[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12920]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




PRAISING THE HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA CITY COMMISSION FOR ITS SUPPORT IN THE 
   REALIZATION OF THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MULTICULTURAL ART 
                                PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the City of 
Hollywood, Florida City Commission, and in particular, City Manager 
Cameron D. Benson and Grants Manager Renee Jean, for their instrumental 
support in the realization of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Multicultural Art Project. On May 21, 2009, the City of Hollywood, 
Florida City Commission will dedicate a bronze bust of Dr. King in 
ArtsPark at Young Circle in Historic Downtown Hollywood, FL, in honor 
of Dr. King's life and legacy.
  This project would not have been possible without the hard work and 
dedication of City Manager Benson and Grants Manager Jean, who, faced 
with a challenging fiscal year and budget cuts, were committed to the 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Multicultural Art Project from its 
inception to its completion. In 2008, Benson proposed the project in 
response to a community recommendation to the City Commission to create 
an initiative to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Determined to find a 
way to finance the project without using General Fund monies, Jean 
successfully secured a $50,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation 
for the construction and implementation of the project. After issuing a 
national ``Call to Artists'' and evaluating proposals, the City Artist 
Selection Committee selected Steven Whyte of Steven Whyte Studios in 
California to create the original art piece.
  Whyte's hand-sculpted bronze bust of Dr. King weighs approximately 
200 pounds and sits upon a large base that will be inscribed with the 
immortal words of Dr. King's famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech. This 
lasting tribute to Dr. King's dream and courage will become a permanent 
fixture in regionally acclaimed ArtsPark at Young Circle, a public 
venue for arts, education, recreation and entertainment, and in the 
Hollywood community.
  Madam Speaker, the realization and completion of the Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. Multicultural Art Project is a celebration of 
diversity in the City of Hollywood and a reminder to all visitors to 
continue working to realize Dr. King's dream of equality for all. Once 
again, I would like to recognize and thank Mr. Benson, Ms. Jean, and 
the City of Hollywood, Florida City Commission for their support of 
this project and for their commitment to the community.

                          ____________________