5 May 2005
Lincoln Instructional Center Hosts Event Friday, May 6
DALLAS–Dallas Independent School District officials will join community members and elected officials for the renaming ceremony of the Eddie Bernice Johnson Youth and Family Center at 1:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, 5000 S. Malcolm X Blvd.
Formerly known as the South Dallas Youth and Family Center, the facility, located adjacent to Lincoln High School, provides services to meet the physical and mental health needs of students and their families. Touted by the Texas State Comptroller as an effective best practice, the district program is the oldest school-based health care effort in the nation. In a collaborative project with Parkland Hospital, the Dallas Independent School District currently operates nine centers.
The celebration will feature performances from student groups from Lincoln and James Madison high schools and other neighboring schools. Board of Trustees President Lois Parrott will join District 9 Trustee Ron Price in the renaming event. Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who will take part in ceremony, will be recognized for her service.
Eddie Bernice Johnson became the first woman and the first African-American to ever represent the Dallas area in Congress when she was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992. She is now in her seventh term representing the citizens of the 30th Congressional District of Texas. Congresswoman Johnson served as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus during the 107th Congress. In 2001, Ebony Magazine named Congresswoman Johnson one of the country's 10 most powerful black women.
Offering leadership in the United States Congress on many issues, her priorities include: science, technology, transportation, election reform, and civil rights issues. Congresswoman Johnson sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and serves as the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. As the Ranking Texan on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, she has secured millions of dollars for Texas development, and has helped Dallas-Fort Worth become one of the fastest growing business areas in the country.