•HCON 327 IH 
since 1981, and has sent forth nearly 2,300 certified 
graduates, providing an opportunity for primarily under-
represented minority youth, women, and others to gain 
access to the financial mainstream and learn in-demand 
skills; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE has recognized that manufacturing 
and information technologies are key to the economic 
growth and security of Michigan and the United States, 
and is committed to designing programs that would con-
tribute to the participation of underrepresented urban in-
dividuals in these critical sectors; 
Whereas in 1982, Focus: HOPE began a for-profit subsidiary 
that was initiated for community economic development 
purposes and is now designated with Federal HUBZone 
status; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE created the pioneering skill-enhancing 
program, Fast Track, designed to help individuals im-
prove their reading and math competencies by a min-
imum of two grade levels in 4 to 7 weeks; 
Whereas all of Focus: HOPE’s training and education pro-
grams have moved more than 9,600 individuals out into 
the workforce since their inception, with job placement 
rates significantly above the national average; 
Whereas in 1987, Focus: HOPE reclaimed and renovated an 
abandoned building and opened it as a Center for Chil-
dren, which now has served nearly 6,000 children of col-
leagues, students, and neighbors with quality child care, 
including latchkey, summer camp, early childhood edu-
cation, and other educational services; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE, through an unprecedented coopera-
tive agreement between the Departments of Defense, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:42 Apr 16, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC327.IH
HC327
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 327 IH 
Commerce, Education, and Labor, established a national 
demonstration project, the Center for Advanced Tech-
nologies, which integrates hands-on manufacturing train-
ing and academic learning, and educates advanced manu-
facturing engineers and technologists at internationally 
competitive levels; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE partnered with five universities and 
six industry partners, formerly known as the Greenfield 
Coalition, to design this unique 21st century curriculum, 
that resulted in students receiving associate’s degrees in 
manufacturing technologies by Lawrence Technological 
University, or bachelor’s degrees in engineering tech-
nology or manufacturing engineering by Wayne State 
University and the University of Detroit Mercy, respec-
tively; 
Whereas due to the unique educational pedagogy at Focus: 
HOPE’s Center for Advanced Technologies, the starting 
salary of its graduates is higher than the national aver-
age when compared to graduates with the same degree 
from other universities; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE has made outstanding contributions 
toward increasing diversity within the traditionally ho-
mogenous science, math, engineering, and technology 
fields, and 95 percent of currently enrolled degree can-
didates are African-American, with the Center for Ad-
vanced Technologies being one of the top graduators of 
bachelor-degreed minorities in manufacturing engineer-
ing; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE’s unique partnership with the De-
partment of Defense has resulted in several research and 
development projects, including a nationally recognized 
demonstration project, the Mobile Parts Hospital, whose 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:42 Apr 16, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC327.IH
HC327
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 327 IH 
Rapid Manufacturing System has been deployed to Ku-
wait in support of the Armed Forces’ current operations 
in Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Iraq; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE began a community arts program in 
1995, presenting multicultural arts programming and 
gallery exhibitions designated to educate and encourage 
area residents, while fostering integration in a culturally 
diverse metropolitan community, and more than 70,000 
people have viewed sponsored exhibits or participated in 
the program; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE established an Informational Tech-
nologies Center in 1999, providing Detroit students with 
industry-certified training programs in network adminis-
tration, network installation, and desktop and server ad-
ministration, and has graduated nearly 800 students to 
date, and initiated, in collaboration with industry and 
academia, the design of a new bachelor’s degree program 
to educate information management systems engineers; 
Whereas Michigan designated Focus: HOPE’s campus and 
the surrounding community a ‘‘Cool Cities’’ neighborhood 
in 2006; 
Whereas the Secretary of Labor presented Focus: HOPE 
with an Exemplary Public Interest Contribution Award in 
recognition of its success in opening employment opportu-
nities for minorities and women; 
Whereas the Village of Oakman Manor, a 55-unit senior cit-
izen apartment building sponsored by the Presbyterian 
Village of Michigan in collaboration with Focus: HOPE, 
opened in 2006 near the Focus: HOPE campus as the 
first new construction in the area in more than 50 years; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:42 Apr 16, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC327.IH
HC327
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 327 IH 
Whereas Focus: HOPE’s initiatives and programs have been 
nationally recognized for excellence and leadership by 
such entities as the Government Accounting Office, the 
Department of Labor, the International Standards Orga-
nization, the National Science Foundation, the Cisco Net-
working Academy Program, Fortune magazine, Forbes 
magazine, and the Aspen Institute; 
Whereas former presidents George H.W. Bush and William 
Jefferson Clinton have visited Focus: HOPE’s campus; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE’s cofounder Eleanor M. Josaitis re-
ceived honorary degrees from 13 outstanding universities 
and colleges, was named one of the ‘‘100 Most Influential 
Women’’ in 2002 by Crain’s Detroit Business, was in-
ducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame, re-
ceived the Detroit NAACP Presidential Award, the Arab 
American Institute Foundation’s Kahlil Gibran Spirit of 
Humanity Award, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce 
Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership, and the 
Dr. Charles H. Wright Award for Excellence in Commu-
nity Activism, the Caring Institute’s National Caring 
Award, the Clara Barton Ambassador Award from the 
American Red Cross, as well as many other awards; 
Whereas through the generous partnerships and support of 
individuals from all walks of life, the Federal, State, and 
local governments, and foundations and corporations 
across the United States, the vision of Focus: HOPE will 
continue to grow and inspire; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE has been fortunate enough to have an 
active board of directors and advisory board from the 
most senior levels of corporate and public America, and 
has benefited from thousands of volunteers and sup-
porters; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:42 Apr 16, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC327.IH
HC327
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 327 IH 
Whereas Focus: HOPE has been a tremendous force for good 
in the city of Detroit, the State of Michigan, and in the 
United States for the past 40 years; 
Whereas Focus: HOPE continues to strive to eliminate rac-
ism, poverty, and injustice through the use of passion, 
persistence, and partnerships, and continues to seek im-
provements in its quality of service and program oper-
ations; and 
Whereas Focus: HOPE and its colleagues will continue to 
identify ways in which it can lead Detroit, the State of 
Michigan, and the United States into the future with cre-
ative urban leadership initiatives: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) congratulates and salutes Focus: HOPE for 
its remarkable commitment and contributions to De-
troit, the State of Michigan, and the United States; 
and 
(2) directs the Clerk of the House of Represent-
atives to make available enrolled copies of this reso-
lution to Focus: HOPE for appropriate display. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
03:42 Apr 16, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC327.IH
HC327
smartinez on PROD1PC64 with BILLS