Recognizing Elizabeth Ramirez

Floor Speech

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Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor a fierce advocate for justice and a tireless champion for gun violence prevention, Elizabeth Ramirez.

On a tragic night almost 15 years ago, Elizabeth's son, Harry Rodriguez, was fatally shot, giving his life to protect his family members when a masked assailant opened fire during his 23rd birthday celebration.

From the depths of unimaginable grief, Elizabeth transformed her pain into purpose. She cofounded Parents for Peace and Justice in Belmont Cragin, in Illinois-03, to not only advocate for stronger gun violence prevention measures but to provide essential support to families who have been impacted by gun violence.

Elizabeth provides courtroom support for families. She organizes peace walks and hosts vigils throughout communities to ensure that no family member has to navigate the profound pain of losing a loved one to violence alone.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Elizabeth Ramirez for her relentless hope and for her essential work to help our communities recover from violence and loss.

I thank Elizabeth, and may her son rest in peace and power. Recognizing Jessica Esquivel

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Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Dr. Jessica Esquivel.

Jessica is a queer, Afro-Latine, particle physicist, disruptor, author, and visionary who has made it her personal mission to ensure the success of underrepresented communities in the sciences.

As one of the few Afro-Latine, queer women in the world of STEAM, Jessica embraces all facets of her identity, unapologetically existing in spaces that have historically excluded people who look like her or identify as she does.

Through her work as an associate scientist at Fermilab, her leadership as cofounder of Oyanova Enterprises, and her creation of Twitter movement #blackinphysics, she has fostered opportunities for Black and Brown leaders to thrive through culturally relevant STEAM programming, mental health advocacy, and countless other initiatives.

Jessica's work reveals the critical intersection of science, identity, and culture, demonstrating how diverse perspectives are essential to solving the challenges of our time.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Dr. Jessica Esquivel for blazing trails and reminding us that all is possible when we lift others as we climb.

I congratulate Dr. Esquivel on her success. Recognizing Mary Santana

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Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Santana, a visionary whose leadership has built transformative, creative spaces that uplift our young people in Illinois-03 and beyond.

Mary is the founder and executive director at the Miracle Center, an organization that reflects her belief that community, creativity, and care have the power to change lives. The Miracle Center is a beacon for diverse youth and families, offering mentoring, coaching, training, and academic support, all grounded in the arts.

What started as a small day camp run out of her basement apartment has, over the last 30 years, grown to impact over 20,000 young people across Chicago. Mary has ensured that The Miracle Center nurtures diverse local artists, showcases BIPOC artistry, and uplifts unique perspectives. Under her leadership, The Miracle Center has grown, acquiring a dedicated building near my district office offering Latino artists a platform for performance.

On behalf of Illinois' Third Congressional District, I am proud to commend Mary Santana for bringing the power of art to our communities and establishing The Miracle Center in Illinois Three as a space where young people can explore their creative dreams and know that nothing is impossible when you dream and you have community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mary and congratulate and commend her on this House floor.

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