THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Our Presidents Report

“NYS Black & Puerto Rican

Legislators Caucus”

February 2011

Albany, New York

EVENT:

The weekend of February 18 – 21^st, Brooklyn West was represented at The 2011 New York State Black and Puerto Rican Legislators Caucus in Albany, New York by Council of Presidents members Diane Jackson of Cooper Village, Noami Colon of Marcy Houses, Cassandra Harrell of Bed-Sty Rehabs and Tyree Stanback of Lafayette Gardens..

SUMMARY:

The caucus was an opportunity to network, gather and disseminate information with New York’s Black and Puerto Rican legislators and lobbyist. A directed and targeted slate of workshops, rallies and press conferences were held during the full weekend session. additional activities featured a day of spiritual fellowship that rev. al Sharpton preached one his best and most fiery sermons to date. The 40th Annual Awards Ceremony found our very own Brooklyn South CCOP Chairwoman Lillie Marshall the recipient of the States Community Service Award. Sunday evening was highlighted by the Annual Scholarship Dinner and Keynote Address with entertainment by laugh until you're sick Comedian A.J. Jamal, Singer Donnel Jones and the Sensational, Show stopping "Angela Winbush". The host committee held court at the NYS Legislative Office Building and The Albany Convention Center.

I attended and participated in the following workshops:

1. National Pan-Hellenic Council: Black Greek Letter Organizations. A workshop for members of Black Greek Letter Organizations featured distinguished panelists from the “Divine Nine” original Black Greek Organizations and our role in politics within our communities in the form of grassroots organization and leadership. I found this workshop to profoundly interesting and helpful as a member Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc and as a Resident Association President it further clarified my role, responsibility and commitment to helping improve and enhance the quality of life and rights of residents of Public Housing. It also provided an entree of new and powerful allies, resources and contacts who are able to assist in futures endeavors and projects.
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2. Health Disparities: The Need for Cultural and Linguistic Competence for Quality Health Care. The second workshop I participated in was “Cultural and Linguistic Disparities to Quality Health care”. The issue of groups of individuals not having or receiving quality health care services because of cultural, financial and language barriers is an issue I face on a daily basis as a member of Resident Leadership. The workshop addressed the causes & effects and legislators requested our support of a currently pending bill that would require institutions, health care and service providers to be specifically trained and instructed in basic idioms such as foreign languages, culture and customs sensitivity in order to provide more comprehensive services to undeserved and disenfranchised communities. Highlights of this session were the speech of a Taiwan refugee who missed 80% of her school year because has to accompany her family to the hospital to translate or they cannot receive health services. Another was the 21 year old African woman whose tubes were tied unbeknown st to her because no one spoke the African language of Wolof to consult with her. Notably Olanike Alabi, 57th Female District Leader ,1199 Leadership & members as well as other healthcare unions were in the house in large numbers!
3. Young Progressive Minorities. A workshop I had not planned on attending but was spirited into as an alternative to the dismal housing workshop was the "The Progressive Young Minorities" and let me tell you the spirit will never lead you astray. This workshop was new, young and provocative in it's effort to ignite dialog on ways to engage young people in the political process. Given the new frontier of digital technology and Social media this workshop was nothing short of brilliant lead by young progressive democrats and sponsored by a dynamic speaker State Senator Kevin Parker of the 21st NYS Senate District. The workshop featured a fabulous young entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Arlene McLaren, better known as "The Networking Expert" who was a very rich and decadent frosting on one cake of a workshop! As if the young people didn't make a big enough splash on the caucus, later in the evening City Councilman Jumaane Williams was spotted "bust'in it down" on the dance floor at the The Annual White Party.

The official host hotels were the Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn at the medical center where facilities were fabulous and the service was immaculate.

In conclusion it was a very powerful and dynamic weekend for those of us who took full advantage of the networking with the likes of Congressman Charles Rangal, Senators Kevin Parker, Kiersten Gillibrand, Chuck Schumer and a host of BLACK and PUERTO RICAN power brokers. For the average New Yorkers, these are only names but for the participants in the caucus, if for only a few days these were our neighbors at the table talking and setting up the frameworks for things to come and happen. NO legislation took place this weekend but SOLID FOUNDATIONS were laid for change to occur.

Our NYCHA Delegation included:

Olanike Alabi, Hakeem Jeffries, Velmanette Montgomery, Annette Robinson, Wayne Williams, Charlene Nimmons, John Johnson, Lillie Marshal, Naomi Colon, Cassandra Harrell, Brian Denman, Joyce Harrison, Ethel Velez, Craig Kinsey, Reggie Bowman and TYree Stanback