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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN RECOGNITION OF REVEREND JOE COLAIZZI
______
HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Joseph
Colaizzi's thirty-five years of dedicated service to the Kansas City
Rescue Mission (KCRM). As the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth
Congressional District, it brings me great joy to honor a lifelong
community advocate and the indelible mark he has left on the community.
Rev. Joe Colaizzi was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He later
moved to Ohio where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the
University of Cincinnati before joining the production team for the
timeless series that captivated the hearts of so many--Mr. Roger's
Neighborhood. Rev. Colaizzi went on to become the Director of
Instructional Television at Carnegie Mellon University. While at
Carnegie Mellon, Rev. Colaizzi had a life-changing encounter with his
faith. Eventually, Rev. Colaizzi found shelter at Lamb's Manhattan
Church of the Nazarene, where he subsequently served the homeless for
seven years as a ministry team member and eventually Associate Pastor.
It was also at Lamb's Manhattan Church of the Nazarene where Rev.
Colaizzi met and married his loving wife Marilyn.
In 1983, the Colaizzi family moved to Kansas City and planted roots,
allowing Joseph to pursue his Master of Divinity degree from Nazarene
Theological Seminary while volunteering at the Kansas City Rescue
Mission. The seeds Reverend Colaizzi planted for his life began to
flourish as he assumed his role as the Executive Director of Kansas
City Rescue Mission. For Rev. Colaizzi, success has always been
measured by the joy brought to him by selflessly serving others and
working tirelessly to build a more equitable, inclusive, and unified
community for all.
KCRM was established in 1950 with a mission to serve people in need,
opening their doors to the poor, homeless, hungry, and hurting. Focused
on serving marginalized communities with dignity, KCRM offers
individuals a multitude of services, including case management,
recovery programs, job and life skills through educational services,
and the opportunity to participate in their social enterprise program.
Regardless of an individual's current situation, KCRM empowers clients
to overcome their obstacles in their life and gives them hope for a
brighter future and the tools to achieve it.
Under Rev. Colaizzi's stewardship, Kansas City Rescue Mission has
grown from one employee to sixty, increasing the organization's
capacity to broaden their reach and presence in the community. The
Kansas City Rescue Mission Men's Center, which once provided only
emergency shelter, meals, and chapel services for thirty homeless men a
day, now serves up to 140 men daily and provides additional services,
including residential addiction recover, health care, and counseling,
just to name a few.
Rev. Colaizzi's passion to serve others is further evidenced by his
initiation of the Reaching Up, Moving Forward campaign in 2011 that
funded the establishment of the Kansas City Rescue Mission Women's
Center. This twenty-bed facility opened July 15, 2013 and provides
residential recovery, counseling, therapy, and case management services
for single, homeless women, many with co-occurring disorders.
To this day, Reverend Joseph Colaizzi remains an active, integral
member of the community and consistently directs his efforts towards
the betterment of people's lives in and around Kansas City. Rev.
Colaizzi's leadership and advocacy is unparalleled and inspiring.
Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring thirty-five years of
dedicated service to the community by Reverend Joseph Colaizzi through
his ministry and direction at the Kansas City Rescue Mission. Let us
honor the profound legacy of Rev. Colaizzi and the impact he has made
through his benevolent spirit and passion to serve.
