FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 15, 2018
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Rebecca Cheng and Vicki DiStefano | (516) 869-7794
North Hempstead Celebrates Black History Month
North Hempstead, NY –North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Council Member Viviana Russell, and the Town Board held a celebration in honor of Black History Month on Thursday, February 8 at the “Yes We Can” Community Center in Westbury.
The theme of this year’s event was “Black Excellence” celebrating African American entrepreneurs. The event included refreshments from LL Dent, music and performances by Nori Rane, the “Yes We Can Community Band,” LND Dance Company, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, SUNY Old Westbury’s Step Tunes, and children from the “Yes We Can” Community Center.
Also at this year’s Black History Month event, to celebrate Black Excellence and Entrepreneurship in the Community, the Town partnered with Bethpage FCU and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Long Island Chapter to provide five scholarships to HOFSTRA University’s Entrepreneurial Assistance Program.
“Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn about and celebrate accomplishments of the culture,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “This year’s theme of Black Excellence allows us to highlight and honor the influential entrepreneurs and business people in our community and recognize them for the major contributions they have made to our community and Town.”
Elected officials and members of the community were in attendance for the awards ceremony, which honored prominent African American members of the North Hempstead community who have displayed remarkable generosity in their care and service of the Town.
Several members of the Town Board were on hand to honor residents from their district. The honorees were:
• Leonard “Sparrow” Llewellyn (recognized by Supervisor Bosworth)
• Dr. Leon Mullen (recognized by Council Member Russell)
• Rev. Monte Malik Chandler (recognized by Council Member Peter Zuckerman)
• Timothy Thurmond (recognized by Council Member Angelo Ferrara)
• Adrienne Vaultz (recognized by Council Member Anna Kaplan)
• Kenneth Gray (recognized by Council Member Lee Seeman)
• Lynette Batts (recognized by Council Member Dina De Giorgio)
• Betty Hardy (recognized by Town Clerk Wayne Wink)
• Bernard Hardy (recognized by Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman)
“This annual celebration of Black history is even more important this year as we reflect on Black Excellence and pay homage to Black Wall Street. Success and Black Excellence is an existing state of affairs yet often overlooked,” said Council Member Russell. “This year’s honorees are true examples of Black Excellence and their incredible contributions to our community make them very deserving honorees. Their success is our success.”