Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Native American Heritage Month and to honor the 35th anniversary of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, a private nonprofit organization in Nebraska.
The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition provides community healthcare and services targeting the urban American Indian and Alaska Native population in the greater Omaha metropolitan area, Lincoln area, and Sioux City, Iowa, since 1986. Their rehabilitative healthcare services and their diabetes self-management program are nationally recognized. Currently, they are led by their CEO, Dr. Donna Polk.
Donna Lee Mays was raised by her father after her mother was hit and killed by a drunk driver on Christmas Day in 1949 at the age of 23. Dr. Polk was only 7 years old. Dr. Polk credits her grandmother, Annie Lee Mays, as one of her inspirations because of her spirituality and wisdom.
Dr. Polk firmly believes in having vision and that you have to be able to see how things can be. If you don't, Mr. Speaker, you don't work to effect change.
Between 1972 to 1985, Dr. Polk served as an affirmative action and equal opportunity officer at the State of Nebraska. She volunteered in the Nebraska corrections system for 26 years and starred in her own TV show called ``Frankly Female,'' a show for and about women.
Dr. Polk earned her bachelor's degree in university studies, her master's in counseling psychology, and a doctorate in administration, instruction, and curriculum, all from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In addition, she is a published author. She wrote her book, ``Black Men and Women of Nebraska,'' in 1981 to shine the light on prominent African-American individuals in our State.
She joined the Urban Indian Health Coalition in 1991, running the counseling program for women. She leads a team of over 40 employees that offer services such as inpatient and outpatient substance abuse, transitional living, alcohol and drug recovery, healthcare services, and transportation to their facilities. Dr. Polk takes great pride in the community programs--Project Upstream, the Tired Moccasins Elders Program, and the Elder's Program--which help Native youth and families overcome socioeconomic disparities and provide meals, educational opportunities, and even extracurricular activities for all ages. Dr. Polk is thrilled about the inauguration of their new headquarters scheduled to open in the spring of 2022.
In recognizing the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, we shine a spotlight on 35 years of helping elevate the health status and disparities of urban Indians and other underserved populations in Nebraska and Iowa through education, collaboration, advocacy, and health service delivery.
Congratulations to Dr. Polk and her team for 35 years of excellence and serving our great community.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source