[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4416-4417]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MS. CATHY STROUD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise during this month dedicated to the 
celebration of Black History to pay tribute to Ms. Cathy Stroud, an 
outstanding woman who has dedicatd her life to empowering others.
  Cathy was born in New Bern, North Carolina. She attended J.T. Barber 
High School and received her bachelors degree from Livingston College. 
For the past 18 years she has served as the Tenant Association 
president for her building. In this role she works as a liaison between 
tenants and management helping to resolve disputes that may arise 
between the two.

[[Page 4417]]

  Committed to uplifting the people of her community, Cathy serves as 
Executive Director of River Watch Inc., a neighborhood network center, 
which is committed to developing and implementing educational and 
training programs to empower residents of the Bronx. She also directs a 
youth activity center that provides homework assistance, fun activities 
and trips for community youth.
  A widowed mother of three, grandmother of seven and adopted 
grandmother of four, Cathy still finds the time and energy to serve as 
the New York State Committeewoman of the 77 AD and be an active church 
official at Refuge Temple Annex.
  Mr. Speaker, during this month of February in which we celebrate 
Black History it is important that we give extra praise and recognition 
to African American women, who overcame not only racial discrimination 
but gender discrimination as well. Strong women such as Mary McCloud 
Bethune, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, who was also known as 
Moses on the account that she led so many of her people to freedom. I 
believe that we have an obligation to continue not only to recognize 
these strong influential women for the many contributions they have 
made to American society but also to recognize the women of today who 
overcome oppression in order to lead the people of their community from 
the bondage of despair. In that spirit, I ask that my colleagues join 
me in honoring Ms. Cathy Stroud.

                          ____________________