[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF MS. LISA 
                             BLUNT-BRADLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2006

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to pay tribute to Ms. Lisa Blunt-Bradley in recognition of her service 
as president and CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League.
  The Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, MWUL, actively works to 
assist the disproportionate number of African-American, Latino, and 
other ethnic populations who remain susceptible to wide-ranging 
disparities in income and educational attainment for themselves and 
their children. Under Lisa's leadership, the MWUL has built 
opportunities for people of color by setting the tone of the public 
policy discourse, engaging in principled advocacy, and creating strong 
community partnerships.
  In 2004, Ms. Blunt-Bradley became President of the MWUL and under her 
leadership the organization successfully implemented the Achievement 
Matters Education Program. The Achievement Matters Campaign is an 
academic achievement initiative that will provide community and school-
based interventions for children in Wilmington from grade 6 through to 
graduation. The program is designed to provide underprivileged children 
with the skills they will need to be competitive in the job market of 
tomorrow.
  Ms. Blunt-Bradley's successful career did not begin at the MWUL; she 
has a long legacy of successful advocacy work. The American Council of 
Young Political Leaders honored Ms. Blunt-Bradley with the Gary L. 
McPherson Distinguished Alumni Award in 2003. Additionally, prior to 
working at the MWUL, Ms. Blunt-Bradley served as Secretary of Labor and 
Deputy Secretary of Health and Social Services for the State of 
Delaware. In those roles she oversaw the day-to-day management of the 
largest agency in the State of Delaware with approximately 4,500 
employees. Her supervisory responsibilities included providing services 
to individuals with disabilities, and providing emergency shelter for 
the homeless. In addition, as the State agency's liaison to the 
Delaware General Assembly, she worked on issues such as child support 
enforcement legislation and regulation of managed healthcare.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to once again commend Ms. 
Blunt-Bradley on her success while at the helm of the Metropolitan 
Wilmington Urban League. Lisa's constant professionalism, tireless 
leadership, and appetite for hard work have improved the lives of 
countless children and adults in Wilmington and throughout the State of 
Delaware.

                          ____________________