[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





           HONORING CHRIS IGLESIAS, CEO OF THE UNITY COUNCIL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2024

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
achievements of Mr. Chris Iglesias as he celebrates his 10-year tenure 
as Chief Executive Officer of The Unity Council, a non-profit that 
supports social equity initiatives in Oakland, California. In this 
role, he has led a long-standing organization that is dedicated to 
improving Oakland's Fruitvale District and the lives of residents who 
live within it, including seniors, children, communities of color, 
small business owners, and immigrants. The work of The Unity Council 
has proved invaluable in bettering the lives of the residents of the 
largest Latino neighborhood in the Bay Area.
  Mr. Iglesias has many accomplishments that prove his dedication 
bettering the community and building a more vibrant Fruitvale. One of 
his accomplishments includes securing $58 million to fund units of 
affordable housing in the Fruitvale neighborhood. Additionally, he has 
expanded Bay Area social equity programs, including creating Oakland's 
Latino Men & Boys program in partnership with Oakland Unified School 
District and the Oakland Mayor's office and supporting The Unity 
Council's early education programs in partnership with the city's 
Early/Head Start Program for early education.
  Chris Iglesias has a long history of supporting the people of 
California and the larger Bay Area. He was previously a Senior Advisor 
to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a Director of Regional Workforce 
Initiatives at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and an 
Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. He is 
also the founding director of CityBuild, a construction workforce 
program in San Francisco that provides workforce trainings for 
residents. Along with serving as CEO of The Unity Council, Iglesias 
also serves on the Oakland Thrives Leadership Council as well as the 
Job and Housing Coalition.
  I am happy to congratulate Chris Iglesias on his decade of service, 
and to thank him for his dedication to underserved communities in the 
city of Oakland. His impact and legacy will resonate with The Unity 
Council and the entire community of Fruitvale for years to come. I look 
forward to seeing this organization's continued growth under Mr. 
Iglesias' strong leadership. Congratulations to Mr. Iglesias on this 
significant milestone, and here's to many more years of inspiring 
leadership.

                          ____________________