[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12095]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


              IN TRIBUTE TO UMOS ON THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2015

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to UMOS, a nationally 
renowned agency whose corporate headquarters is based in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin. In July, 2015, UMOS will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.
  UMOS began as a single-focused, single state, migrant and seasonal 
farm worker serving agency only. Today, UMOS offers various programs 
and services to diverse populations with a diverse staff. Currently, 
UMOS employs 300 people and operates 40+ programs with more than $25 
million grant and performance-based contracts from federal, state, and 
local funding sources.
  UMOS operates programs throughout the state of Wisconsin, as well as 
in Minnesota, Missouri, and Texas, along with a housing consortium in 
an eight-state area. It provides programs and services in three major 
categories: workforce development, child development, and social 
services including: farm labor, housing, HIV prevention services, 
domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking supportive 
services, home energy assistance, food pantry and Head Start. In 
addition to these programs, UMOS sponsors and organizes a number of 
cultural and community events in Wisconsin.
  Much of the success of UMOS can be attributed to its longtime 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Lupe Martinez. He has led the 
agency for over 40 years and spent most of his professional career at 
UMOS. Mr. Martinez is dedicated to advocating and providing programs 
and services to improve employment, provide education opportunities as 
well as health and housing supports for UMOS' clientele whether they 
are migrant and seasonal farm workers or other underserved populations. 
Lupe Martinez has always gravitated toward leadership roles even as a 
child; he was one of 10 siblings in a family of migrant workers and 
accepted the responsibility of paying bills and managing the family 
finances. Today he manages the largest Hispanic nonprofit organization 
in Wisconsin and one of the largest in the nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say the UMOS hails from the 4th 
Congressional District, and pleased to give praise to Lupe Martinez, 
their Board of Directors and staff. I wish them many more years of 
success.

                          ____________________