[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF CARLOS LEJNIEKS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2023

  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, today, I join with my colleagues, 
Representatives Dean Philips, Deborah Ross, and Seth Magaziner, to 
celebrate the extraordinary career and accomplishments of Carlos 
Lejnieks, the first Latino person to ever be elected President of the 
Brown University Alumni Association. Though his tenure as President may 
be coming to a close, the important work he does in and for the 
community will undoubtedly continue.
  Born in New Jersey, Carlos has always been a compassionate and 
selfless individual. In the 1990s, Carlos dropped out of high school to 
help support his single mother by working at baseball-memorabilia 
shows. This is who Carlos is, a person always willing to step up for 
his loved ones and community.
  Carlos was eventually encouraged by mentors to pursue higher 
education, which led him to Brown University in the Fall of 1996. He 
graduated from Brown in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in international 
relations and later, from the London School of Economics with a 
master's degree in 2004.
  Carlos has spent his career giving back to the communities that put 
him on his path to success. In 2008, he became the CEO of Big Brothers 
Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties in New Jersey. Under 
his leadership, the organization went from serving approximately 100 
youth in the community to serving more than 1,100 within four years.
  Carlos returned to Brown University in 2015 to begin his service with 
the Brown University Alumni Association. He was selected to serve as 
the chair of the First-Generation and Mentoring Committee in 2017 and 
later as both the President and the Diversity and Inclusion Chair in 
2019.
  For the last 2 years, Carlos Lejnieks has greatly contributed to 
Rhode Island and the extensive Brown University Alumni network. Though 
his time as President may be ending, his impact at the University, in 
Rhode Island, throughout New Jersey, and all across this country will 
continue to be felt.
  We look forward to seeing what is next for Carlos and extend to him 
our sincerest thanks for all he has done for our alma mater.

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