator, is a board member and the Community Engagement Committee
chair for the One Orlando Alliance, is a founding leader of Orlando
Trans Collective, and sits on the board of directors for Central
Florida Cares and Peer Support Coalition of Florida.
Yasmin has been in social justice leadership positions since she was
14; and in college, she brought membership of a mental health advocacy
group, UCF Active Minds, from 20 to over 200 members in one semester.
Yasmin has worked in various clinical roles at La Amistad Behavioral
Health Services and at the Mental Health Association of Central
Florida.
Yasmin was a leader in the mental health response to the Pulse
tragedy, working as the program director for Orlando United Counseling,
providing long-term counseling for those affected directly and
indirectly. During this time, Yasmin also set up events to destigmatize
mental health in LGBTQ+ communities and Latin, Black, and immigrant
communities as well.
She has since shifted from working in clinical environments to the
peer professional environment. She believes in the power of peers with
similar lived experiences, particularly from within marginalized
communities, and works to train and support them in using their own
experience with mental health in order to guide and support others.
She is passionate about breaking the mental health stigma that leaves
people suffering alone and uses her experience as a suicide survivor
living with PTSD and dissociative disorder to help others.
Her nonprofit, Peer Support Space, has helped over 2,500 individuals
with free services during its inaugural year, and they have recently
opened central Florida's very first peer respite in my district.
And for that, Ms. Yasmin Flasterstein, we honor you.
Honoring Catherine Haynes
Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I would
like to recognize Catherine Haynes.
Originally from Indiana, Catherine now lives in Orlando, Florida. She
is known to be a dedicated volunteer, member, and supporter of the
central Florida veteran and military community.
Fourteen years ago, she realized veterans weren't receiving
information about events that would be helpful to them. In order to
fulfill that need, she created a massive email distribution list that
includes veterans from six counties who are served by the Orlando VA
Medical Center in Lake Nona.
As part of her patriotic duty, she regularly greets the three Honor
Flight hubs at the Orlando International Airport. Once she greeted and
thanked over 3,000 senior veterans for their service.
Catherine's patriotism is inherent. She can trace her family's
military history back to the Revolutionary War, where her family served
and became America's first veterans. Almost every generation in her
family has served our country, including her son, Andrew, who served in
the United States Navy.
For several years, Catherine has volunteered with the Wall of Faces
national project, whose goal is to match a photograph with every name
that appears on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Last
year, she found a Florida Vietnam war casualty without a photograph. By
using reverse genealogy, she found the veteran's family, received his
photo, and found where he had been buried in an unmarked grave for
almost 50 years.
Catherine has been finding photographs of war casualties across the
Nation for years and recently began focusing her efforts on Puerto
Rico, where she has faced several challenges in locating nearly 100
pictures of the remaining Vietnam war casualties.
One of her favorite quotes is: ``Well-behaved women seldom make
history.'' Her motto is: ``The soles of my shoes seldom cool off, and
neither do the tires on my car.''
Catherine is supported by her husband, Joseph, in her continual
efforts to support our central Florida veterans and military community.
And for that, Ms. Catherine Haynes, we honor you.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________