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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND HONORING JOSHUA SIMMONS
______
HON. STEPHANIE N. MURPHY
of florida
in the house of representatives
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Mrs. MURPHY of Florida. Madam Speaker, as part of our national celebration of Black History Month, I am paying tribute to African-
American leaders from Florida who have made outstanding contributions to our community and our country. These accomplished men and women have not always received the recognition they have earned.
Today I rise to honor Joshua Simmons. Joshua was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended high school in Virginia. He moved to Coral Springs in 2011 to raise his younger sister while their mother was deployed overseas with the U.S. Navy. Joshua was an active member of the city's Martin Luther King Jr. Multi-Cultural Advisory and Customer Involved Government committees.
Joshua earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Florida Atlantic University and his master's degree in psychology from Kaplan University, after which he worked in the mental health and subsequently as a teacher in the Broward County Public School system. Currently, he works in the private sector as an Account Manager at Hotwire Communications, an internet and cable service provider.
In 2018, Joshua was elected to Coral Springs' City Commission, becoming the first Black elected official in the city's history. In 2020, Joshua became the first African-American man to serve as the city's Vice Mayor.
As both an educator and a public servant, Vice Mayor Simmons has brought new perspectives to the City of Coral Springs. He is a strong advocate for his community, working tirelessly to improve the lives of his constituents.
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and celebrating Joshua Simmons.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 36
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