[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 102 (Monday, June 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E548-E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO KATHLEEN MINCK--CALIFORNIA'S 24TH CONGRESSIONAL WOMAN OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SALUD O. CARBAJAL

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2023

  Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, each year, through the Women of the Year 
Award, my office extends special recognition to women on the Central 
Coast who have made a difference in our community. I would like to 
recognize one outstanding Women of the Year Award recipient, Katheen 
Minck of Arroyo Grande, California. A retired teacher who has dedicated 
her life to service. Kathleen has been a leader

[[Page E549]]

and advocate for several outstanding causes affecting those in her 
community, as well as those affected by hardship around the world.
  Following a 32-year career as an educator within the Lucia Mar School 
District, where she promoted tolerance and diversity among her 
students, Kathleen traveled overseas to help build schools in Thailand 
and Kenya, while serving as a Human Rights Observer in Cuba and 
Venezuela. This work earned Kathleen the Peace & Justice Human Rights 
Award from the California Teachers Association in 2013.
  Since its inception in 2017, Kathleen has served on the board of the 
Diversity Coalition of SLO County, an organization focused on building 
diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community through advocacy 
and education. As Education Chair, Kathleen has spotlighted such issues 
as the Holocaust, immigration, Japanese internment, civil rights, and 
other important topics, through programs specifically aimed for 
children.
  Through Kathleen's work with Diversity Coalition of SLO County, she 
strives to educate people about human rights at a young age, before 
their belief systems are fully formed. Kathleen has used her years of 
experience in childhood education to plan and execute over 30 school 
speaking events with the coalition, introducing students and teachers 
to speakers whose lives have been perniciously affected by hate and 
bias.
  Kathleen is also a board member of SLO04Home, a non-profit group 
devoted to helping refugees from Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan 
relocate to the Central Coast. Through SL04Home, Kathleen has been 
directly involved with helping two Afghan families transition their 
lives to California.
  Providing dignity and compassion during difficult times is an 
attribute that Kathleen possesses through her work as a volunteer at 
Wilshire Hospice. Losing her twin sister to brain cancer at the age of 
7 has left a special spot in her heart for pediatric cancer patients. 
Prior to the pandemic, Kathleen made weekly trips to Cottage Hospital 
in Santa Barbara to read to children with cancer and bring them gifts 
as a personal passion-project of hers.
  I am honored to recognize Kathleen for her continued commitment to 
fostering acceptance and empathy among our Central Coast youth and for 
her continued efforts in aiding those in need. I ask all Members to 
join me today in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 24th 
Congressional District, Kathleen Minck, for her incredible service to 
her community.

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