LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 32nd Anniversary of the Spanish
Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES, to be celebrated on Friday June 25,
2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of organizations
and individuals who devote themselves to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 32nd Anniversary of the Spanish Speaking Elderly Council-RAIC-
ES, to be celebrated on Friday, June 25, 2010, at The Astoria World
Manor in Astoria, New York; and
WHEREAS, In addition, this special event will also recognize three
honorees; they are: Vivian Torres-Suarez, BNS, MSN, Senior Vice Presi-
dent of Community Based Programs at Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center,
2010 Homero Rosado Leadership Award recipient; Edwin Salas, President of
Salcare Home Health Services, Inc., Homero Rosado Leadership Award
recipient; and Bonita Hardwick, MPA, JD, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical
Center, "Sharing and Building RAICES' Vision" Acknowledgement Award
recipient; and
WHEREAS, Founded by the late Homero Rosado, the Spanish Speaking
Elderly Council-RAICES was formed in 1978 to fill a need for an organ-
ization which would provide services to, educate and organize the Lati-
no, minority and low-income aged in the Borough of Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, One of the Council's major accomplishments was the 1985
development of RAICES, a model program on how to reach and serve minori-
ty populations; through RAICES, the Council has been able to disseminate
information on successful practices and techniques for serving the
isolated, hard to reach, inner-city and impoverished elderly; and
WHEREAS, The Spanish Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES developed an
"ethnic ramp" concept for improving access to services; in this model,
culturally sensitive and bilingual services are used as tools to improve
access and increase the utilization of services, benefits and entitle-
ments for the aged; and
WHEREAS, The Spanish Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES' expertise in
outreach services, information dissemination, cross-cultural training
and services to Hispanic and other low-income communities is widely
acknowledged within the aging network; and
WHEREAS, All of the services provided by the Spanish Speaking Elderly
Council-RAICES are targeted to meet the needs of low-income, older
minority adults in Brooklyn and Queens; it sponsors the Red Hook Senior
Center, the Wyckoff Gardens Senior Center, the RAICES Corona Senior
Center, the RAICES Astoria Senior Center, the RAICES Gowanus Senior
Center, the RAICES Times Plaza Senior Center and the SSI Outreach
Program as well as many other services and programs; and
WHEREAS, The Agency's Executive Director, Jose R. Ortiz Ortiz, is
experienced in program development, fiscal management, policy develop-
ment and administration and is well-known in the field of aging and
mental health; and
WHEREAS, The celebration of its 32nd Anniversary provides an opportu-
nity for this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to the Span-
ish Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES for its exemplary and enduring
service; and

WHEREAS, In so effectively carrying out its mission, the Spanish
Speaking Elderly Council-RAICES has demonstrated the value of community
service and pride of heritage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 32nd Anniversary of the Spanish Speaking Elderly Coun-
cil-RAICES; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jose R. Ortiz Ortiz, Executive Director of the Spanish Speak-
ing Elderly Council-RAICES, and to the aforementioned honorees.