[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 187 (Friday, December 2, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF DEBRA WALKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RASHIDA TLAIB

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 2, 2022

  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, today I rise in memory of Debra Walker, 
Detroit resident and community activist, whose bright light will live 
on in our hearts.
  Debra was a remarkable and devoted resident of Detroit's Corktown 
neighborhood. She got her start in community organizing while she 
served as an Americorps volunteer following her retirement from a 
career in the automotive industry. Debra's service had no bounds, and 
she was a friend to many and a dedicated volunteer to countless 
organizations. Her commitments were deeply rooted in our community with 
Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium, Corktown Business Association, 
Corktown Experience, Alternatives for Girls, and People's Community 
Services, to name a few. She was especially proud of the organizations 
she founded, Black CAT, whose work focused on social justice issues and 
Women Achieving Victory and Esteem (WAVE), a support group for African 
American breast cancer patients and their families.
  In addition to her work in the community, Debra was also an 
entrepreneur, artist, crafter, poet, and spoken word performer. She was 
passionate about the arts, which led her to found Power in Poetry 
Experience of Detroit, which created a platform for performing artists 
across Detroit. The community will always fondly remember Ladel's, the 
children's bookstore that Debra owned and ran. The store's selections, 
stories that exposed children to diverse cultures and representation of 
communities like their own, were truly reflective of the community 
Debra wanted to create. She truly embodied the generosity and warm-
heartedness of Detroit.
  Please join me in honoring the memory of Debra Walker as our 
community mourns her loss.

                          ____________________