[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 206 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEBRASKA URBAN INDIAN HEALTH 
                               COALITION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON BACON

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 30, 2021

  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National 
Native American Heritage Month and to honor the 35th anniversary of the 
Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, a private nonprofit 
organization in Nebraska.
  The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition provides community 
healthcare and services targeting the urban American Indian and Alaska 
Native population in the greater Omaha metropolitan area, Lincoln area, 
and Sioux City, Iowa, since 1986. Their rehabilitative healthcare 
services and their diabetes self-management program are nationally 
recognized. Currently, they are led by their CEO, Dr. Donna Mays Polk.
  Donna Lee Mays was born in 1943 in Denver, CO, to a young WWII 
submariner Hosey Mays and his wife Tommy Lee Gadling Mays. Dr. Polk was 
only 7 years old when her mother was killed in a car accident by a 
drunk driver on Christmas Day. Dr. Polk credits her grandmother, Annie 
Lee Gadling, as her inspiration because of her spirituality and Wisdom. 
Dr. Polk firmly believes in having vision and that you have to be able 
to see how things can be. If you don't, Mr. Speaker, you don't work to 
effect change.
  Between 1972 to 1985, Dr. Polk served as an affirmative action and 
equal opportunity officer at the Nebraska Department of Labor. She 
volunteered in the Nebraska Correction's system for 26 years and 
starred in her own TV show called ``Frankly Female, a show for and 
about women. She is the mother of four sons, Mark, Imani, Marcus, and 
the Honorable Judge Marlon Polk.
  Dr. Polk earned her bachelor's degree in university studies, her 
master's in counseling psychology, and a doctorate in administration, 
instruction, and curriculum, all from the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln. In addition, she is a published author. She wrote her book, 
``Black Men and Women of Nebraska, in 1981 to shine the light on 
prominent African-American individuals in our State.
  She joined the NE Urban Indian Health Coalition in 1991 after leaving 
the Lincoln Indian Center. She continues to lead a team of over 50 
employees. Programs and services include: Behavioral Health Substance 
Use Disorder Services, transitional housing, Nebraska Urban Indian 
Medical Center in Lincoln, and transportation. Dr. Polk also takes 
immense pride in the Eagle Heights Affordable Housing located in South 
Omaha and two community-based programs--Project Upstream serving 
families with children in Omaha Public Schools, and the Tired Moccasins 
a nutrition-based program for elders. Dr. Polk is thrilled about the 
inauguration of their new headquarters scheduled to open in the spring 
of 2022.
  In recognition of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, we 
shine a spotlight on 35 years of helping elevate the health status and 
eliminating disparities of urban Indians and other underserved 
populations in Nebraska and Iowa through education, collaboration, 
advocacy, and health service delivery.
  Congratulations to Dr. Polk and her team for 35 years of excellence 
and serving our great community.

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