[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 118 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E649-E650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING MR. GILBERT RANGEL, JR., RECIPIENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. 
Gilbert Rangel, Jr., a

[[Page E650]]

renowned member of our community who has been chosen to receive the 
prestigious American Dream Award for California's Fourth Congressional 
District. This award honors people who come to the United States and 
have excelled professionally, through entrepreneurship and innovation, 
in the arts and culture, or through community service.
  Mr. Rangel grew up in his family's home in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is 
currently pursuing a bachelor's degree business entrepreneurship. He is 
married to Janeth Perez, with whom he has 4 children. Mr. Rangel's life 
has been a constant migration between California and Mexico, during 
which he has made significant contributions to his communities.
  Mr. Rangel began his career in San Joaquin County in migrant student 
educational services before being appointed by the Office of Governor 
Schwarzenegger to aid in the development of AmeriCorps in California. 
He continued his work under Governor Brown and was then recruited by 
the Lake County Office of Education to implement a local AmeriCorps 
program. Mr. Rangel provided support to emergency services and 
translations for the Spanish speaking community during the wildfires 
between 2015 and 2020. In 2022, he joined Lake County Tribal Health to 
implement health education programs.
  Mr. Rangel serves as a Board Member for the Kelseyville Unified 
School District and as an advisor to the Middletown Arts Center. Mr. 
Rangel founded his company, Equilingual, in 2021 with the mission of 
achieving equity through language and supporting communications between 
local organizations and the Spanish speaking community. Mr. Rangel's 
connection to both the United States and Mexico has given him a unique 
perspective that has enabled him to have a positive impact in 
communities across California.
  Mr. Speaker, we recognize Mr. Gilbert Rangel, Jr. for his 
achievements and for enriching our community. He has demonstrated 
resolve in his ability to reacclimate throughout his life, channeling 
the experience of living between Mexico and the United States into a 
central aspect of his identity. It is fitting and proper that we honor 
him here today with the American Dream Award.

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