Mi Casa Resource Center
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Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the accomplishments of Mi Casa Resource Center, now in their 45th year of service. Mi Casa was founded in 1976 by a group of eight Latina mothers who dreamed of a better world for themselves and their families. They wanted a safe space to develop skills for employment and education and expanded Mi Casa to include business development--delivering training for low-income entrepreneurs who just needed an opportunity.
Today, Mi Casa is a pillar for women, Latinos, or anyone looking for business or career support in the Denver metro area.
In the midst of the devastating pandemic, Mi Casa launched 45 new businesses, supported 45 Coloradans pivot to new careers, and reached more than 1,800 people overall. The transformational impact of Mi Casa on our community cannot be understated. I commend them for their remarkable work, and I congratulate Mi Casa Resource Center on their 45th anniversary. Community Churches
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Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the efforts of several churches in my district that worked tirelessly to provide relief, support, and resources to their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. They hosted food banks for those in need, provided financial help to those struggling to make ends meet, and sought out opportunities to support the social, spiritual, and emotional needs of members.
Our community is better because of them, and I recognize the volunteers who sacrificed their time, energy, and own well-being to provide relief to those who needed a lifeline extended to them. In a time of fear, they built a network of hope.
I thank the staff, volunteers, and members of Mosaic Church, Friendship Church, Word in Action Church, City of God Church, Confluence Ministries, Orchard Church, Northern Hills Church, Colorado Multiethnic Coalition, Renewal Christian Center, and Hard Rock Church.
The impact of this outreach in our communities is profound. I commend all involved for their ongoing effort to ensure that no one gets left behind. Celebrating Douglas County
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Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Douglas County in Colorado's Sixth District for being named the second healthiest county in the United States by the U.S. News & World Report.
With all due respect to the rest of my colleagues, there is no State like Colorado. We are home to 300 days of sunshine, the Rocky Mountains, world-class outdoor recreation, and exceptional small businesses.
In a year defined by a devastating public health crisis, our State added another accomplishment: community health.
With six of America's top 257 healthiest communities in Colorado, Douglas County ranks second. Home to countless walking trails, community-building events, and innovative infrastructure solutions, Douglas County is a great place to live.
So come out to see what it is all about. I invite my colleagues to visit Douglas County and the rest of my incredible district to see for themselves what makes the Centennial State one of a kind. Recognizing the Career of Vita Lantz Brown
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Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the career of Vita Lantz Brown. In Arapahoe County, the saying goes: If you want something done, ask Vita. And, if Vita asks you to do something, you just can't say no.
A force for change in our community, Vita's faith drives her devotion to good government and diverse leadership. Vita is civic-minded and is committed to ensuring elected officials at every level are working to better the community.
She devotes her time and energy to many organizations, including Moms Demand Action, the Aurora NAACP, and countless others. As a servant leader, she also supports her community by providing free babysitting, tutoring for children, volunteering at a local school, feeding the homeless, and serving as deaconess at Macedonia Baptist Church.
Vita's life work is inspired by 2 Timothy 4:7:
I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.
I thank Vita for her exemplary leadership, expertise, and commitment to our community. 30th Anniversary of Aurora NAACP
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Mr. CROW. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the 30th anniversary of Aurora, Colorado's NAACP branch.
In 1991 Dr. Barbara Shannon-Bannister founded the Aurora branch as an important step in a long career devoted to civil rights. She built upon the legacy of her father's work in her hometown of New Orleans and later moved to Wyoming where she helped form the NAACP Wyoming chapter.
She recognized a need in Aurora. Though Aurora was one of Colorado's fastest growing cities, it lacked essential advocacy on civil rights issues.
Dr. Shannon-Bannister addressed this gap by creating the Aurora branch of the NAACP.
I extend my gratitude to Dr. Shannon-Bannister, current president Omar Montgomery, and all who have dedicated their time and expertise to the Aurora NAACP over the last 30 years. I thank them for their commitment to the residents of my district and for continually working toward this crucial mission.
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