[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 7TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSUMER ART SHOW SPONSORED BY THE 
           MORNINGSIDE-WESTSIDE COMMUNITY ACTION CORPORATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 2002

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Morningside-
Westside Community Action Corporation as they prepare to host the 
Seventh Annual Consumer Art Show in New York city.
  Working outside the conventional restraints, art participants are 
mental health consumers from the five boroughs who employ art to 
communicate their singular expressions, idioms, and viewpoints. The 
artists represented in this show have one thing in common, and that is 
a history of serious and persistent mental illness. The beautiful and 
inspirational art in this show celebrates the artist's individual 
vision, humanity, and insight.
  I applaud the good people at the Morningside-Westside Community 
Action Corporation for spearheading such a superb gathering of artistic 
genius.
  Founded in 1994, Morningside-Westside Community Action Corporation is 
an organization that has been actively involved in issues of the 
mentally ill. Comprised of a group of mental health consumers, family 
members, providers, and friends--they work as a team to serve not only 
the mental health community, but the community at large. Through day-
to-day activities, employment, and special events, the Morningside-
Westside Community Action Corporation not only promotes the rights of 
those suffering from mental illness, but helps increase the 
understanding of these rights as well.
  These dedicated individuals work hard in order to build a better 
future for those with mental illness. Their commitment to educate, 
empower, and enrich the mental health consumer should be an inspiration 
to us all.

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