[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 6317] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE WESTFIELD, NJ AREA YMCA BLACK ACHIEVERS' PROGRAM ______ HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS of new jersey in the house of representatives Monday, April 26, 2010 Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the Westfield, NJ Area YMCA Black Achievers Program. I applaud the participants for their achievements and the staff, mentors, and Westfield, NJ Area YMCA Black Achievers Committee for their continuing commitment as role models in our community. The Black Achievers Program began in the 1960s at the Harlem YMCA with the mission of helping youth set and achieve educational and life- long goals. The program expanded nationally, and in 1998, the Westfield, NJ Area YMCA adopted it. The Program's goal is to prepare youth participants in grades five through twelve to become Black Achievers in their future careers by building their character and skills, while providing positive mentoring relationships with caring Adult Achievers. The thirty-seven students who are participants in the 2009-2010 school year are: Zayna Allen, Jamirah Barden, Steven Barden, Bria Barnes, Victoria Carden, Imani Coston, Ashley Edwards, Phylicia Flagg, Joshua Forehand, Alexis Givens, Adam Harley, Aneyjah Harris, Jon'ae Jackson, Todd Jamison, Jr., Cesar Lopez, Jazsmine Mayer, Jonathan Mayer, Maya McLeod, Cameron Mitchell, Chelci Mitchell, Aunyee McCummings, Kevin Monroe, Jr., Imani Mutyanda, Munashee Mutyanda, Jason Nutt, Fredrick A. Parsons, Jameka Parsons, Ne'andrea Paulevra, Sean Paulevra, Tamar Richardson, Dwayne Scott, Jr., Jeffery Scott, Ashley Simmons, Isaiah Smith, Kwame Thompson Haynes, Diana Williams and Brianna Whitehead. These thirty-seven individuals embody the program's core values. They have acquired the leadership skills and self-awareness needed to attain success in any endeavor they choose to pursue. Every year, the Connell Company, based in Berkeley Heights, NJ, generously sponsors the scholarship program and provides other vital support to the Program. Their generosity has supported the Program since its inception in 1998. The staff members dedicated to the program and its students are: Senior Director of Childcare, Camp and Teen Services Susan Morton, Coordinator Tarajee W. Russell, Assistant Coordinator Tania Mayer, Tutor Romina Cahiwat, and Alumni Volunteer Jasmine C. Farmer. These individuals, as well as the volunteers on the Black Achievers Committee of the Westfield, NJ Area YMCA Board have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program. The Westfield YMCA's Chief Executive Officer Mark Elsasser, Chief Operating Officer Paula Ehoff, Communications/Development Director Bonnie Cohen, YMCA Board chairman Stephen Murphy and the rest of the staff are deeply committed to the success of the Program. Lastly, the Black Achievers Committee Chairman Carlton Blake and the entire Black Achievers Committee should be acknowledged for the tremendous effort and dedication they put forth to keep the Black Achievers Program running. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring the Westfield, NJ Area YMCA Black Achievers Program for encouraging students to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body. I urge them to continue to raise the academic standards of our young people and inspire them to reach all of their goals. I congratulate the Westfield, NJ Area YMCA, the Black Achievers' Program Committee, the Program and its staff and participants on their accomplishments and I thank them for their commitment to their community and I thank them for their commitment to their community. ____________________