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community leaders were honored recently at the Twelfth Annual Awards Gala
held by Council Member Kendall Stewart, District Leader Dr. Gail Reed
Barnett and the Wesley McDonald Holder Regular Democratic Club. Senator
Chuck Schumer was also honored with the 2004 Man of the Year Award.
This elegant banquet, which was held at the beautiful Grand Prospect
Hall in Brooklyn, was attended by several hundred people active in labor
unions, education, health care, and all manner of community advocacy.
Many judges and elected officials were present as well.
The festivities began with a reception in one of the great halls and
then moved into the Victorian Grand Ballroom where the guests enjoyed a
sumptuous dinner. After a warm welcome from Dr. Roy Hastic, President of
the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce, diners heard from many
speakers. They included Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz,
Congressman Anthony Weiner, State Assemblypersons Clarence Norman and
Rhoda Jacobs, City Comptroller Bill Thompson as well as City Council
Members David Yassky and Lewis Fidler. Dr. Gail Reed Barnett and
Stewart’s Chief of Staff, Asquith Reid, conducted the acknowledgement of
guests.
Council
Member Yvette Clarke carried out the duties of Mistress of Ceremonies,
while Speaker Gifford Miller was the keynote speaker. The audience was
also entertained with a very moving performance by gospel singer Zola
Pilgrim and a stirring rendition of "Wind Beneath My Wings" sung
directly to Council Member Stewart by Angela Cooper, Director of
Volunteer Services at the Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center.
The following awardees were honored:
[columns/ad_middle.htm]The Wesley
McDonald Holder Memorial Award went to entrepreneur Douglas Allen, who
hails from Costa Rica. Not only did he develop the Dad Enterprise Real
Estate and Dad Enterprise Multi-Services companies, but he’s gives much
time, love and energy to increasing political awareness and community
improvement.
Bishop
Micheal Mitchell and Rev. Claude Hibbert, from Kingston and West
Kingston, Jamaica respectively, received Distinguished Ecumenical
Service Awards. Bishop Mitchell is the Pastor of Brooklyn’s New Life
Tabernacle Network Churches and Rev. Hibbert is the Senior Pastor of the
Power of Faith Ministries International, also located in Brooklyn.
The Distinguished Health Service Award was given to Dr. Herold Simon,
who was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and is now the Medical Director of
East New York Diagnostic and Treatment Center. He also founded the
not-for-profit Aesclepius Medical Society, which provides health care
education to under-served communities, and helps foreign-born medical
graduates prepare for their performance and licensing exams.
Beverly
McKenzie, originally from Clarendon, Jamaica, who has served as Guidance
Counselor at Winthrop Intermediate School in East Flatbush for the past
sixteen years, and Dr. Evelyn Castro, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts
and Education at Medgar Evers College, each received a Distinguished
Education Award for their outstanding service in the field of education.
Robert Troeller, President/Business Manager of Local 891 of the
International Union of Operating Engineers, and Thomas Costello,
Financial Secretary and Business Representative of the same union’s
local 94, 94A and 94B, were given Distinguished Union Awards. They have
each been instrumental in meeting the challenges faced by the City’s
School Custodian Engineers whom they represent.
Gailene
Windsor, who was born in St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Henna White,
from South Africa, received Community Service Awards for their notable
work. Ms. Windsor is President and co-founder of the Caribbean America
Netball Association. Ms. White created Baby Safe Haven, which gives new
mothers an opportunity to anonymously leave a newborn at a place such as
a hospital or firehouse, keeping the baby safe and giving the mother
immunity from prosecution.
A City Council proclamation was also awarded posthumously to Credo
Veira, who emigrated from Trinidad and Tobago. For
over twenty years, Ms. Vera performed invaluable work in the Bellevue
Hospital Emergency Room. Her widower, Aubrey Veira accepted the
proclamation in her behalf.
Mother Ethel Allen, who is a member of the Vanderveer Park United
Methodist Church, was honored as well with a proclamation on the
occasion of her 95th birthday.
The evening concluded on the dance floor as guests did the Electric
Slide and in general had a wonderful time movin' and groovin' to the
great sounds provided by Dr. Wax.
