IN HONOR OF JULIA SORRENTINO AND MEGAN STOTTS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP OF HEARTS ACROSS QUEENS; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 51
(Extensions of Remarks - March 25, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN HONOR OF JULIA SORRENTINO AND MEGAN STOTTS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP OF
HEARTS ACROSS QUEENS
______
HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Monday, March 25, 2019
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I along with
Representative Ocasio-Cortez rise to recognize Julia Sorrentino and
Megan Stotts who received a women's history month award from us and
from Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas at a ceremony in Queens on March
22nd for their leadership of Hearts Across Queens, an organization that
is dedicated to protecting, supporting and empowering their neighbors
and acting together to create positive change. Lifelong activists, Ms.
Sorrentino and Ms. Stotts joined with other local mothers to create an
organization to amplify their concerns and bring like-minded neighbors
together.
In 2016, an inspired group of women started Hearts Across Queens with
the goal of sharing information about local events and social issues,
while advocating for tolerance and diversity in Western Queens. Their
aim is to help women understand and exercise their own power, while
fostering beneficial relationships among people with common purpose.
Hearts Across Queens creates a sense of community through local
activism and community events that support positive change, enabling
and empowering people of all ages and backgrounds.
Every Wednesday, the members of Hearts Across Queens unite to meet
other mothers and develop alliances, while teaching their children to
face their fears and make plans for a brighter future. They have
organized events, including a candidates forum, mini-speakouts, and a
program to teach children how to get involved and de-escalate violence.
Ms. Sorrentino teaches at LaGuardia Community College. She is the
creator of the series, Queens Women in STEAM, where local women are
featured each day of Women's History Month, sharing their stories with
District 30 students, and their neighborhoods. Ms. Sorrentino was also
a founding member of No IDC NY, a highly successful grassroots movement
that challenged a group of Democrats that had been caucusing with
Republicans in the New York State Senate. Their progressive, Democratic
candidates unseated 7 of the 8 Independent Democratic Caucus members in
the 2018 election.
Megan Stotts has volunteered for several local organizations and
campaigns. Her current focus is Immigrant Families Together, which
works to combat anti-immigrant policies of the current administration.
She also serves on the Queens County Committee. In 2017, Ms. Stotts
helped organize a rally protesting the MTA's decision to renovate
subway stations without making them accessible. She was inspired to
take action because as a mother of young children she knows how
difficult it is to travel with a stroller when there is no elevator.
Ms. Sorrentino and Ms. Stotts were co-recipients of the Taminent
Regular Democratic Club 2018 Political Activism award.
Madam Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in honoring the work
done by Julia Sorrentino, Megan Stotts and the members of Hearts Across
Queens whose collaborative activism is making a real difference in
their community.
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