The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEBRASKA URBAN INDIAN HEALTH
COALITION
______
HON. DON BACON
of nebraska
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Native American Heritage Month and to honor the 35th anniversary of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, a private nonprofit organization in Nebraska.
The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition provides community healthcare and services targeting the urban American Indian and Alaska Native population in the greater Omaha metropolitan area, Lincoln area, and Sioux City, Iowa, since 1986. Their rehabilitative healthcare services and their diabetes self-management program are nationally recognized. Currently, they are led by their CEO, Dr. Donna Mays Polk.
Donna Lee Mays was born in 1943 in Denver, CO, to a young WWII submariner Hosey Mays and his wife Tommy Lee Gadling Mays. Dr. Polk was only 7 years old when her mother was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver on Christmas Day. Dr. Polk credits her grandmother, Annie Lee Gadling, as her inspiration because of her spirituality and Wisdom. Dr. Polk firmly believes in having vision and that you have to be able to see how things can be. If you don't, Mr. Speaker, you don't work to effect change.
Between 1972 to 1985, Dr. Polk served as an affirmative action and equal opportunity officer at the Nebraska Department of Labor. She volunteered in the Nebraska Correction's system for 26 years and starred in her own TV show called ``Frankly Female, a show for and about women. She is the mother of four sons, Mark, Imani, Marcus, and the Honorable Judge Marlon Polk.
Dr. Polk earned her bachelor's degree in university studies, her master's in counseling psychology, and a doctorate in administration, instruction, and curriculum, all from the University of Nebraska-
Lincoln. In addition, she is a published author. She wrote her book,
``Black Men and Women of Nebraska, in 1981 to shine the light on prominent African-American individuals in our State.
She joined the NE Urban Indian Health Coalition in 1991 after leaving the Lincoln Indian Center. She continues to lead a team of over 50 employees. Programs and services include: Behavioral Health Substance Use Disorder Services, transitional housing, Nebraska Urban Indian Medical Center in Lincoln, and transportation. Dr. Polk also takes immense pride in the Eagle Heights Affordable Housing located in South Omaha and two community-based programs--Project Upstream serving families with children in Omaha Public Schools, and the Tired Moccasins a nutrition-based program for elders. Dr. Polk is thrilled about the inauguration of their new headquarters scheduled to open in the spring of 2022.
In recognition of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, we shine a spotlight on 35 years of helping elevate the health status and eliminating disparities of urban Indians and other underserved populations in Nebraska and Iowa through education, collaboration, advocacy, and health service delivery.
Congratulations to Dr. Polk and her team for 35 years of excellence and serving our great community.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 206
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