Commending Mr. T. Willard Fair

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, from the 24th District of the great state of Florida, I rise today to recognize and commend Mr. T. Willard Fair, a visionary and community activist, whose distinguished and unprecedented leadership as President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami for fifty years broke down racial and discriminatory barriers in employment, education, and housing for African-Americans. His leadership transformed the climate of exclusion in South Florida in the 1960s and ushered in new era of inclusion and social change. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, Mr. Fair has dedicated his professional career to promoting the interest and well-being of the African-American community, and as president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami lead campaigns that successfully integrated corporations and businesses, and public and private volunteer organizations, in Miami, desegregated public housing in Dade County, and worked to make affordable housing available through countless construction and rehabilitation projects;

Whereas, Mr. Fair is deeply committed to solving complex problems, ranging from unemployment to illiteracy, that plague our community and offering solutions through expert ana]ysis, publications in the Miami Herald, Miami Magazine, and Tropic Magazine, and through interviews with 60 Minutes, the Tom Brokaw Show, and Ebony Magazine;

Whereas, Mr. Fair has demonstrated superior capabilities in community development while providing dynamic leadership over the Urban League of Greater Miami, which strives to improve the lives of individuals and families through employment, childcare, senior citizen services, housing, economic development, training, community service, political advocacy, and education;

Whereas, Mr. Fair co-founded Florida's first charter school, and has served as an adjunct professor at the Atlanta University School of Social Work, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida International University, and the National Urban League's Whitney M. Young, Jr. Center for Urban Leadership;

Whereas, Mr. Fair's excellence in education, leadership, and service has been recognized by various organizations through awards, accolades, and appointments, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell's Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, President Obama's Commission on White House Fellowships--Miami Regional Selection Panel, the United States' Advisory Committee on Cultural Affairs, and a tenure as past chairperson of the Florida State Board of Education; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Frederica S. Wilson, a Member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 24th Congressional District of Florida, commend Mr. T. Willard Fair for his unwavering commitment and faithful service to our community, state and country, and the Urban League of Greater Miami.

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