[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4638-4639]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO MELADY JEAN-BAPTISTE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 14, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Melady Jean-Baptiste, who 
came to this country without being able to speak English, and now, 
after earning multiple degrees in education, serves as a role model for 
all who know her.
  Melady Jean-Baptiste is a native of the city of Cap-Haitien in Haiti. 
She was born one of two daughters and three sons to a very loving, 
close knit, strong and progressive family. Her father immigrated to 
America at the age of 65 and began immediately to help his family 
immigrate. With her father in America, Melady attended the prestigious 
and elite College Regina Assumpta then continued at the Wetsal 
Secretarial School in Port au Prince.
  In 1979, a few short years after her father left, Melady immigrated 
to America. The family searched for a church home and while walking in 
their neighborhood, they came upon Holy Trinity Baptist Church. Melady 
and her family began to attend services regularly at the Church. They 
were the only non-English speaking people in the congregation. Melady 
not only learned to speak English by attending the Sunday School class 
but she learned the biggest lesson of her life; that religion and 
education go hand in hand. Melady remains a faithful, tithing member of 
Holy Trinity Baptist Church (the fourth oldest Black Church in 
Brooklyn) and serves on the Deaconess Board and as a former president 
of the Pastor's Aide Ministry and the Women's Missionary Union.
  Melady completed her two year degree at New York City Technical 
College (1987) her bachelor's four-year degree in less than four years, 
earning her B.S.W. at York College (1988). Two years later, she 
completed her M.S.W. in 1990 at Columbia University. Melady has also 
earned her a C.S.W., a Mono and Bilingual License and Certifications in 
Education. She is a member of a school based support team and uses her 
own life story to encourage students to not give up. She inspires many 
students to overcome learning difficulties and treats each child not as 
a social work case but as an individual who has an opportunity to 
succeed. She has enabled hundreds of children and families to overcome 
adverse moments in their lives and move effectively toward realizing 
their goals.
  Melady is the quintessential American immigrant success story. She 
not only has utilized education and her faith as tools for success but 
she has also served as a role model for others, including her family. 
Her sister Maryse has completed her professional nursing degree at 
Columbia University; her daughter Milady Jean-Baptiste Hartmann is a 
graduate of the Parsons School of Art & Design; and her second 
daughter, Tamar, stricken with a severe crippling form of rheumatoid 
arthritis as a child, completed her undergraduate degree from Brooklyn 
College and will begin her graduate studies next semester. Her mother, 
Melanie, at 83, continues to advance her education as well. Melady is 
the aunt of Melanie and Rogerst J-B. Charles; mother-in-law of Philippe 
Hartmann and grandmother of Caroline and Dahlia Hartmann. She is 
forever grateful for the possibilities America has given her through 
the wonderful, great natural resources of historical Black Churches, 
Black pastors and educational opportunities.
  Mr. Speaker, Melady Jean-Baptiste serves as an inspiration to us all. 
Her dedication to education has improved not only her life but those 
she comes in contact with everyday. As such, she is more than worthy of 
receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
honoring this truly remarkable person.

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