Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize International Youth Day and to honor youth leaders in Rhode Island as we celebrate the culmination of the International Youth Year. Since 1999, when the U.N. designated August 12 as a day to recognize the integral role youth have played in sustainable progress, we have commemorated the importance of young people getting involved in our global, regional, and national development. In celebrating the many milestones of the youth of today, we also honor the lives and work of those who led them, and Rhode Island has so many fantastic youth leaders. One such example is my friend, Franklin Rodriguez, the Minister of Youth Affairs in the Dominican Republic and the president of the Ibero-American Organization of Youth, who has joined us here today in the gallery. Under Franklin's leadership, the Ministry of Youth has worked to engage and empower Dominican American youth in Rhode Island by collaborating with the Community College of Rhode Island to provide training opportunities and honoring outstanding young civic and educational leaders in the community with their Youth Excellence Award. Many of Rhode Island's Dominican residents are young people who have contributed to the cultural, economic, and social development of our State in so many ways. For this reason, I'm honored to recognize International Youth Day, the leaders of the youth movement, and the culmination of International Youth Year. ____________________”