[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6542-H6543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CELEBRATING ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Albany Park 
Theater Project, a gem of Illinois' Third Congressional District, and 
to recognize their production of ``Port of Entry,'' which reminds us 
all of an important lesson.
  The story of our Nation wouldn't be complete without the sweat, 
without the tears, without the joy, and without the dreams and hopes of 
so many immigrants and children of immigrants.

[[Page H6543]]

They are the same stories that brought so many of us here to Congress.
  Located in the heart of Albany Park, one of the most diverse 
immigrant communities in the Nation, the Albany Park Theater Project 
has long been a beacon of creativity, resilience, and hope. Through the 
power of storytelling and theater, this organization prepares and 
propels young people in Illinois' Third Congressional District to lead 
civically engaged and choice-filled lives.
  Together, their team ensemble members and adult artists make world-
class, award-winning, original theater that amplifies and illuminates 
the voices of immigrants and refugees, showcasing their struggles, 
triumphs, pain, and enduring humanity.
  My husband, Boris, and I were fortunate to experience the production 
of ``Port of Entry'' together, and it was more than a performance. It 
was a profound journey in the daily lives of immigrant families from 
all over the world living in Albany Park.
  As a ``proud,'' ``orgulloso,'' daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, I 
know firsthand how important it is for immigrant stories to be told 
authentically and celebrated unapologetically.
  ``Port of Entry,'' a collaboration with Third Rail Projects, takes 
audiences into a theater production set in a typical Chicago apartment 
building.
  Audience members of ``Port of Entry'' are part of an immersive 
experience of the intimate lives of neighbors from Mexico, the 
Philippines, Russia, and beyond. Audience members share in the lived 
experiences and stories of immigrant families, celebrating their 
resilience, amplifying their voices, and showcasing the invaluable 
contributions they make to our communities.
  The cast is made up of talented young people from our community who 
brilliantly invite us to reflect on what it means to call a place home 
and what it means to find belonging and to build a future in the face 
of challenge.
  It invites us to wonder what makes the United States of America. The 
production is a culmination of years of work involving over 300 
collaborators, including youth performers, storytellers, and creators. 
It is a testament to the theater company's 27-year-old commitment to 
using the arts to empower young people in bringing our community 
together.
  Albany Park and our Nation have always been a port of entry for many 
families seeking new beginnings, whether through the southern border, 
like my mom, or welcomed by the ``Mother of Exiles,'' the Statue of 
Liberty, like many of the ancestors of the Members of this very same 
body.
  Today, at a time when Members of this Chamber and the incoming 
administration are threatening to tear our communities apart and would 
question who gets to be American and who doesn't, this play feels so 
timely and vital.
  I thank the Albany Park Theater Project and Debbie Reznick, one of 
the founding directors, for reminding us of the power of storytelling 
to inspire empathy and connection. I thank them for showing us that 
theater is not just for entertainment, but it is a vehicle for change 
and a celebration of the human spirit.

  I am so proud to represent this community. I am even prouder to be 
the daughter of immigrants. Their work reflects the very best of our 
district and our Nation.

                          ____________________