[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 149 (Saturday, August 22, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E781-E782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING DR. BENJAMIN BELL AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, August 22, 2020

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in recognizing Dr. Benjamin C. Bell, Jr., a 
longtime pastor and community and family counselor in Des Moines, as 
our Iowan of the Week.
  One of the strongest traits that unites Iowans is our love of 
community. Whether it's a favorite spot to fish, a connection group at 
church, or the best restaurant to grab a burger, we love to share 
stories about the people and places that give our shared home 
character. What's even better than Iowans' love of community is their 
unparalleled dedication to investing in it. Through service of all 
stripes, Iowans strengthen their communities each day.
  Dr. Benjamin C. Bell, Jr. is a shining example of an Iowan who not 
only loves his community, but also has gone above and beyond to improve 
it for those around him now and for generations to come.
  Born and raised in Des Moines, Dr. Bell's life has been shaped by 
service to country and community. He learned about hard work and giving 
back by watching his father work the night shift and his mother cook at 
Drake University, where she'd provide extra food to those who didn't 
have enough to eat at home. After graduating high school, Bell served 
several years in the United States Marine Corps before finishing his 
tour and moving back home to Iowa to be near family and raise one of 
his own with his wife, Julie.
  Since then, Dr. Bell and Julie have put their community-mindedness 
and drive to help others to work. For nearly three decades they co-
pastored in church to provide community value and help people feel like 
they have somewhere to belong, especially in times of crisis.
  Dr. Bell co-founded Dads with a Purpose (DWP), a transformational 
counseling program for fathers and mothers to reach their potential as 
parents and to help effectively build strong families. Dads with a 
Purpose has been nationally recognized for its curriculum: a series of 
expert-led classes and resources provided in a safe space for parents 
in challenging circumstances to talk about past barriers and how they 
can grow to create positive, generational change. DWP helps fathers and 
mothers to learn about themselves as men and women, as individual 
parents, and as part of a co-parenting team to create a healthier 
future for themselves and their children. It helps hundreds of Iowans 
each year, including men and women transitioning out of correctional 
facilities, gain employment and improve their circumstances.
  Dr. Bell also lends his expertise to the 5th Judicial District to 
help men who have previously been domestically violent learn how to 
process anger, respect women, and resolve conflict. He serves as the 
Fatherhood Outreach Director at the YMCA, providing classes on how to 
communicate more effectively, deal with tough issues that affect 
fathers, and help successfully navigate child-support--which can 
drastically change an individual's credit score and provide 
opportunities to move into a home and maintain a good job. Bell's 
program also allows the participating fathers' children to come play at 
the YMCA and have pizza for dinner while classes are taking place.
  Iowans take great pride in where we come from, and people are at the 
heart of what makes our home special. Dr. Bell has said: ``People may 
not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them 
feel.'' This simple sentiment perfectly captures his inherently Iowan 
value of giving back for the good of others and his understanding of 
how important it is to treat people with the dignity human beings 
deserve. I am humbled and inspired by Dr. Bell's lifetime of service, 
passion

[[Page E782]]

for community betterment, and dedication to helping Iowans reach their 
true potential. It is my honor to name him our Iowan of the Week.

                          ____________________