[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 163 (Tuesday, September 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H4560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        MI CASA RESOURCE CENTER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Crow) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the 
accomplishments of Mi Casa Resource Center, now in their 45th year of 
service. Mi Casa was founded in 1976 by a group of eight Latina mothers 
who dreamed of a better world for themselves and their families. They 
wanted a safe space to develop skills for employment and education and 
expanded Mi Casa to include business development--delivering training 
for low-income entrepreneurs who just needed an opportunity.
  Today, Mi Casa is a pillar for women, Latinos, or anyone looking for 
business or career support in the Denver metro area.
  In the midst of the devastating pandemic, Mi Casa launched 45 new 
businesses, supported 45 Coloradans pivot to new careers, and reached 
more than 1,800 people overall. The transformational impact of Mi Casa 
on our community cannot be understated. I commend them for their 
remarkable work, and I congratulate Mi Casa Resource Center on their 
45th anniversary.


                           Community Churches

  Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the 
efforts of several churches in my district that worked tirelessly to 
provide relief, support, and resources to their communities during the 
COVID-19 pandemic. They hosted food banks for those in need, provided 
financial help to those struggling to make ends meet, and sought out 
opportunities to support the social, spiritual, and emotional needs of 
members.
  Our community is better because of them, and I recognize the 
volunteers who sacrificed their time, energy, and own well-being to 
provide relief to those who needed a lifeline extended to them. In a 
time of fear, they built a network of hope.
  I thank the staff, volunteers, and members of Mosaic Church, 
Friendship Church, Word in Action Church, City of God Church, 
Confluence Ministries, Orchard Church, Northern Hills Church, Colorado 
Multiethnic Coalition, Renewal Christian Center, and Hard Rock Church.
  The impact of this outreach in our communities is profound. I commend 
all involved for their ongoing effort to ensure that no one gets left 
behind.


                       Celebrating Douglas County

  Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Douglas County in 
Colorado's Sixth District for being named the second healthiest county 
in the United States by the U.S. News & World Report.
  With all due respect to the rest of my colleagues, there is no State 
like Colorado. We are home to 300 days of sunshine, the Rocky 
Mountains, world-class outdoor recreation, and exceptional small 
businesses.
  In a year defined by a devastating public health crisis, our State 
added another accomplishment: community health.
  With six of America's top 257 healthiest communities in Colorado, 
Douglas County ranks second. Home to countless walking trails, 
community-building events, and innovative infrastructure solutions, 
Douglas County is a great place to live.
  So come out to see what it is all about. I invite my colleagues to 
visit Douglas County and the rest of my incredible district to see for 
themselves what makes the Centennial State one of a kind.


               Recognizing the Career of Vita Lantz Brown

  Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the career 
of Vita Lantz Brown. In Arapahoe County, the saying goes: If you want 
something done, ask Vita. And, if Vita asks you to do something, you 
just can't say no.
  A force for change in our community, Vita's faith drives her devotion 
to good government and diverse leadership. Vita is civic-minded and is 
committed to ensuring elected officials at every level are working to 
better the community.
  She devotes her time and energy to many organizations, including Moms 
Demand Action, the Aurora NAACP, and countless others. As a servant 
leader, she also supports her community by providing free babysitting, 
tutoring for children, volunteering at a local school, feeding the 
homeless, and serving as deaconess at Macedonia Baptist Church.
  Vita's life work is inspired by 2 Timothy 4:7:

       I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I 
     have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown 
     of righteousness.

  I thank Vita for her exemplary leadership, expertise, and commitment 
to our community.


                    30th Anniversary of Aurora NAACP

  Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the 30th 
anniversary of Aurora, Colorado's NAACP branch.
  In 1991 Dr. Barbara Shannon-Bannister founded the Aurora branch as an 
important step in a long career devoted to civil rights. She built upon 
the legacy of her father's work in her hometown of New Orleans and 
later moved to Wyoming where she helped form the NAACP Wyoming chapter.
  She recognized a need in Aurora. Though Aurora was one of Colorado's 
fastest growing cities, it lacked essential advocacy on civil rights 
issues.
  Dr. Shannon-Bannister addressed this gap by creating the Aurora 
branch of the NAACP.
  I extend my gratitude to Dr. Shannon-Bannister, current president 
Omar Montgomery, and all who have dedicated their time and expertise to 
the Aurora NAACP over the last 30 years. I thank them for their 
commitment to the residents of my district and for continually working 
toward this crucial mission.

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