[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 22841-22842]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING JOHN W. MACK

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am very pleased to take a few 
moments to recognize the many important accomplishments of John W. 
Mack, as the Los Angeles Unified School District opens a new elementary 
school on South Catalina Street in Los Angeles bearing his name.
  Earlier this year, John W. Mack stepped down from his post as 
president of the Los Angeles Urban League after 36 years of service. 
During his tenure, John led the venerable civil rights organization 
through an amazing period of growth and accomplishment. His ability to 
build coalitions with a wide variety of groups enabled him to keep the 
Los Angeles Urban League focused on providing opportunity to African 
Americans and other minorities over the years. Under John's leadership, 
the Los Angeles Urban League's budget grew from $1.7 million to nearly 
$25 million; providing funding for innovative, results-oriented job 
training, job placement, education, academic tutorial, youth 
achievement and business development programs, serving more than 
112,000 people annually. Countless individuals credit John and the Los 
Angeles Urban League for helping them turn their lives around for the 
better, start businesses, and complete their education.
  John Mack has an innate ability to forge partnerships with elected 
officials, corporate leaders, local clergy, and community residents. 
His ability to build bridges has made him a highly respected advocate 
for equal opportunities in education, law enforcement and economic 
empowerment and has garnered him many awards. His coalition-building 
skills also proved useful during his youth, as he was an early leader 
of the civil rights movement with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  I invite my colleagues to join me and the thousands of people touched 
by his work in commending John W. Mack for his great leadership and 
tireless advocacy throughout his lifetime. Naming an elementary school 
after a man who devoted so much of his life to bettering our Nation 
will remind all who walk through its halls about the importance of 
community service.

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