[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E489-E490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO PHYLLIS TALIAFERRO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Phyllis Taliaferro in 
recognition of her commitment to providing mental health treatment in 
the community.

[[Page E490]]

  Phyllis is a member of a proud African American family of 
Taliaferros. The most notable of whom is Booker Taliaferro Washington. 
Since 1898 Phyllis's family has maintained the Lucy Taliaferro Estate 
in Colonial Beach, Virginia. Phyllis's great-grandmother purchased the 
property. Prior to World War II, Phyllis's family moved to Baltimore 
where she was born. Following the war, Phyllis along with her parents 
and sister moved to New York.
  Phyllis is a graduate of Amityville Memorial High School on Long 
Island. She earned her bachelor's degree at Morgan State University and 
received her master's degree in Social Welfare at the State University 
of New York at Stony Brook. She has also studied at the University of 
Ghana at Legon and at St. Ann's Psychiatric Hospital in Rosekilde, 
Sweden. In the United States, she took post-graduate courses at the 
Lenox Hill Hospital Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy program and at Beth 
Israel Hospital. She has held faculty positions in the State University 
of New York Agricultural and Technical College and at Old Westbury and 
Euro College.
  In her professional life, she is focused on improving mental health 
treatment for women and children. She runs a group for women called 
``He Ain't All That.'' She has been honored by the Visiting Nurse 
Service, the Society for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and the New York 
Black Psychologists. She is a Past President of the New York 
Association of Black Psychologists.
  Phyllis is also the executive producer of the ``The Phyllis 
Taliaferro Show--The Psychology of Everyday Life'' on Brooklyn 
Community Access Television. Previously, on Starrett City Television, 
she was a producer and host of ``Perceptions and Insights.'' 
Additionally, she made frequent appearances on Dr. Jeff's early 
television show,'' ``A Hipper Shrink'' and Dr. Brown's show, ``Psych on 
Call.'' Phyllis has had guest spots on several radio shows as well as 
including ``The Dr. Watkins Show,'' ``The Gary Byrd Show;'' and ``Hit 
It.''
  In addition to her work in the mental health field, she is actively 
involved in several local civic organizations. She is a member of the 
National Women's Political Caucus, the Brooklyn Women's Caucus, the 
National Political Caucus of Black Women in Politics, and the Central 
Committee for Al Sharpton. She is also a member of Church Women United 
and the auxiliary at Kings County Hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, Phyllis Taliaferro is dedicated to her community. As 
such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I 
urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable woman.

                          ____________________