Ms. Paula J. Martin

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Ms. Paula J. Martin

TRIBUTE TO MS. PAULA J. MARTIN

______

HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

of new york

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise during this month, dedicated to the celebration of African Americans who have made great contributions to the world, to pay tribute to Ms. Paula J. Martin, a woman who has worked vigorously to ensure the less fortunate of her community have the necessary skills to succeed in life.

Paula serves as the Executive Director of the Harlem Center for Education (HCE), a community based non-profit organization located in East Harlem, New York. Among its programs, HCE counts two federal TRIO Talent Search projects and one Educational Opportunity Center Project. Paula has been involved in TRIO programs for over 32 years.

During the 20 years she has served as Executive Director of HCE, the organization has grown from an operational budget of $137,000 to one that is currently over $1,000,000. Her unique ability to secure timely grants has allowed the Harlem Center for Education to grow and reach more deserving young people and adults.

Like most of the students with whom she works, Paula is a first generation college student. A graduate of Hunter College High School, she went on to receive a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a master's degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University. This achievement alone is worthy of praise; but Paula did not stop there. She decided to dedicate her entire professional career to empowering individuals who shared her life struggles, thus helping to ensure that the cycle of poverty is broken.

Booker T . Washington once said: ``Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.'' Indeed, Paula has overcome great obstacles to achieve the position that she now holds and would surely be considered a great success by Washington's standards. However, what impresses me the most about this incredible woman is that she was not satisfied with achieving success for herself. Like Washington, she has worked tirelessly to pull others up from the depths of despair, providing them with opportunities to find success in their own lives.

Mr. Speaker, this country owes much of its greatness to the countless men and women of color who silently contributed to the pages of history. Today, I ask that my colleagues join me in saluting them for their efforts and in paying tribute to the great leaders who stand upon their shoulders, such as Ms. Paula J. Martin.