Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E781-E782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING DR. BENJAMIN BELL AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK
______
HON. CYNTHIA AXNE
of iowa
in the house of representatives
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of
Representatives to join me in recognizing Dr. Benjamin C. Bell, Jr., a
longtime pastor and community and family counselor in Des Moines, as
our Iowan of the Week.
One of the strongest traits that unites Iowans is our love of
community. Whether it's a favorite spot to fish, a connection group at
church, or the best restaurant to grab a burger, we love to share
stories about the people and places that give our shared home
character. What's even better than Iowans' love of community is their
unparalleled dedication to investing in it. Through service of all
stripes, Iowans strengthen their communities each day.
Dr. Benjamin C. Bell, Jr. is a shining example of an Iowan who not
only loves his community, but also has gone above and beyond to improve
it for those around him now and for generations to come.
Born and raised in Des Moines, Dr. Bell's life has been shaped by
service to country and community. He learned about hard work and giving
back by watching his father work the night shift and his mother cook at
Drake University, where she'd provide extra food to those who didn't
have enough to eat at home. After graduating high school, Bell served
several years in the United States Marine Corps before finishing his
tour and moving back home to Iowa to be near family and raise one of
his own with his wife, Julie.
Since then, Dr. Bell and Julie have put their community-mindedness
and drive to help others to work. For nearly three decades they co-
pastored in church to provide community value and help people feel like
they have somewhere to belong, especially in times of crisis.
Dr. Bell co-founded Dads with a Purpose (DWP), a transformational
counseling program for fathers and mothers to reach their potential as
parents and to help effectively build strong families. Dads with a
Purpose has been nationally recognized for its curriculum: a series of
expert-led classes and resources provided in a safe space for parents
in challenging circumstances to talk about past barriers and how they
can grow to create positive, generational change. DWP helps fathers and
mothers to learn about themselves as men and women, as individual
parents, and as part of a co-parenting team to create a healthier
future for themselves and their children. It helps hundreds of Iowans
each year, including men and women transitioning out of correctional
facilities, gain employment and improve their circumstances.
Dr. Bell also lends his expertise to the 5th Judicial District to
help men who have previously been domestically violent learn how to
process anger, respect women, and resolve conflict. He serves as the
Fatherhood Outreach Director at the YMCA, providing classes on how to
communicate more effectively, deal with tough issues that affect
fathers, and help successfully navigate child-support--which can
drastically change an individual's credit score and provide
opportunities to move into a home and maintain a good job. Bell's
program also allows the participating fathers' children to come play at
the YMCA and have pizza for dinner while classes are taking place.
Iowans take great pride in where we come from, and people are at the
heart of what makes our home special. Dr. Bell has said: ``People may
not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them
feel.'' This simple sentiment perfectly captures his inherently Iowan
value of giving back for the good of others and his understanding of
how important it is to treat people with the dignity human beings
deserve. I am humbled and inspired by Dr. Bell's lifetime of service,
passion
[[Page E782]]
for community betterment, and dedication to helping Iowans reach their
true potential. It is my honor to name him our Iowan of the Week.
____________________