An esteemed set of individuals and organizations were honored at Leroy Comrie’s 11th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service celebration on Monday, January 19th at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center.
Among those honored were: Women in Correction, a diverse cross section of women who have served or are serving in the New York City Department of Correction; Community Mediation Services, the downtown Jamaica non-profit that offers support to at-risk adolescents, vulnerable communities and families in need; Maxine McBride of Maxine on the Boulevard (aka the Boulevard Fish House); Dr. Mojisola Bafunso, Executive Director, Committee for Early Childhood Development Head Start; and Dannie Lomas, proprietor of Nettie’s Restaurant on Hempstead Avenue.
Among other things, Community Mediation Services played a critical role in securing COVID vaccines when none were available locally. Women in Correction. Maxine McBride provided hundreds of meals for seniors locked in during the COVID pandemic. Dannie Lomas (a retired Corrections Officer) was saluted for his entrepreneurial spirit as the owner of Nettie’s Restaurant. Dr. Bafunso was lauded for her work in providing childcare for hundreds of neighborhood children – especially the children of immigrants.
Many pearls of wisdom were dropped by the honorees. Danny Lomas of Nettie’s shared: “If ever you think about quitting, just remember why you started.” Maxine McBride saluted her customers when she shared: “For COVID, it wasn’t just me. It was the community, and all my customers that came out and supported me through COVID. That helped us support the community.”
The afternoon also provided the opportunity to salute former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership over the years, culminating in her becoming the first Black Speaker of the New York City Council. Former Speaker Adams returned the salute during her remarks when she declared: “Senator Comrie was the first person that believed in me. As the education chairperson of community board 12 – way back then, two decades ago – [he] said ‘you need to run for something’.” Former Speaker Adams also shared her remembrances – even as a little girl – of the day Dr. King was assassinated.
The keynote of the celebration was delivered by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clark, of New York’s 9th Congressional District. Ms. Clark is the 29th Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).
Following the keynote, the evening ended with a couple of presentations by dancers from ESOTA, the Edge School of the Arts – now in residence at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning. Between the dances, the audience was treated to another lovely vocal tribute to Martin Luther King.
Other entertainment highlights included Onyx Rose-Belle Williams leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Cydnee Buggs singing the national anthem and Lift Every Voice and Sing, Sharona Jones singing I Believe, and a recitation of a King sermon – The Drum Major Instinct – by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Nathaniel Hezekiah III, Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Gregory Meeks, served as M.C. for the event.