Floor SpeechCeremonial2024-12-10

CELEBRATING ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT

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Context

On 2024-12-10, Representative Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-3) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered taxes, the environment. It referenced legislation: S27.

Full Text

CELEBRATING ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6542-H6543] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez) for 5 minutes. Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Albany Park Theater Project, a gem of Illinois' Third Congressional District, and to recognize their production of ``Port of Entry,'' which reminds us all of an important lesson. The story of our Nation wouldn't be complete without the sweat, without the tears, without the joy, and without the dreams and hopes of so many immigrants and children of immigrants. [[Page H6543]] They are the same stories that brought so many of us here to Congress. Located in the heart of Albany Park, one of the most diverse immigrant communities in the Nation, the Albany Park Theater Project has long been a beacon of creativity, resilience, and hope. Through the power of storytelling and theater, this organization prepares and propels young people in Illinois' Third Congressional District to lead civically engaged and choice-filled lives. Together, their team ensemble members and adult artists make world- class, award-winning, original theater that amplifies and illuminates the voices of immigrants and refugees, showcasing their struggles, triumphs, pain, and enduring humanity. My husband, Boris, and I were fortunate to experience the production of ``Port of Entry'' together, and it was more than a performance. It was a profound journey in the daily lives of immigrant families from all over the world living in Albany Park. As a ``proud,'' ``orgulloso,'' daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, I know firsthand how important it is for immigrant stories to be told authentically and celebrated unapologetically. ``Port of Entry,'' a collaboration with Third Rail Projects, takes audiences into a theater production set in a typical Chicago apartment building. Audience members of ``Port of Entry'' are part of an immersive experience of the intimate lives of neighbors from Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, and beyond. Audience members share in the lived experiences and stories of immigrant families, celebrating their resilience, amplifying their voices, and showcasing the invaluable contributions they make to our communities. The cast is made up of talented young people from our community who brilliantly invite us to reflect on what it means to call a place home and what it means to find belonging and to build a future in the face of challenge. It invites us to wonder what makes the United States of America. The production is a culmination of years of work involving over 300 collaborators, including youth performers, storytellers, and creators. It is a testament to the theater company's 27-year-old commitment to using the arts to empower young people in bringing our community together. Albany Park and our Nation have always been a port of entry for many families seeking new beginnings, whether through the southern border, like my mom, or welcomed by the ``Mother of Exiles,'' the Statue of Liberty, like many of the ancestors of the Members of this very same body. Today, at a time when Members of this Chamber and the incoming administration are threatening to tear our communities apart and would question who gets to be American and who doesn't, this play feels so timely and vital. I thank the Albany Park Theater Project and Debbie Reznick, one of the founding directors, for reminding us of the power of storytelling to inspire empathy and connection. I thank them for showing us that theater is not just for entertainment, but it is a vehicle for change and a celebration of the human spirit. I am so proud to represent this community. I am even prouder to be the daughter of immigrants. Their work reflects the very best of our district and our Nation. ____________________

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CELEBRATING ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6542-H6543] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Ramirez) for 5 minutes. Mrs. RAMIREZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Albany Park Theater Project, a gem of Illinois' Third Congressional District, and to recognize their production of ``Port of Entry,'' which reminds us all of an important lesson. The story of our Nation wouldn't be complete without the sweat, without the tears, without the joy, and without the dreams and hopes of so many immigrants and children of immigrants. [[Page H6543]] They are the same stories that brought so many of us here to Congress. Located in the heart of Albany Park, one of the most diverse immigrant communities in the Nation, the Albany Park Theater Project has long been a beacon of creativity, resilience, and hope. Through the power of storytelling and theater, this organization prepares and propels young people in Illinois' Third Congressional District to lead civically engaged and choice-filled lives. Together, their team ensemble members and adult artists make world- class, award-winning, original theater that amplifies and illuminates the voices of immigrants and refugees, showcasing their struggles, triumphs, pain, and enduring humanity. My husband, Boris, and I were fortunate to experience the production of ``Port of Entry'' together, and it was more than a performance. It was a profound journey in the daily lives of immigrant families from all over the world living in Albany Park. As a ``proud,'' ``orgulloso,'' daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, I know firsthand how important it is for immigrant stories to be told authentically and celebrated unapologetically. ``Port of Entry,'' a collaboration with Third Rail Projects, takes audiences into a theater production set in a typical Chicago apartment building. Audience members of ``Port of Entry'' are part of an immersive experience of the intimate lives of neighbors from Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, and beyond. Audience members share in the lived experiences and stories of immigrant families, celebrating their resilience, amplifying their voices, and showcasing the invaluable contributions they make to our communities. The cast is made up of talented young people from our community who brilliantly invite us to reflect on what it means to call a place home and what it means to find belonging and to build a future in the face of challenge. It invites us to wonder what makes the United States of America. The production is a culmination of years of work involving over 300 collaborators, including youth performers, storytellers, and creators. It is a testament to the theater company's 27-year-old commitment to using the arts to empower young people in bringing our community together. Albany Park and our Nation have always been a port of entry for many families seeking new beginnings, whether through the southern border, like my mom, or welcomed by the ``Mother of Exiles,'' the Statue of Liberty, like many of the ancestors of the Members of this very same body. Today, at a time when Members of this Chamber and the incoming administration are threatening to tear our communities apart and would question who gets to be American and who doesn't, this play feels so timely and vital. I thank the Albany Park Theater Project and Debbie Reznick, one of the founding directors, for reminding us of the power of storytelling to inspire empathy and connection. I thank them for showing us that theater is not just for entertainment, but it is a vehicle for change and a celebration of the human spirit. I am so proud to represent this community. I am even prouder to be the daughter of immigrants. Their work reflects the very best of our district and our Nation. ____________________