Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michalle Shown- Rodriguez of Fairfield, California, who has dedicated her career to community service and is a pillar of the community. Michalle currently serves as the Development Director for Child Haven, where she brings 30 years of experience in development, grant writing, and executive leadership.

Michalle's work with non-profits began with the birth of her son and subsequent involvement in co-founding a support organization in Idaho that served families with medically fragile children. She has been involved with the National Foster Parents Association, the Sierra Association of Foster Families and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Being an adoptive parent of four elementary school-age children, she had a passion to serve in an education-focused environment where she can have a direct impact on children and their parents.

Michalle's previous experience includes working for the Crisis Support Services of Alameda County where she was responsible for developing programs to support suicide prevention, crisis intervention and public education. Ms. Shown-Rodriguez holds a degree in social psychology and earned the Non-Profit Certificate at Stanford Graduate School of Business' Center for Social Innovation among other professional credentials.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Renee Tadlock of Fairfield, California, who is the Operations Director of The Leaven, a faith-based afterschool tutoring and mentorship program focused on serving the underserved youth in our high-risk communities with educational assistance, physical play, nutrition, and character development. Before becoming the Operations Director, Renee was a Leaven Site Director and served to help grow the Leaven Organization from one center in 2009 to sixteen different locations throughout Solano and Napa Counties and three sites in Southern California with more scheduled to open soon.

Mrs. Tadlock's role at the Leaven has been vital to the organization's success and secondary positive impact of raising the quality of life within each neighbor served by a Leaven Center. Recognized by community leaders and law enforcement officials, Leaven Centers through their development of community relationships have proven over and over to positively impact crime rates, drive out negative influences, and empower residents to participate in neighborhood watch and re-vitalization programs.

Renee developed her passion for education and serving our youth during her prior service as a pre-school teacher in Fairfield and a substitute para-teacher for Solano County Office of Education. Renee and her husband, Mike, serve as Pastors at Real Life Church in Fairfield where she also serves as an inspiring role-model to the church, youth group, and community members.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Louise Walker of Dixon, California, who has been a strong leader in her roles in both private and public organizations.

She consistently proves that she does not shy away from leadership roles. She is a valued partner of the Solano Economic Development Corporation, President and CEO of First Northern Bank. She serves as chairperson of the Solano EDC Board of Directors, and just completed her term as Chair of the California Bankers Association, making her the third woman to chair the association in the organizations 125 years. Ms. Walker also serves on the national Board of Directors for the American Banker Association.

Ms. Walker also lends her considerable leadership expertise to several nonprofit organizations. She serves on the boards for both Valley Vision and the Yolo Food Bank, is a former President of Soroptimist International of Dixon, and a member of the Dixon Rotary Club. With her extensive leadership experience and skills, as well as her commitment to serving her community, Ms. Walker is an outstanding role model for women of every age.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nancy Wells of Davis, California, who has dedicated her twenty-year career to education and exemplifies the true meaning of public servant, volunteer and advocate for school aged children, adults and senior citizens in the community.

Nancy was instrumental in implementing many innovative programs during her professional career. She instituted ``Just for Kids,'' a program that matched at risk elementary students with adult volunteers, who would spend time helping students having difficulties with school subjects. She also started the ``Latch Key Program'' an afterschool program that provided a place for students to do their homework in a safe environment while their parents were at work. As director of Special Education, she was able to provide outstanding programs for children with special needs offering them academic training at a level in which they would be successful.

Nancy is also involved in various community organizations. She was a founding member of the Dixon Family Services agency, where she started a Grief Intervention Program for children. She's also a member of the Dixon Advocates for Seniors as well as a member of Dixon's Community Care Home Auxiliary.

Nancy is considered a kind, compassionate and devoted person who is always willing to volunteer wherever she is needed. Nancy serves on the St. Peter's parish leadership team and is a long-time community servant.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Patricia Zetah of Vacaville,

California, who has dedicated many years to the public education system, continuing to volunteer after her retirement. Ms. Zetah retired as a school principal from Travis Unified School District, having worked as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, program manager, and vice principal. During her time as a teacher, Ms. Zetah went above and beyond what was required of her. She served as a mentor to many new teachers and provided professional development workshops for others throughout the district and state. She served as President and board member of the Solano County Reading Association and to this day volunteers giving reading tests at Center Elementary School.

Ms. Zetah currently serves as President of the local chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Honor Society for Women Educators, where she organizes charitable programs to benefit children's education. For the past seven years she has worked with St. Mary's Church and Vacaville Unified School District to put on Education Forums where participating children receive free books. Ms. Zetah is so devoted to this project that she has donated hundreds of her own books.

Through both her career and her volunteer work, Patricia Zetah has demonstrated her dedication to children's education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Kate Mellon-Anibaba of Davis, California, who has made it her mission to bring people together in the name of tolerance and spread support for marginalized groups within her community. Following this year's attacks on Muslim communities throughout California, Ms. Mellon-Anibaba organized an event she called a ``Statement of Love.'' Her idea was to bring people together to show their support for Muslims in her community. In response to the hateful words and actions she saw directed at certain minorities, Ms. Mellon-Anibaba created her own demonstration of support, solidarity, and acceptance. She was determined to make a positive impact in her community, and she succeeded.

Following a particularly disturbing attack on the Islamic Center right in her own community, she brought together over 1,000 people to show their support for their neighbors. She helped raise tens of thousands of dollars to help pay for repairs to businesses and places of worship targeted by hate-driven vandalism.

Ms. Mellon-Anibaba brought people together to show their support, tolerance, and acceptance of a marginalized community within their community. Her message of peace, tolerance, and support has spread to surrounding communities and inspired similar demonstrations of solidarity. Her determination to bring her community together in the face of hatred is inspirational.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Judith Holzapfel of Orland, California, whose leadership and civic spirit has no bounds. Her service to country and community began when she enlisted in the United States Air Force after having graduated from Marquette University with a degree in nursing. Following basic training, Judith was stationed at Beale Air Force Base where she met her husband. Following the birth of her son, she began her civilian career working in area hospitals.

After pursuing further education, Mrs. Holzapfel eventually became Glenn County's school nurse and continued in that role for the next 30 years. Her many years of work and

dedication has made a difference in health education and quality of life for thousands of students and their families.

After retiring from her many years of service to Glenn County, Mrs. Holzapfel decided to continue her public services. She ran for a position on the Glenn County Board of Education, and won by an overwhelming majority.

Mrs. Holzapfel is an active member of many community service organizations throughout the county and devotes her time to helping youth, veterans, and the impoverished. Above all, as a mother, grandmother, community activist, and veteran; Mrs. Holzapfel is passionate and dedicated to upholding the values of her family, and of her country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Christine Ivory of Live Oak, California, who has dedicated herself to serving her community by advocating for its agricultural industry. After serving on the Board of Directors for the Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau for six years, she is to become its President. She has immersed herself in the issues of the agricultural community by serving on eleven of the farm bureau's committees. In her work at the Yuba Sutter Farm Bureau, Ms. Ivory takes particular pride in educating youth on the importance of agriculture. She has been instrumental in maintaining and growing her community's agriculture education programs, such as FFA and 4-H.

Ms. Ivory is also committed to the preservation of agricultural lands and serves in many organizations working towards this goal. She dedicates her time to many community organizations providing for economic development and community improvement. Through her extensive involvement in the agricultural industry and many service organizations, Ms. Ivory has demonstrated that she is invested in the Yuba and Sutter county communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jeannie Klever, who has an extensive record of service in Sutter County, California, which she has called home for the past 27 years. Jeannie embodies the qualities of a community activist and public servant, and we are proud to honor her today. Growing up in the 60's, Jeannie experienced a mixture of gender and racial inequalities which influenced and shaped her career choices. Her activism began at an early age when during school she protested an end to the Vietnam War. She also advocated for more on-site tutors for students of color and when met with opposition, Jeannie volunteered as a tutor through the rest of her school years. She strongly believes education was and remains the path out of poverty.

Jeannie's desire to help families with special needs children was due to the challenges her family endured after her brother was diagnosed with severe autism. She operated a Family Resource Center that delivered support services and resources to families of low income and special needs adults and children. She taught self-advocacy for the local school's individualized education programs and medical service needs students.

Jeannie's community and public service involvement is extensive. Jeannie has been a member of and continues to support several nonprofit organizations. For the past 15 years, she has sponsored an annual Art Contest for Sutter Union High School students. In 2008, Jeannie joined the local Democratic Party's central committee as a way to increase community engagement where she served three terms. In 2013, Jeannie joined the U.S. House of Representatives as my district representative serving Yuba and Sutter counties until her recent retirement.

Jeannie continues to volunteer in the community and helps families in need when she can. Jeannie has learned to appreciate the art culture and enjoys mixed media arts as a way to relax. She and her husband Dale are enjoying family time with their children and two grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Catherine Morris, who has dedicated her 30 years in Dixon, California to serving her community. As the pastor of the Dixon United Methodist Church, she has had countless opportunities to serve her congregation as well as the community as a whole. Outside of her role as pastor, her passion has been serving the youth of the Dixon community. Through her work with Dixon Family Services, Dixon Advocates for Children, and the Safe Schools Task Force, Ms. Morris works to keep the youth in her community safe and provide them with opportunities for success.

Ms. Morris' leadership also extends to Dixon's senior communities. She is an advocate for securing affordable senior housing and adequate senior transportation services. Her support for senior programs in her community is ongoing, and she regularly assists seniors in finding the programs and services which can best serve their needs.

Ms. Morris is a devoted servant to the people of Dixon. Anyone who knows her will tell you that her generous spirit, endless energy, and genuine warmth make her a beloved and respected member of the Dixon community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Christine Ponce of Woodland, California, who has dedicated 27 years to California's agricultural industry. She has worked cultivating many crops, ultimately becoming California's first female rice miller. In that role she managed many facets of rice production, ensuring that the plant operated at full capacity. In her 27 year career she overcame many challenges--from low wages to serious injury--and inspired many women that they too could pursue a career once considered only for men.

A proud descendent of a Bracero, Ms. Ponce has strong ties to the California agricultural community. In her time as a rice miller she helped advocate for the rights of agricultural workers by serving the local chapter of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. In addition to working long, demanding hours, she took time to serve as a secretary for the ILWU Local 150. Ms. Ponce's long and distinguished career has demonstrated her devotion to California's vibrant agricultural community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Jody Samons of Willows, California, who has dedicated over 37 years to serving her community of Glenn County. She has touched the lives of countless people through her work and volunteer activities. In her current position as Glenn County's Community Development Director, Ms. Samons has secured over $200,000 in grants and worked with numerous companies to create over 200 new jobs in the area. Her overwhelming success in this role has had, and will continue to have, an undeniably positive impact on her community.

In her volunteer capacities, Ms. Samons has worked to support the youth of her community by creating opportunities and guiding them to success. Ms. Samons was instrumental in the creation of the Orland High School Booster club which helped support youth athletic programs in her community. She has also spent many years supporting youth in FFA or 4-H programs in any way she could. Ms. Samons served for many years on the Glenn County Junior Livestock Auction Committee and went on to found a non-profit organization to support the program when its future was in jeopardy. She also served for 7 years on the Glenn County Fair Board and worked tirelessly to ensure its continued success. Ms. Samons has spent many years supporting the youth in her community and never passed up an opportunity to help out.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jaswinder Sandhu of Sutter County, California, who has spent her career focused on improving the lives of people in her community. At a young age, she joined her farmworker parents in the fields to earn extra money during the summer. It was during those times that she realized the plight of the poor and became determined to make a difference.

Jaswinder's passion to help others has always been her priority. Having left a job in the private sector in 2003, she began her career as Site Manager for Mahal Plaza, a low income multi-family farm labor complex in Yuba City. Since then, she's been credited with securing $313,000 in grant funding to build a safe passage route for children from Mahal Plaza as they walk to school. She also implemented several community programs and services at the property, including a community garden, day care, and ESL and exercise classes. She also offers Mahal as a venue for community gatherings such as the annual National Night Out, which is one of the most largely attended community events in Yuba City.

A testament to Jaswinder's commitment to the community and her excellence in property management, she was honored as Site Manager of the Year for Farm Labor Housing for the State of California. In 2011 and 2014 Jaswinder was presented with the national award for excellence in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cathie Wicks, whose entire professional career has been spent in Yolo County, California advocating to improve the quality of life for rural children, families, and communities.

Cathie is the founder and immediate past Executive Director of RISE, Inc. (Rural Innovations in Social Economics, Inc.). Ms. Wicks has over 35 years of non-profit administrative experience, including extensive grant project development and supervision, rural program design, implementation and project based fund control experience. Cathie is also a lifetime mission-builder in innovative leadership programs for teens, with an interest in intervention models for motivated at- risk youth.

Cathie's early work history includes raising sheep, which began as a hobby. In the early 1970's, she started her career in the anti-poverty upward mobility programs focused on continuing education and diversified education. She also co-founded a non-profit to leverage grants from outside the community. Cathie served as Executive Director of RISE for the next 25 years. Her work didn't stop there, Cathie integrated her grant writing skills to assist Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in grant writing, policy development and programs designed to enhance the community.

Cathie is the face of non-profit success in rural Western Yolo County, building programs, trends, strong organizations, and fiscal success modes that have improved the quality of life in rural communities. Cathie enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, still raises sheep with her son, enjoys golf and travels with friends, family and colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize K. Patrice Williams, who has dedicated her twenty-year career to strengthening small business in Solano County, California, and her advocacy illustrates her talents as a true public servant. She is currently the principal advocate for BrandGov; an agency offering targeted outreach, messaging, social media marketing and more to small businesses, non- profit organizations and government entities in the Solano area.

K. Patrice's experience as an activist has given her a deep understanding of economic and workforce development, infrastructure, energy and transportation challenges and a business approach understanding of proposed solutions. Working in partnership with public and private organizations, Solano College Small Business Development Center, Solano College Workforce Development Center and Solano College has allowed her to develop a strategic plan to diversify and maximize Solano County's local economy utilizing stakeholders as a resource.

K. Patrice's professional experience includes Chief Brand Strategist for Brand Gov.; she was an Adjunct Professor at Napa Valley College; Director of Marketing for WH Holdings LLC, Manager for DoubleClick, and Team Leader-Business Development for IBM. She holds a Juris Doctorate, Business Concentration from San Francisco Law School and a Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Marketing Concentration from Sonoma State University.