JENNIFER FIELDS
East New York 

Jennifer Fields, who’s a fraternal twin and lifelong resident of Brooklyn, lives in East New York. In addition to holding several community service posts, Ms. Fields works as an “employment specialist” at Concord Family Services, a foster care agency that serves the East New York and Bedford Stuyvesant communities. Ms. Fields is convinced that “it takes a whole community to raise a child,” and she’s dedicated herself to that proposition for much of her adult life.  

Ms. Fields takes a proactive, no-nonsense approach to the fifteen or more students she prepares for job readiness at Concord Family Services, where she’s affectionately known as “Big Momma” by her students and co-workers. Due to the depth of her commitment to them, many of her students keep in touch with her long after they’ve “aged-out” of the program. Ms. Fields fondly remembers one 16-year-old young woman who’d been referred to her by a residential treatment facility and couldn’t read, but tried to hide her deficiency by making excuses. Taking charge of the situation as she typically does, Ms. Fields sat the young woman down with pre-kindergarten books and taught her to read. The young woman ultimately gained sufficient proficiency to read a speech aloud at a public ceremony. 

Ms. Fields firmly believes that community change must come from within. She therefore actively serves her community by sitting on the executive boards of Community Board 5, the 75^th Precinct Community Council, and “Weed and Seed,” a federal Department of Justice initiative that seeks to improve relationships between the police and various communities while also reducing and preventing violent crime and drug abuse. Ms. Fields also serves as chair of “East New York Kids.” She believes her biggest impact in the East New York community has been “to empower people to have a voice,” since, as she puts it, a “hushed mouth does not get fed.” 

lorraine

LORRAINE SEUBERT
Bay Ridge 

Lorraine Seubert, affectionately known as “Lori,” was born and raised in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn 89 years ago. Since her young adulthood, she literally has spent a lifetime enriching the lives of hundreds of her friends and neighbors through her countless acts of generosity, compassion and care. 

Lori has devoted thousands of hours of her time working as a volunteer for various community organizations, including the Zion Lutheran Church soup kitchen; the Dorcas Lutheran Church quilting group; the Bay Ridge Center for Older Adults; the Lutheran Medical Center Auxiliary; and the Augustana Nursing Home.  

For the past eight years, Lori has focused much of her energy on caring for the elderly residents of the Augustana home, which has become a passion for her. Her mission is to ensure the comfort of the residents and the quality of their care. While Lori is on duty at the home, everyone there – the staff as well as the residents – are inspired by the warmth of her presence and the vigilance of her support and extraordinary compassion.  

In 2001, Lori suffered a broken hip and for a short period of time became a resident of Augustana. True to form, while she was there her focus remain fixed on the welfare of the home’s other residents and not on herself. Although she was there to convalesce, her mission continued unabated as she brought solace and encouragement to the other elderly and ailing residents of Augustana.  

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OLGA L. BABB
Crown Heights 

When 82-year-old Olga L. Babb emigrated from Panama in 1957, she was proud to make Brooklyn her home and has lived here ever since.  

Since 1970, Olga has been a member of the Unity Bethany Methodist Church, where she serves as secretary of the church’s Board of Trustees. She is also one of the church’s class leaders.  

Olga further demonstrates her dedication to Brooklyn by feeding the hungry each and every week in her Crown Heights neighborhood. In addition, she continually comes to the aid of her elderly friends and co-members of the “Plus Ultra Club,” where she does the accounting and has served as secretary since 1968.  

Olga hasn’t slowed down a bit during her 50 years of service to Brooklyn. She continues to give of herself unselfishly to friends and neighbors alike. Olga also finds the time to help care for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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BONITA DOWLING
Crown Heights 

Bonita Dowling was born and raised in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn and has been committed to its residents ever since.  

Ms. Dowling works as a “homeowner counselor” for Pratt Area Community Council, a not-for-profit group that, among other things, preserves and develops safe and affordable housing for community residents and promotes responsible community economic development. As a homeowner counselor, Bonita advises individual homeowners concerning loans and available grants, repairs, refinancing, foreclosure intervention, and clearing up tax arrears. She also conducts educational workshops on a broad range of topics, including predatory lending, which is an insidious and criminal practice that threatens the homesteads of a growing number of Brooklyn residents. Ms. Dowling is held in very high esteem by her associates and clients alike for the depth of her commitment to the communities she serves and her tireless efforts on behalf of her clients, especially those who might have fallen prey to predatory lending schemes. 

Ms. Dowling’s service to the residents of Brooklyn is an outgrowth of her career in consumer finance. She started as a credit counselor with TRW Credit Data, now Experian, where she advised individuals with credit problems. She was subsequently employed as a credit investigator/analyst by JPMorganChase, where she worked for 25 years.

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AUDREY YELVERTON
Coney Island 

Audrey Yelverton, who is known throughout the Coney Island community as “Sister Audrey,” has devoted herself to helping others through service to her church, her community and her family.  

For more than 20 years, Sister Audrey has served the larger Coney Island community and the congregants of the Coney Island Gospel Assembly by acting as the church’s general caretaker in all matters large and small. If anything needs to be done, no matter what time of the day or night, it’s Sister Audrey to whom the needy turn. Among many other services provided by the church, Sister Audrey oversees all the funeral arrangements requested by members of the community, while providing comfort, solace and compassion to the families of the deceased. In addition, Sister Audrey helps support the church’s other ministries, including an onsite after-school center. She also acts as the church’s liaison to the District Attorney’s neighborhood office and TRACK center, both of which are located on church property. 

While providing unflagging service to her church and community, Sister Audrey, with the help of her late husband who passed away last April, also managed to raise two daughters, one of whom has sickle cell anemia but fortunately is doing well. In addition, Sister Audrey and her late husband adopted their grandson as a baby and provided him with a loving home and sustenance. He’s now 15 years old, attends John Dewey High School in Coney Island, and is doing very well.  

Sister Audrey’s devotion to her church, her neighbors and her family have made her a well-loved figure in her community.

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Nereida Rodriguez
Coney Island 

Nereida Rodriguez, who lives in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn and is known throughout the community as “Sister Nellie,” has dedicated herself to assisting others through serving her church and the larger community of Coney Island.  

For several years, Sister Nellie has served as church secretary and director of outreach for the Coney Island Gospel Assembly. Among other responsibilities, Sister Nellie oversees “Operation Blessing and Food Drive,” through which food is distributed to needy recipients throughout the City of New York. As the director of outreach for the church, Sister Nellie organizes and coordinates all of the church’s many community service projects. She also schedules the church’s official calendar of events. 

In addition to her volunteer activities, Sister Nellie is a devoted wife and mother to a loving son who hopes one day to join the New York City Fire Department.

Naomi Klass Mauer 
Manhattan Beach 

Naomi Klass Mauer is associate editor of The Jewish Press and editor of the “Family Issues” section of the newspaper. She is also a frequent contributor of articles to the paper.  

Aside from her work at The Jewish Press, Mrs. Mauer spends countless hours helping abused women throughout Brooklyn’s many communities. She also assists women who are denied a religious Jewish divorce from their husbands.  

Mrs. Mauer is married to Dr. Ivan Mauer, and is a proud mother and grandmother of a large family, who mostly reside in Israel. Mrs. Mauer is also the daughter of the late Rabbi Sholom Klass and of Mrs. Irene Klass, founders of The Jewish Press.

Christina Farinacci
Kensington 

Christina Farinacci is a resident of the Kensington section of Brooklyn and “teacher extraordinaire” at the renowned Teachers’ Prep Secondary School in Brooklyn. 

Christina teaches senior AP English Literature and junior English Regents Prep. She also acts as the school’s “senior advisor” and thus is responsible for organizing and executing the school’s senior trip, senior prom and senior graduation. In addition, she’s the school’s very first basketball cheerleading coach.  

But Christina’s commitment to the students of Teachers’ Prep doesn’t stop there. Last year, at her own expense, Christina gave all the graduating seniors copies of Paulo Cohelo's Warrior of the Light in the hope they would occasionally read and be inspired by it as they ventured out into the "real world."  Earlier that same year, Christina, again at her own expense, escorted Teachers’ Prep’s valedictorian to Cornell University for the weekend so that the student could visit the campus before deciding whether to attend college there. To Christina’s delight, the trip proved successful: the student is now in her second semester at Cornell. As this year’s senior advisor, Christina has also helped the senior class fundraise for their prom and “senior dues” by personally paying for the karaoke DJ they hired for their fundraiser. And although Christina is compensated for a portion of the time she spends coaching the school’s basketball cheerleaders, she donates additional time to make sure everything’s as good as it possibly could be because she wants her girls “to have fun and look good when they're out on the court.” Christina is also part of Teachers’ Prep’s mentoring program. This year, she’s officially mentoring one student with whom she meets nearly weekly. In addition, she’s mentoring two other seniors unofficially whom she sometimes feeds and advises at least once a week and often multiple times a week.  

In addition to her activities at Teachers’ Prep, Christina tries to remain involved in her church and volunteers at different events sponsored by it. She’s served at a soup kitchen and a Christmas dinner for the homeless, done Breast Cancer walks and other assorted volunteer activities. 

Christina also regularly donates to various other charitable causes, including the Amerasian Christian Academy, where she was a missionary teacher almost four years ago. Finally, Christina and a friend are trying to form a not-for-profit organization that would enable students to develop academic and leadership skills through social action and international study.   

Dianne Kevelier-Smith
Clinton Hill 

Dianne Kevelier-Smith was born in Brooklyn and resides in the Clinton Hill section of the borough. She was awarded her BA and MA degrees in Education and was an elementary school teacher in the New York City public school system for several years. She also was a teacher at St. Paul’s Community School. She is now a community advocate for people that are deaf or hard of hearing, assisting them to gain full access to the services to which they’re entitled.  

Though retired from the public school system, Dianne honed her American Sign Language (ASL) skills at LaGuardia Community College. In 2002, she graduated from the ASL-English Interpretation program at the college and now works as an educational interpreter at Middle College High School. Since 2001, Dianne has also been an adjunct instructor in the Deaf Studies AA degree program at LaGuardia Community College.  

Dianne served on the Board of the National Association of Black Interpreters (NAOBI) and currently works with the New York City Black Deaf Advocates (BDA). She’s also a member of the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) on both the national and New York City Metro registers. As an avid community activist, Dianne also served as one of the St. Paul Community Baptist Church’s trainers for “Undoing Racism.”  

In yet another of her many careers, Dianne was the training captain and coordinator for uniformed and civilian staff at the New York City Department of Correction Academy.  She later retired from the department as an assistant deputy warden at the Brooklyn House of Detention. Dianne also served as the first and only female president of the New York City Department of Correction Guardians.

Maritza Cunningham
East Flatbush

After emigrating from Costa Rica, Maritza Cunningham moved to Brooklyn and did whatever she had to do to support her two children and elderly mother. This included working three jobs, but Maritza remained undaunted. She was determined to do her best for those who depended on her. 

Maritza’s determination to succeed and her fearlessness in the face of challenge are qualities that enhance her effectiveness as a community advocate in the East Flatbush neighborhood where she resides. She volunteers for a multitude of community organizations, including her local community board, churches and political groups. She also serves as a translator for her neighbors in her extended neighborhood because she firmly believes that the information she learns will empower them as well. 

Maritza’s an inspiring role model for both her community and her two children, who are also exceedingly community-minded.

Veronica Rhodes
East New York 

Perhaps one of the youngest of Brooklyn’s female role models, 26-year-old Veronica Rhodes has dedicated herself to improving the lives of other young people who’ve grown up the hard way by letting them know they have a choice in their lives and leading by example. 

Although Veronica works full time as a funeral director, takes care of her nephew, has obtained two associates degrees and is now working on her bachelor’s, Veronica still believes it’s her duty to give back to her community. Since Veronica knows she can relate to children labeled as being “at risk,” she volunteers for programs that promise to help teenage girls who’ve been victimized. 

Veronica wants no credit for what she’s doing with her life. She believes because she’s made it, giving back to others is her obligation.

Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud
Canarsie 

Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud was born in Guyana and emigrated to the United States after graduating from high school. She holds BS and MS degrees in Education and is in the process of completing her MS degree in Information systems. She is currently the registrar at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights. 

In addition to her many educational accomplishments, Roxanne is an invaluable asset to her community. She is dedicated to serving the residents of Canarsie in a variety of ways. She’s vice president of the 69th Precinct Community Council; secretary of Neighborhood Advisory Board 18; a member of Community Board 18; secretary of the Brooklyn Canarsie Lions Club; a certified member Community Emergency Response Team 18; and a member of the Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club. 

Roxanne’s devotion and interest in helping others stretches well beyond the borders of Canarsie. She’s also the treasurer of the Guyana North America Association for Social and Health Services. In connection with this endeavor, she’s organized and traveled to Guyana with physicians who’ve conducted workshops on current cancer treatments for Guyanese doctors, other health care professionals, university students and members of the public.  

Roxanne is an exemplary resident of her community.

Violeta Hodge
Williamsburg 

Violeta Hodge is a 75-year-old resident of the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn who emigrated from the Dominican Republic several years ago after her husband died. She came to the United States in search of a better life for herself and her six children, whom she raised as a single parent. She’s now the devoted caregiver for many of her grandchildren, as well as the children of some other Williamsburg families by whom she’s been employed for many years.

Violeta has become a pillar of the Williamsburg community. She looks after needy, at-risk children in her neighborhood, just as she did when she lived in the Dominican Republic. She also informs her neighbors about what’s going on in their area and helps them to access any services or relief they need. She acts as a liaison between the landlord and tenants in her building and also acts as a translator. Violeta also volunteers for community campaigns and advocates on behalf of anyone in need. In addition, she actively urges everyone in her community to exercise their invaluable right to vote. 

Violeta inspires all who know her to do well and become actively engaged in both their neighborhood and their country.

Ruby Hunter
Brownsville 

Ruby Hunter has been a resident of the Brownsville section of Brooklyn for 23 years. She works as a case manager for the New York City Human Resource Administration’s Family Assistance Program. 

As the oldest of ten children, Ms. Hunter grew up understanding the importance of being there for your family. She’s a survivor of domestic violence who decided her children were more important to her than her abusive husband. She and her husband divorced, and she then became the single mother of four young children.  

Then, when Ms. Hunter’s youngest child was 19 years old, she took on the daunting task of adopting and raising three of her sister’s children. She assumed this responsibility not as a token effort for another family member, but rather as an act of love, devotion and commitment to the children. Ms. Hunter is a woman who possesses an abundance of goodness, kindness and spirituality.  

Ruby Hunter is truly an extraordinary woman and one of Brooklyn’s unsung heroes.

Mary Nolan
Bay Ridge 

Mary Nolan emigrated from Co. Limerick, Ireland to the United States in 1953 and has been a resident of Brooklyn ever since.  

Mary is a staunch supporter of her community as well as several Irish-American organizations. She serves as a member of Brooklyn’s Community Board 10. She is also a founding member of the Bay Ridge Irish Rovers Minor Football Club. In 1977, Mary was elected a trustee of the Minor Board of the New York Gaelic Athletic Association. She is also a founding member of the Brooklyn-Staten Island Chapter of the Irish Immigration Reform Movement and served on the Board of Directors of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center as well as the Lay Advisory Board of the Brooklyn-Queens Irish Apostolate. In addition, Mary is a steadfast supporter of the Northern Island Civil Rights Association and for the past 35 years has been coordinator of its annual “Bloody Sunday” commemoration.  

Mary is currently president of the Commodore Barry Club of Brooklyn, a group that promotes and publicizes the contributions of outstanding naval hero Commodore Barry to the American War of Independence.

Patricia Sloven
Bay Ridge 

Patricia Sloven, who’s affectionately known as “Pat,” has been a resident of the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn for many years. 

Pat worked for AT&T for 14 years in the traffic engineer’s office. After the birth of her second child, she became a full-time homemaker and frequent volunteer at St. Patrick’s Church, her local parish. Pat was honored at the church’s Founder’s Ball for her many years of volunteer work. She’s been a supporter of the Little League, Girl Scout leader, softball coach, Board of Elections worker, and CCD aide. For many years, Pat has also been a member of the St. Patrick’s chapter of The Dominican Associates, a group that raises money for the care of the retired and infirm Sisters of St. Dominic. Pat still actively volunteers her time at the church and school. She can be spotted in the kitchen at just about any parish event. 

Pat’s always been proud of her Irish heritage. Her mother emigrated from Limerick, and her father’s family hailed from Galway. Pat’s a member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 22. To keep the Irish spirit alive in her family, Pat encouraged her daughter and granddaughters to take up Irish step dancing. Pat knows quite a few of the Ceili dances and does a few steps herself now and again. Pat can also be recognized as the lady who, for the last several years, has been serving the coffee and Irish soda bread at the start of the route of the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This year, Pat will be marching proudly down 5th Avenue as deputy to the Grand Marshall.  

Pat is the proud daughter of Mary (nee White) and Edward McColgan. Pat is fifth in a line of seven children, all of whom were raised in Brooklyn. Pat was married to Tom Sloven until his death in 1994. She raised three children – Thomas, Patricia and James – and is the proud grandmother of seven. 

Thank you, Pat, for all your good deeds and fine Irish spirit!

Dr. Francine Hippolyte
Canarsie 

An extremely talented young doctor who was born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Francine Hippolyte could have practiced in virtually any hospital she wanted after graduating magna cum laude from SUNY Downstate Medical School and serving as chief resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. But Francine was determined to return to Brooklyn to practice medicine and make it a better place to live, while giving back to the community that her immigrant parents came to for a better life.  

In the barely spare time she has, Francine helped create and now serves as the fundraising chair for a not-for-profit organization that, among other things, gives educational scholarships to deserving students and also educates the Crown Heights community on health-related matters.  

In the past, Francine has visited teenagers confined to a Brooklyn detention center to help build their self-esteem and career goals. And while in medical school, Francine met with elementary school students to discuss topics ranging from health and safety and how to deal with emergencies to community service and environmental issues. As a medical student, Francine also participated in a program that provided tutoring and mentoring for the sickle cell anemia patients and other chronically ill children in the pediatric ward. 

Pamela M. Junior
Bedford Stuyvesant  

Pamela learned the importance of community involvement at a young age and has intensified her commitment to it ever since.

In the late 1980’s, Pamela took a two-month leave from her job as a legal assistant at a major law firm to work on Jesse Jackson’s campaign in his Bedford Stuyvesant headquarters. In the l990's, she became actively involved in Bedford Stuyvesant community affairs. From 1996 to 2004, she served on Community Board 3 in the capacities of 1st and 2nd vice president, chairperson of economic development and chairperson of social service. Among many other accomplishments, Pamela’s efforts as social service chairperson resulted in the development of the only transitional (Tier II) shelter in Brooklyn serving families fleeing domestic violence.

From 1997 through 2006, Pamela served as president of the 500 Decatur Street Block Association. She is currently chairperson of the Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation, the African American Planning Commission, the Women's Caucus for Congressman Edolphus Towns, the Unity Democratic Club, and Key Women of America (Brooklyn Chapter). She is also on the Board of Directors of Lucille Rose Manor Senior Citizen Housing, Daughters of Dorcas I O.E.S., and Zion Baptist Church.

Through the “Student Sponsor Program,” Pamela has mentored and provided financial assistance to deserving high school students attending private school. In 2006, she was "Principal for a Day" at P.S. 21. In 2005, and again in 2006, she reached out to the Bedford Stuyvesant, Oceanhill-Brownsville and East New York communities to provide Christmas gifts through her corporate sponsor to over 250 children.

Pamela’s many contributions to the community have been noted favorably in the Congressional Record by Brooklyn Congressman Edolphus Towns. She has also received numerous awards and commendations from various institutions and local political leaders.

Finally, Pamela is also a proud mother. Her daughter, Nicole, currently attends Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.

Linda Mary Gallagher
Bay Ridge 

Linda was born and raised in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. She attended St. Anselm’s grammar school, Bishop Kearney High School and went on to receive a BA in Media Communications from Niagara University. Linda is employed as a producer at Rhinofx, a special effects postproduction facility, where she produces television commercials for the top advertising agencies in the country.  

Linda’s spare time is spent coaching the girls’ softball and basketball teams for the St. Patrick’s Youth Program. In some cases the teams have gone on to win Diocesan championships. Linda’s an active member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 22 and has been a member of the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for several years. Linda was very proud and honored to be selected as Deputy to Grand Marshall Ed Wilkinson and aspires to bring more youthfulness to the parade. She encourages her peers to volunteer for the parade committee in an effort to maintain this great Bay Ridge tradition for future generations. 

Linda is the daughter of Hugh and Geraldine (nee Fagan) Gallagher and has three siblings: Catherine (Rob Rose), Hughie, and Daniel. She is the proud Aunt of Robbie, Bridget and Shannon Rose.

Josephine Beckmann
Dyker Heights 

After graduating from St. Francis College in 1990, Josephine Beckmann went to work for then New York City Council Member Stephen DiBrienza, where, as a community liaison, she worked with local government agencies to resolve community-based problems, organized graffiti cleanups, and worked closely with block associations and neighborhood groups to refurbish local parks and playgrounds. Her commitment to working on issues of importance to communities was cultivated during her tenure at the City Council. 

In 1994, Josephine moved to Dyker Heights with her young family. Before long, she found herself advocating on behalf of her community. In 1996, she rejuvenated “The 800 Block Association of 70th Street,” where she worked with residents on local quality of life issues. Her community activism continued through 2002, when she started “The United Neighbors Association of Fort Hamilton Parkway,” which now is comprised of 100 families living adjacent to the Fort Hamilton Parkway shopping strip between 66th and 74th Streets. As leader of the group, Josephine has raised awareness of the need to regulate Internet cafés, organized semi-annual graffiti cleanups, and worked with the 68th Police Precinct on quality of life issues. 

After leaving the City Council in 2001, Josephine served as the executive director of the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of Brooklyn, a not-for-profit organization that worked hand-in-hand with community groups to support organized sports for young people aged 10 though 16. 

In November 2003, Josephine became District Manager of Community Board 10, where she’s been a staunch advocate for the residents of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Fort Hamilton on all matters concerning the delivery of city services. 

Josephine is also a parishioner of St. Ephrem’s Roman Catholic Church. She’s married to John Beckmann, a lieutenant in the New York City Police Department. They have two children, Jayne and Annemarie.

Janie C. Whitney
East New York

Janie C. Whitney was born in Cuthbert, Georgia. At an early age her family moved to New York, where she began her formal education. After a distinguished high school career, she attended Long Island University, where she studied accounting. Her future promised to be lucrative, but her humanitarian spirit pressed her to work for the betterment of people. Janie’s love for children was the ultimate driving force behind her decision to make a career change. While employed as an assistant controller at Dowell & Company, she established a daycare and after-school program in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. This endeavor inspired her to become more involved in the field of education.

In 1983, Janie co-founded Bethlehem Academy, now known as the Trey Whitfield School. Over the past two decades, Trey Whitfield has become one of the most respected private schools in New York State. The school stresses strong academics as well as value-based education, impressing upon the students and faculty the need to develop strong moral character. Janie is also cofounder and president of the Trey Whitfield Foundation, Inc., which motivates and helps support deserving boys and girls of all nationalities from across the country. It also recognizes outstanding adults who serve our children and our communities. Working as administrator of Trey Whitfield School and president of the Trey Whitfield Foundation, Janie continues to be involved in what she cherishes most ? the molding of our future leaders.

Janie is also devoted to various church and community projects. For more than 20 years, she has helped secure educational scholarships for inner-city students to attend prep schools in New England and New York City. She served as a trustee at Brewster Academy, which is located in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. She also serves as treasurer of My Sister My Friend, Inc., a group that seeks to have a positive impact by helping to build and restore lives through mentoring, supporting community programs and empowering women. 

Among Janie’s many honors and citations are the Women of Brooklyn Incorporated’s “Outstanding Leadership in Education” award; the “Excellence in Education” award presented by the District 19 Community Superintendent of the New York City Public Schools; and the “Unsung Hero Award” from the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses. Considering Janie to be an outstanding role model, the Girl Scouts of Bethlehem Baptist Church presented her with their first “Outstanding Women Award.”  To Janie’s credit, the Trey Whitfield School also received an honorable mention for “Unique Community Impact” at the “Building Brooklyn Awards Ceremony.”

Carolyn Sanders James
Crown Heights 

Carolyn Sanders James is the Brooklyn Borough Director for the Office of the Mayor Community Assistance Unit. She acts as the mayor’s liaison to local community boards and the Brooklyn community.  She also responds and investigates complaints from residents. 

She initiates cooperative relationships between elected officials at all levels of government and local community leaders.  She coordinates community-based meetings with city agencies to create task forces to resolve neighborhood problems.  She also conducts field research and walking tours in a multi-agency effort to correct violations of administrative code and city agency regulations. 

Ms. James attends community board meetings, district service cabinet meetings, police precinct council meetings and meetings with other city agencies.  She meets with local community groups, civic organizations, religious groups and business leaders.  She also develops profiles of these groups, based on their leaders, religious or political affiliation, and geographic location. 

She acts as a surrogate speaker for the mayor at public and private functions.  She delivers mayoral proclamations on the mayor’s behalf.  She also represents the mayor, the commissioner and the first deputy commissioner at meetings and special events. 

Ms. James is responsible for assisting the Operation and Response Unit with emergency situations and potential crises in communities throughout New York. 

She also serves as an agency liaison to two city agencies and is responsible for being knowledgeable about the agency’s organizational structure, policies and procedures.  She keeps staff regularly informed of any agency policy and procedural changes and assists them in addressing agency-related problems.

Farah Tanis
East Flatbush 

Farah Tanis was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and immigrated to the United States in 1982.  She is a Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Family Therapist.  In 1999, Ms. Tanis founded Dwa Fanm (meaning “women’s rights” in Haitian Creole) with other Haitian and American women in her community to promote the rights, dignity, respect and survival of Haitian women and girls.  She served on the board of directors for the first two years until 2002, when she became the organization’s first Executive Director. 

Her work with the Haitian immigrant community began in 1995 with the Brooklyn AIDS Task Force and Kings County Hospital, providing supportive services, advocacy and psychosocial counseling to refugees and immigrants living with HIV/AIDS. 

Ms. Tanis began her social work studies at New York University, completed her Masters in Clinical Social Work at Fordham University and her Post-Masters Certification in Family Therapy at Hunter College’s Post-Graduate Clinical Studies.

Reverend Lydia Mendoza
Bushwick 

Reverend Lydia Mendoza was born in Brooklyn, New York.  In 1989, she received an Associate’s Degree from New York City Technical College, as well as a Certificate of Commendation for mentoring from CUNY and the Board of Education.  In 1991, she co-founded the 83rd Precinct Clergy Coalition with Detective Eddie Santiago. She is currently a member and serves as the vice president.  She is the first woman to be the vice president of the Clergy Council. She also served various years as an Executive Board member for the Hispanic Clergy Association of Brooklyn.  In 1993, she received a proclamation from the New York City Council Office of the Presidency for community service.   

In 1999, Reverend Mendoza co-founded The End Times Pentecostal Church, alongside her husband, Bishop Luis Mendoza.  They currently serve the Bushwick community of Brooklyn, with a food and clothing pantry.  She collaborates with outside agencies to service community residents.  In January 2003, she became a clergy liaison from One Police Plaza and was assigned to the 83rd Precinct.  She has served as personnel practice chairman for St. Barbara’s Headstart and Chairman for the Bushwick High School for Social Justice School Leadership Team. 

In September 2006, she was elected vice president of the 83rd Precinct Community Council, and is currently a member of Community Board Four.  Her mission is to serve her community.

LYNN BROWN-DRUMGO
Brownsville 

Lynn Brown-Drumgo resides in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. She works as a community outreach coordinator at Healthfirst, a healthcare insurance company that provides affordable medical access to the underserved in New York City and Long Island. Ms. Brown-Drumgo assists in coordinating coverage on a low or no-cost basis. 

Ms. Brown-Drumgo donates a considerable amount of her spare time working for the well-being of the residents of Brownsville. She has assisted on numerous community quality of life projects and campaigns. She is also on the beacon advisory board of I.S. 323. In addition, she’s a member of the PTA and a board member of the Twelve Town YMCA. Ms. Brown-Drumgo is also the co-founder of “Sister to Sister-in-Law,” which is a women’s support group. 

Ms. Brown-Drumgo is also the proud mother of three girls, who hopefully will follow in her altruistic footsteps.

Ramona Candy
Clinton Hill 

Ramona Candy is an artist, dancer and teacher, who was born in Brooklyn, New York and began painting and drawing as a child.  She went on to earn a degree in art at CCNY.  While studying, she pursued dance, which turned into a career of performing and teaching spanning more than 25 years.  

It is only natural that movement is a part of her artwork.  Though many of her paintings and collages are inspired by that experience, growing up in Brooklyn and her pride in her Haitian and Caribbean heritage also inspire her work. Ms. Candy’s goal is always to lift her audience, engage them in the “dance” and help them remember their own heritage.  In July 2004, she displayed her paintings and collages at the Fulton Art Fair and has since exhibited in galleries, art fairs, theatres, restaurants, convention halls, municipal spaces and private homes.  

Dance, heritage and growing up in her beloved Brooklyn are Ramona Candy’s personal collage. It’s what keeps her fingers, feet and spirit dancing.  She is a “choreographer on canvas.”

JOY WILLIAMS
Crown Heights 

Joy Williams, who originally hails from Ohio, is now a resident of the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. She believes that service to one’s community is an essential component of a life well lived and has demonstrated this throughout much of her adult life.   

Ms. Williams obtained her MS degree in Public Health from Columbia University in 2001. Upon completion of the program, she planned to return to Washington, DC, but instead fell in love with the diversity, culture and people of Brooklyn and decided to remain here.  

For the next five years, Joy worked as the project director for various HIV/AIDS prevention research studies at Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. The studies targeted both HIV negative and positive adults and adolescents living in the hardest hit sections of Brooklyn. As a resident of Crown Heights, she saw firsthand how important it is to educate communities about HIV/AIDS and other health issues and connect the residents to services. She’s therefore volunteered to disseminate such information at various health fairs, churches and anywhere else where people congregate and are willing to stop and listen.  

Ms. Williams has volunteered for many other community groups and causes. She served as a mentor for adolescent girls at the Blossom program. She also volunteers for the Food Bank of New York, the New York Urban League, and many other organizations. In addition, she serves on a committee to help the Nike Corporation in its fight against childhood obesity in Brooklyn’s public schools. 

Joy is most certainly a credit to Brooklyn, which she now calls home.

Beverly Johnson
Downtown Brooklyn 

Beverly Johnson was born in North Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, with a minor in Business Administration from Winston Salem State University. 

She has been employed by Polytechnic University for more than 20 years and served as: Director of International Student Recruitment and Assistant Dean of University Admissions. Currently she is the Executive Director of the Promise Fund Board’s Center for Youth in Engineering & Science and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. 

Her responsibilities included: supervision and implementing university and school-based programs, creating opportunities for the university to collaborate with administration, teachers and students at the middle and secondary school levels; establishing links with community-based organizations, corporations, foundations, developing and implementing procedures to operate internal and external special programs and representing the university in governmental, public, private and parochial school initiatives. 

Lumi Michelle Rolley
Park Slope 

Lumi Michelle Rolley is a Web designer.  She was named “Volunteer of the Year” by the Junior League in 2005.  She has been a Park Slope resident for ten years. Ms. Rolley and her husband Eric McClure are two of the founders of Park Slope Neighbors, which is a community organization involved in the economic, aesthetic, civic, and cultural diversity of the neighborhood.  

She is a trustee of the Park Slope Civic Council and editor of the sustainable development blog, nolandgrab.org.  Her interests include volunteering with youth organizations and promoting architectural preservation and affordable housing.

FELICE LIPPO
Bensonhurst 

A teacher in the New York City public school system for nearly 40 years, Felice Lippo is not just your average teacher. She’s taught generations of Brooklyn families, and to this day is the last one to leave her school each evening. In fact, the school’s janitors must nearly eject her from the building well after 6 p.m. each night. 

Felice Lippo’s dedication to teaching is unparalleled. For her 40 years of selfless and devoted service to thousands of Brooklyn students, she deserves our gratitude and appreciation.

HAYAT HAYEK
Bay Ridge – Sunset Park 

“If someone had told me twenty years ago where I would be today, I would not have believed them.”  

When Hayat Hayek, president of Hayat Caterers, Inc. (formerly known as “Bon Appetite”), emigrated from Lebanon to the United States more than 20 years ago, she was, in her own words, “given the freedom to pursue the American dream.” Since then, due to her remarkable motivation, courage and determination to excel, Hayat has become a very successful businesswoman in the Bay Ridge and Sunset Park communities, and a role model for immigrant families, especially Lebanese women in her industry.  

When she arrived here, Hayat’s training was as a schoolteacher. Although this initially served her well, she quickly realized she would need to do more. Her greatest motivation to do so came from her four children, in addition to the realization that in America anything is possible. 

With the support of her family and dogged determination, Hayat set out on a path to build her own business. Over time, she managed to create a company which now caters for events sometimes in excess of 300 people. Her Middle Eastern cuisine is sought after by U.N. ambassadors, families, churches and wedding couples alike.  

In addition to her busy career, Hayat is dedicated to her husband, Maroun, and their four children. She also finds time to be a very active member of her church.  

Looking back on the past 20 years, Hayat sums up her experience as follows: “My experiences have led me to believe that anyone can realize their dreams with the courage to overcome obstacles. I consider myself blessed. I attribute my success to my overall determination, my courage to take advantage of offered opportunities, and the support of my family and other individuals who recognize and acknowledge my hard work. With every success comes a higher standard, and my work only improves because I continue to strive for excellence. I am thankful for everything I have earned, and thankful for everything I have been given.” 

CHARLENE NIMMONS
Wyckoff 

Charlene Nimmons has lived in the Wyckoff section of Brooklyn – specifically, in Wyckoff Gardens – for the past 18 years and has spent much of her time there making it a better place to live for herself and her neighbors.  

Ms. Nimmons served as a parent advisory member of her local PTA. She was later elected president and then second vice-president of the school district’s PTA. Subsequently, she became involved in the Wyckoff Gardens Residents Association, a group that’s dedicated to improving the quality of life of the residents and also the larger community. Ms. Nimmons ultimately became the group’s president and continues to serve in this capacity. 

Over time, Ms. Nimmons’ involvement in the residents association led her to become much more involved in developing job opportunities for members of her community. After Ms. Nimmons reached out to a number of community leaders and residents, they developed and distributed a needs assessment to the area’s residents. As it turned out, the residents’ primary concern was getting and retaining employment.  

Ms. Nimmons was determined to address their concern. She contacted local developers and some additional community leaders in an effort to create more job opportunities.  Ultimately, her efforts resulted in the formation of Public Housing Communities, Inc. (“PHC”), a consortium comprised of the presidents of various residents associations and others, all of whom are committed to establishing and promoting programs that promise to enhance small business development, job creation and referrals, community enrichment, community involvement and self-sufficiency in Brooklyn’s public housing communities. Not surprisingly, Ms. Nimmons also serves as PHC’s executive director. PHC’s overarching aim is to help community members reach their potential through existing resources or by generating new ones. Most importantly, PHC partners with developers and other organizations which can provide jobs or appropriate job training for members of the community.   

To its credit, PHC recently negotiated a “community benefits agreement” in connection with the much publicized Atlantic Yards project that’s to be developed by Forest City Ratner and Companies. Under the agreement, which was signed by PHC and seven other local groups, PHC will be responsible for the coordination, management and oversight of the public housing component of the benefits agreement. Consistent with its mission, PHC will assist area residents and various community associations in accessing available resources while also helping to empower them.