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"A
Conversation with Marcy Kaptur"
Monday, April 29 4:30 p.m. West Lecture Hall Science Center , 119 Woodland
St.
"A Community
Forum on Hunger and Homelessness"
2:30 p.m. Room 112 Wilder Hall 135 W. Lorain St. Free and open to the
public.
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NEW OBERLIN CONGRESSWOMAN TO SPEAK APRIL 29 AT OBERLIN COLLEGE
APRIL 19, 2002 -- "A Conversation with Marcy Kaptur" is the title of a public talk to be given April 29 at Oberlin College by Marcy Kaptur, the Democratic representative of the newly drawn 9th U.S Congressional district that includes Oberlin and Amherst. Oberlin College President Nancy S. Dye will introduce the speaker.
At 2:30 P.M. also on April 29, Kaptur will lead "A Community Forum on Hunger and Homelessness" issues facing Oberlin and the global community presented by the College chapters of Ohio Public Interest Research Group and RESULTS. Both the talk and the forum are free and open to the public.
Kaptur, 55, a native of Toledo, is one of only 61 women out of 535 members of the 107th Congress, the senior-most Democratic woman in Congress and the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. Her legislative interests include agriculture and rural America, campaign finance reform, health care and education, trade and economic security, and womenƒs issues.
In her book Women of Congress: A 20th Century Odyssey Kaptur cites Oberlin's pioneering role in the education of women. When the redistricting was announced early this year, she said she was "thrilled to have the city of Oberlin in her district because of the reverence she holds for Oberlin College as an American institution" (Morning Journal).
Kaptur received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Wisconsin and a Master's degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan. Trained as a city and regional planner, she practiced 15 years in Toledo and throughout the United States before seeking office. Appointed as an urban advisor to the Carter White House, she successfully maneuvered 17 housing and neighborhood revitalization bills through the Congress during those years.
Subsequently, while pursuing a doctorate in urban planning and development finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, her local party recruited her to run for the House seat. In 1982, she became the first woman elected to represent the 9th Congressional District and has held the seat ever since, winning her last election with nearly 75 percent of the vote. She is currently serving her 10th term.
Kaptur's new district includes much of southern and western Lorain County and such localities as Oberlin, Amherst, Wellington and LaGrange as well as most of Lucas County, and all of Ottawa and Erie counties.
Media Contact: Betty Gabrielli
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