A Tribute to Jasmine Edwards, Esq.

A TRIBUTE TO JASMINE EDWARDS, ESQ. -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 17, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MONDAY, MAY 17, 2004

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Jasmine Edwards in recognition of her commitment to serving families in need of assistance.

Born to Guyanese immigrants, Jasmine is a member of the first generation in her family to be born in the United States of America. Her mother emigrated to the U.S. as a registered nurse and later became a New York City school teacher. Her father, a former probation officer supervisor emigrated to the U.S. to attend the University of Connecticut. She recently became the seventh member in her family to become an attorney.

Jasmine is admitted to practice law in New York State and the United States District Courts. She is a member of the Association of Black Women Attorneys, Brooklyn Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. She is also a licensed real estate broker and an instructor at the New York Paralegal School. Her law firm of Edwards & Greenidge is based in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Jasmine and her partner, both Guyanese-Americans, are
committed to serving those in the community who desperately need legal advice.

After graduating from Temple University, she worked as a social worker. Jasmine provided services to families that
had been accused of child abuse and/or neglect. Her goal was to assist parents in implementing alternative parenting skills. During her tenure at CUNY School of Law, Jasmine accepted an internship at the prestigious Federal Defenders Association of Philadelphia in the Habeas Corpus Unit. The objective of the Habeas Corpus Unit was to convince the appellate courts that certain convicted criminals should not be executed. While working as a researcher that summer,
Jasmine discovered that over 80 percent of the persons on death row shared the same painful experiences when they
were younger as those abused and neglected children, who were part of families that she once counseled as a social worker.

These experiences coupled with her desire to assist others inspired her to establish a law office in a neighborhood where many people are underserved. Jasmine's goal is to provide outstanding legal representation that is proactive as well as reactive.

Mr. Speaker, Jasmine Edwards has dedicated her life to helping those in need, as a social worker for abused and
neglected children and now as an attorney for the underserved residents of Brooklyn. 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 person.