[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 117 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LORNA C. HILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2020

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
life and accomplishments of Lorna C. Hill, who is the founder of Ujima 
Theatre Co. in Buffalo, NY and has been a leader in the Western New 
York community for many decades.
   Ms. Hill has broken all types of barriers throughout her life. She 
was the first woman accepted into Dartmouth College, graduating in 
1973. For this accomplishment, Ms. Hill has been honored by the Black 
Alumni of Dartmouth Association and the Office of the Dean of the 
College with a celebration in her name. After earning her bachelor's 
degree, Hill pursued her M.A. in Theatre at the State University of New 
York at Buffalo in 1978.
   In 1978, Ms. Hill founded the Ujima Theatre Company currently 
located on the West Side of Buffalo. Through the years, Ujima has been 
a center for cultural acceptance, justice, and racial equality, as well 
as a hub for artistic vision, especially within the African American 
community. Ms. Hill continued her career in theatre and the arts as a 
poet, playwright, and performing on stage, in commercials, and in 
television.
   While operating Ujima Theatre Co., Ms. Hill continued to share her 
artistic and theatrical talents at the Buffalo Academy of Visual and 
Performing Arts. As a dedicated public school teacher from 2008 to 
2015, Ms. Hill touched the lives of her many students. Her passion for 
the art of storytelling fused perfectly with her role as an educator.
   For her entire adult life, Ms. Hill fought for the rights of women 
and people of color. Ms. Hill is looked up to by many for her 
entrepreneurial spirit, service to Western New York, and dedication to 
cultural theatre and the arts. As such, she has been honored and 
awarded for her work by a multitude of local organizations including 
Buffalo Business First, Community Action Organization of Erie County, 
Erie County Chapter of the Links, YWCA, YMCA, Grass Roots, Inc., Zonta 
Club, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Artvoice, Arts Council, National 
Organization for Women, National Conference for Community and Justice, 
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Buffalo Urban League, Inc., The Women for 
Human Rights and Dignity Inc., and Langston Hughes Institute.
   Ms. Hill's most cherished accomplishment is raising two children, 
Amilcar Cabral and Zoe Viola, as a single head of household.
   Madam Speaker, I take this moment to recognize Lorna C. Hill, a 
dedicated performer, director, artist, community servant and educator. 
Her work and presence created an irreplaceable legacy that is felt 
deeply throughout Western New York and beyond.

                          ____________________