September 21, 2005- HONORS FOR D.C. EMS EMPLOYEE AND NEW ORLEANS FAMILY SHE TOOK IN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2005

HONORS FOR D.C. EMS EMPLOYEE ANDNEW ORLEANS FAMILY SHE TOOK IN TOP
KATRINA EMPHASIS AT NORTON CBCF ALC EVENTS

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that she is dedicating her 2005 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (CBCF ALC) events to the victims of Hurricane Katrina who have found refuge in the District of Columbia, and volunteers and staff who are assisting them. Norton has invited evacuees staying at the D.C. Armory and in private homes to her annual CBCF events—a braintrust on black women in politics on Thursday, September 22, 2005 from 4 to 5:50 PM in Room 147A of the Washington Convention Center; and a reception on Friday, September 23 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the MCI Center. Donations will be collected at the reception and given to Habitat for Humanity and directed to help returning low-income New Orleans residents obtain their own homes in that city, and the décor and some of the food will reflect New Orleans to make the Louisiana residents feel at home. The Congresswoman will honor Tracye Weaver, a D.C. resident and D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department paramedic, and her family for taking in a New Orleans family--Nadine Williams, her adult daughter, Corliss and granddaughter, Nija--who also will be honored."

Norton said, “The District was among the first to reach out and help evacuated New Orleans residents, and I want to use my CBCF events to honor them for their courage and perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. Weaver has reached out to represent the best of the city and our country, alike. By paying tribute to her and the Williams family, we will be honoring all the evacuees and volunteers.” The Congresswoman is just back from a visit to the hurricane-damaged areas with a congressional delegation over the weekend, and met the evacuees at the airport when they arrived. After Katrina, CBC Members made large changes in this year’s events, altering its focus to concentrate on Katrina survivors and the future of the Gulf Coast and adding Katrina events and fundraising.

Norton’s Women’s Braintrust, “Sister Surge! Black Women and Politics, What We Want and How We’re Going to Get It,” will feature a panel of African American women prominent in American politics: Donna Brazile, Chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute, national political commentator and analyst and Campaign Manager for Gore/Lieberman 2000 (Brazile is a New Orleans native whose family members had to be rescued from Katrina); Susan Taylor, Editorial Director of Essence Magazine and author; Julianne Malveaux, economist, author and commentator, and President/CEO of Last Word Productions; Rep. Gwendolyn Moore (D-WI); A. Shuanise Washington, Vice President of Government Affairs Policy and Outreach for Altria Corporate Services; and Tamara Masters Wilds, Executive Coordinator for Women Building for the Future. The forum is free and open to the public and will include a question and answer period.

The reception will be sponsored by Pepco Holdings, Inc., “Honoring Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Her Quest for Full Democracy for the District of Columbia and Her Achievements in Promoting Diversity in Business and Business Growth in D.C.,” and will take place on Friday at the Acela Club of the MCI Center. “Each year the reception gives me an opportunity to thank D.C. citizens and businesses who have worked beside me in the fight for full congressional voting rights and other D.C. issues, including minority business development,” Norton said. “This year we want to show our evacuees a good time and show that D.C. can throw a good party just like New Orleans! The tragic events of September 11, 2001 also prompted my CBC colleagues to adjust ALC plans, she said, and “Katrina particularly obligates us to focus in on those who will have to rebuild their lives and their hometown.”

Norton also will participate in the ALC welcome ceremony today (Wednesday) taking place at 6:00 PMat the Convention Center. Following the ceremony, CBC Members will hold a Candlelight Vigil at 8:00 PMon the West Lawn of the Capitol, to pay tribute to Katrina survivors and volunteers.