Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Michael Keller and his tremendous impact on the community.

Mr. Keller has been an important part of the Brooklyn community in many ways. Through his participation at the YMCA, Mr. Keller has strengthened our community and reminded us of the importance of investing in our youth. Mr. Keller has been a part of the YMCA since 1977 when he volunteered in a youth swim program. Since then, his roles have included Day Camp Director, Program Director, Membership Director and for the last 14 years, Executive Director of the East Orange (NJ) YMCA, Flatbush YMCA and later the Long Island City YMCA.

When he isn't spending time at the Y, Mike volunteers his time in other youth related programs and activities. He is a coach in the Gioia YMCA baseball and basketball leagues, and has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster for his local Boy Scout Troop. Additionally, Mike is currently a member of the Queensborough Rotary Club and has served as president of a number of Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs as well as other community organizations. Mike is a native of the Bronx and has a BA in English from Brooklyn College. He resides in Harlem with his wife, four children and grandson.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Michael Keller.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition and celebration of Dr. Dorothy I. Height on her 98th Birthday for her unwavering dedication and contributions to society. Her commitment to social work and those who are underserved have been indelible.

Dorothy I. Height was born in Richmond, Virginia. At an early age, she moved with her family to Rankin, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Rankin High School. While in high school, she received a scholarship to Barnard College; however, upon her arrival, she was denied entrance. During that time, Barnard only admitted two African Americans per academic year and Ms. Height had arrived after the other two students had been admitted. She did not let this disappointment deter her; she would later attend New York University, where she earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in only four years.

After college, Dr. Height worked as a teacher in Brownsville Community Center in Brooklyn, New York. She was also very active in the United Christian Youth Movement after its founding in 1935. Her undying commitment to women and families led her to her work as a case manager for the welfare department in New York. In 1937, she would join the National Council of Negro Women and her career as a pioneer in civil rights began to unfold.

In 1938, Dorothy Height was one of ten young people selected to help Eleanor Roosevelt plan a World Youth Conference. Through Ms. Roosevelt, she met Mary McLeod Bethune and became involved in the National Council of Negro Women. That same year, she was hired by the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). She worked for better conditions for black domestic workers, leading to her election to YWCA national leadership. She was active in developing its leadership training and interracial and ecumenical education programs.

Throughout her career, Dr. Dorothy I. Height has remained a tireless leader in the struggle for equality and human rights for all people. Her life exemplifies her passionate commitment for a just society and her vision of a better world. She has worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph, and many others. Dr. Height has participated in virtually all of the major civil and human rights events in the 1950's and 1960's. For her tireless efforts on behalf of the less fortunate, President Ronald Reagan presented her the Citizens Medal Award for distinguished service to the country in 1989.

Dr. Height is known for her extensive international and developmental education work. She initiated the sole African American private voluntary organization working in Africa in 1975. In her numerous decades of national leadership, she has served on major policy-making bodies affecting women, social welfare, economic development, civil and human rights. She has received numerous recognition and awards. Recently, she was appointed to the Advisory Council of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities by President Bush.

Dr. Height has remained a model of social consistency. She has inspired me as a social worker, community organizer and policy maker. She embodies the spirit of commitment. It is with immense honor and pleasure that I recognize her historic efforts and legacy and wish her a very happy birthday. May this year bring with it all the success and fulfillment her heart desires. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Dr. Dorothy I. Height a Happy Birthday.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Somsri Suwannapreecha for her contributions to the care of the Brooklyn community.

Somsri Suwannapreecha was born in Chiangmai in northern Thailand. She graduated high school valedictorian at a very young age and beat out her school peers with a top score for admittance to medical school.

After earning a medical degree from Chiangmai Medical University (CMU) in 1969 at the age of 22, Somsri went on to train in a pediatric residency program at CMU. While there, Somsri did research for the Illinois Project of Malnutrition and Vitamin A deficiency, collecting blood and delivering medical care and immunizations in rural Chiangmai.

After moving to Bangkok, Somsri became the first senior resident of Institute of Dermatology. She helped found the dermatology clinic and pediatric ward at Paolo Memorial Hospital, the first and best private hospital in Bangkok. Here Somsri met Dr. Siew Ratanaprasatporn, the director of the otolaryngology department and they were married.

In 1978, fearful of communism, the Ratanaprasatporns immigrated to the United States and settled in Staten Island, New York. At Staten Island University, Somsri repeated residency training in pediatrics to meet the requirement for United States medical licensure.

After owning and operating several clinics which broadened her clinical experience caring for patients of any age and sickness, Dr. Ratanaprasatporn opened a walk-in clinic, operating six days a week, for the past 30 years at 2108 Linden Boulevard. Her late husband worked beside her as an otolaryngologist as did many doctors of different specialties, including dentistry. In spite of the loss of her husband and the Federal economic recession in 2007, Dr. Ratanaprasatporn still aspires to keep the clinic up and running to continue serving generations ahead.

Dr. Ratanaprasatporn has been involved in Thai associations and served on a committee of CMU alumni association to fundraise scholarships for exchange of CMU and Columbia University. Some of the fundraising has gone toward building a Thai temple on Long Island.

Dr. Ratanaprasatporn enjoys shopping, dining and cooking and is known for her charm, calm manner and friendly smile. She is also blessed with four children, two sons and identical twin daughters. Eldest son Richard, 29, is an attending physician at Downstate Medical Center of Brooklyn and John, 25 holds a doctorate degree in Mathematics at Temple University, Philadelphia. Twin daughters, Linda and Lisa, 21, are top students in Program in Liberal Medical Education at Brown University, Rhode Island. Dr. Ratanaprasatporn's hope is that her children will continue her legacy of service to the East New York community in years to come.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of Dr. Somsri Suwannapreecha.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Shirley McIntosh for her years of service in education and to her community.

Shirley McIntosh retired from Catholic Charities in 2008 and looks forward to retiring from the New York City Department of Education in 2010. Shirley was born and raised in New York City in the Sugar Hill area of Manhattan. She is the mother of two daughters, Omoyele and Dara. Shirley's educational preparation includes B.A. in Psychology from Hunter College, and Masters in Reading Instruction from Brooklyn College.

Shirley worked in different capacities in the Builders for Family and Youth Division of Catholic Charities. She received recognition for her service to the developmentally disabled adults that lived in the group homes where she worked for twenty-two years. It was very rewarding to her to be instrumental in providing individuals with opportunities that improved the quality of their lives.

Shirley will retire in June 2010 after 21 years of service with the New York City Department of Education. It has been important to her to not only prepare her students academically, but also encourage them to embrace their culture. A constant in her teaching career has been to make children aware of the contributions of their ancestors and recognize the fortitude demonstrated by them to overcome the many obstacles they encountered. She believes strongly in the importance of children knowing about how their world came to be. During her career she worked in the ``Parent Involvement Program'' at P.S. 181 and has conducted parent orientations and workshops that provided parents with ideas of activities to engage their child.

Shirley has been an active participant and supporter of school-wide events. She enjoys the creative thought and excitement that is generated through themes. It is an opportunity to express her creativity, strengths and talents. She has voluntarily involved herself in the School Leadership team and Curriculum Committee at P.S. 181.

After retirement, Shirley will continue in the business she and her daughter, Omoyele, have established--a company that provides educational and career workshops for high school students.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Shirley McIntosh.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Wendy Rich for her years of contribution to education in New York City.

Wendy Rich was born in Brooklyn, New York, during the time of the Baby Boomer years. She grew up in Cambria Heights, Queens, where she attended P.S. 176, J.H.S. 59, and Andrew Jackson High School. Her father, Joseph Trachtenberg, worked as a salesman in the garment center. Her mother Hilda, a stay at home mom, worked as a school secretary for after school and summer programs in District 29 in Queens, New York. Wendy is the mother of two sons; Jared, an attorney in Brooklyn, New York, and Greg, a teacher who is on a mission to expose his students to great works of literature.

Wendy's educational preparation includes a bachelor's degree in education with a minor in behavioral science from Queens College. In the summer of 1970, she went on an archeological dig in Northern California which helped spark a lifelong interest in other cultures and natural things.

In 1972, after college graduation, she married Harris Rich, who was an English teacher. This was during the Vietnam War and many men were getting deferments by working in urban schools. Wendy worked as a substitute teacher since teaching jobs were difficult to find. She got her first teaching position in 1973 at P.S. 92 because of federal Comprehensive Employment and Training Act funds. In 1974, a year later, she was laid off with the other 10,000 teachers most recently hired, to balance the city's budget.

In 1977 she resumed teaching at P.S. 181 as a fourth grade teacher. After a few years at P.S. 181, she was given an opportunity to teach science. She was able to teach students amazing content with lots of freedom for 17 years. This opportunity opened other doors; she volunteered to be on the teacher's advisory group for the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Since the fall of 2003, she has been teaching graduate students at Brooklyn College the course Teaching Science in the Elementary Schools.

After years of hard work and dedication, in June of 2009, Wendy and her husband Harris retired from New York City Department of Education.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the contributions of Wendy Rich.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in commending Mamie Williams for her many years of service to her community.

Mamie Williams is blessed to turn 83 years old on January 11, 2010 and commits her life to cheerfully helping others. First and foremost is her mother, Irene Kibler, who turned 101 years of age September 9, 2009. Mother Mamie brought her mother to New York form Savannah, Georgia to take care of her in 2005 because the trips back and forth from New York to Savannah became extremely difficult for her, but she never ceased to do all she could. However, when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, it became inevitable that she continue to live in New York.

Dr. Rev. Sean P. Gardner, Sr., awarded 3 plaques to her in 2001-- ``Mother Wisdom'', ``Mother Love'', and ``Mother Charming'',--her pastor of Eastward Missionary Baptist Church located on First Avenue in Manhattan. She is Chaplain of the Senior Usher Board and a member of the Mothers' Board. In 2008 she also received an award from the Filial Piety Society.

In 2009 she received an award for ``Mother of the Year'' in recognition of the care she always extends unselfishly with love and compassion. That same year she was presented an award by Major Bill Greene of the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve, from Toys for Tots Christmas Club in ``Grateful Acknowledgement for the Special Relationship Shared with Children.'' She received a Certificate of Appreciation from Volunteers of America and a Certificate of Acknowledgement from Boys Town Christmas Appeal.

Mother Mamie is a member of the Joint Public Affairs Committee (JPAC), and attended the Institute for Senior Action (IFSA), where she graduated in the spring of 2003. IFSA is a leadership advocacy training course requiring graduates to commit to pursuing action within their communities, something she's been doing for many years. She also sings with the Unique Musical Society of New York, orchestrated by Professor Robert Newton, for 25 years.

Mother Mamie has been taking care packages to hospitals and nursing homes for many years no matter how bad the weather is and gives care packages to her neighbors to take home when they stop by to visit with her. Her thought is: ``store up treasures in Heaven by giving them away on earth.''

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the contributions of Mamie Williams.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Gloria Williams, who has made important contributions to education throughout her career in Brooklyn and internationally.

Born and raised in the small rural village of Bartica, Guyana, South America, Gloria Williams hails from a large family of ten and is blessed with one son, Robert. She is the beneficiary of an amazing journey that focuses on being allowed to play a deciding role in the future of children's lives. Ms. Williams is currently an Assistant Principal of Intermediate School 292, located in East New York, Brooklyn.

Gloria spent her formative years in Guyana and completed her secondary education in Zambia. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary education from the University of Guyana and began her teaching career in 1984. She later migrated to the United States of America was awarded two masters Degrees: one in Literacy Education and the other in Supervision and Administration from Touro College in New York.

Gloria is fortunate to have found her niche in the field of education and has been charting courses in that arena for the last twenty-six years. She has held the positions of teacher, staff-developer, assistant-principal and principal and has made it her mission to lead young people in the right direction. Her passion is curriculum development and instruction and she works assiduously to ensure all students in her charge have opportunities to engage in a rounded productive education. Ms. Williams has been credited as being a member of the dynamic team that transformed Intermediate School 292 in East New York, Brooklyn from a struggling, failing school to one that is now the pride of East New York.

Being cognizant of the struggles and sacrifices her parents endured to ensure her success, Ms. Williams has founded the Educating All Guyanese through Literacy and Education (EAGLE) foundation where she seeks to empower children in need. Through her foundation, Gloria donates school supplies to students in Guyana and conducts professional development sessions for teachers and other educators in the hope of enhancing the teaching and learning process so that ultimately, all benefit.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the contributions of Gloria Williams.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Carol Wilson-Smith for her continued service and commitment to the health care field.

Carol Wilson-Smith is currently the Director of Rehabilitation Medicine at Kings County Hospital Center (KCHC). She is responsible for overseeing all operations of the department, managing the budget, and for ensuring that all patients receive the most effective rehabilitation that allows them to maximize their function to be re- integrated into their community. One of the many challenges of her position is adapting to the changing healthcare/managed care requirements as resources dwindle and patients' demands increase.

Carol began her career as a public school teacher specializing in Physical Education. After fourteen years in this role, she changed careers and attained a Physical Therapy degree. She has since practiced as a Physical Therapist at Harlem Hospital and Kings County Hospital, in the New York City Department of Education and in Home Care and moved on to become the Director of Physical Therapy and subsequently of Rehabilitation Medicine, EMG/EEG and Early Intervention at KCHC. Her ultimate goal is to have a positive impact on policy and decision making in the health and wellness field on a larger scale.

She received her secondary education at St. Joseph's Convent in Port- of-Spain, followed by a Teacher's Diploma from the Trinidad and Tobago Government Teachers College. She enrolled in the Physical Therapy program at Mona Campus, University of the West Indies before migrating to the United States of America where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at Howard University. Ms. Wilson-Smith received a Master of Arts in Motor Learning from Columbia University, and a Master of Public Administration from New York University. Currently she is enrolled in a Doctoral Program at Boston University.

Recently appointed to the New York State Board for Physical Therapy by the Regents of New York City Department of Education, Carol has worked with the Foreign Credentialing Commission for Physical Therapy for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

She is a member of the Trinidad & Tobago Alliance USA, Inc., and is a member of the Board of the University of the West Indies Alumni Association New York Chapter, providing educational scholarships to deserving candidates from both organizations.

As a devoted mother of three children: Naila, Kayode, and Karim she lives by the maxim: To whom much is given, much is expected (Luke 12:48).

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Carol Wilson-Smith.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Amote Sias, for her commitment and contributions to education and the New York City community.

Amote Sias is the founding principal of Brooklyn Collegiate, a College Board School, located in the Ocean-Hill section of Brownsville, Brooklyn and services 575 students in grades 6 through 12. She is a visionary leader who is passionate about her students and staff having and being the best.

Principal Sias started her career in education as a teacher in 1982 in Nassau County Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) as a Math and Social Studies teacher and department chairwoman. She transferred to New York City Board of Education to be able to give back to her community. From 1985 to 1999, she taught grades kindergarten through twelfth in various subjects including, English, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Computer Science. From 1999 to 2001, she was the Leadership Development Coordinator for Brooklyn and Staten Island High Schools (BASIS). As the Leadership Development Coordinator, she was responsible for training principals, teachers, students, and parents in the areas of leadership, conflict resolution, cultural competence and team building. Because of her dedication and effective leadership, she advanced on to become the Director of Community Engagement for the new small schools of Brooklyn High Schools Superintendent and New Visions for New Schools Organization.

After the reorganization of the Department of Education in 2003, Principal Sias was asked to take on the position of Project Manager of Region 5 for the creation of new small schools within boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. This responsibility included recruiting and organizing the prospective school teams, training the teams, engaging the community in the process and serving on the committee which recommended the schools to be selected. In the midst of her work, Dr. Kathleen Cashin, Regional Superintendent of Region 5 afforded her the opportunity to become a principal at EBC of Public Service High School in East New York. While working as principal of EBC, Principal Sias wrote a proposal which was approved for the creation of Brooklyn Collegiate, which opened in September 2004. In June of 2008, Brooklyn Collegiate celebrated its first graduating class with seventy four percent of all seniors graduating and eighty-five percent of those students attending college.

Simultaneously working for the Department of Education, Principal Sias has served as an adjunct professor of English at Long Island University Brooklyn Campus for four years and rose the rank of Associate Professor. As an ordained minister since 1999, she pastors The Church without Borders and Assistant Pastor of Provision of Promise Miracle Family Worship Center located at 347 Rockaway Avenue in Brownsville, Brooklyn. She has received numerous awards and honors including ``Principal of the Year,'' 2008-2009. She was the host of ``Words of Wisdom for Daily Living'' a daily radio program on WLIB, 1190AM. As a well rounded individual, Principal Sias has a passion for the things of God and enjoys traveling, reading and playing sports.

She firmly believes ``we can and we will succeed!''

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Amote Sias.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Katya Rattray for her commitment to social service and her years of service in the Brooklyn community.

Katya Rattray's story is that of the quintessential American immigrant experience. Katya Rattray was born in Georgetown Guyana of mixed race parentage and spent her early years in Guyana and Nassau, Bahamas before immigrating to the U.S. almost three decades ago.

Tragedy struck with the passing of her father Patrick Thorne, a sworn land surveyor, while she was still a teenager. She and her family, mother Eslyn Thorne and brother Maxim Thorne, immigrated to the United States in search of a better future.

Katya deferred her studies and worked in retail and administrative services in the legal and banking industries in New York to help support her mother and younger brother. Throughout this period however, she kept her eyes on the goals of resuming her education and giving back to her community as best she could.

Upon resuming her studies, she excelled at Rutgers University where she double majored in sociology and women's studies. She became a Mabel Smith Douglass Honors student focusing on racial justice in the U.S. and the plight and struggles of young women of African descent in the period leading up to and through the Civil Rights movement.

She later went on to achieve a masters in business administration with a dual specialization in marketing and logistics from the University of Miami and embarked on her career in the private sector as an international management consultant focusing on issues facing minority communities.

Katya also served a brief stint as a political campaign manager, before joining the executive management of Brooklyn Child and Family Services, Inc. (BCAFS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, community-based organization that receives millions in public and private grants. She has served as both the Interim Executive Director and the Head Start and Early Head Start Program Director. She oversees a full range of early educational and comprehensive social services to over 800 families in a predominantly low-income population where many are African American, Latino and immigrant. BCAFS has been a provider of community-based education, social and other supportive services in the Bedford Stuyvesant, Fort Greene, Flatbush, Bushwick, Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg and surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods since 1963.

Under her leadership, Ms. Rattray has engineered a significant transformation to the operations of the program and drastically increased its operating efficiency, program outreach and education outcomes; no small feat in these trying times.

She has achieved an almost one hundred percent enrollment in the program that is unprecedented in this history of the organization, community partnerships have dramatically increased, and once again a Policy Council from the community is vibrant and engaged in helping the agency, all hallmarks of the Head Start ethos.

Under Ms. Rattray's stewardship, Brooklyn Children and Family Services is once again poised to become a beacon in the 10th Congressional District of New York.

Katya is married to her soul mate, Ken Rattray, an international management and technology consultant, and together they have three wonder children, Kyra, Kenneth Patrick (KP), and Kalyn.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Katya Rattray.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Tyne L. Newman for her achievements in television, the arts, and her community.

Tyne L. Newman was born in Queens, New York and is the middle of three children. Growing up, she had aspirations of becoming an actress/ director and wanted to work in television. As an adolescent, she attended Salvation Bedford Day Camp where she met actor Emmanuel Lewis. Enthused and inspired she knew exactly what path in life she wanted to take and began writing her first screenplay. Hard work in the South Ozone Park community as a youngster earned her Salute to Youth award in tribute to the late Congressman Joseph Addabo.

Tyne attended John Bowne High School and received her bachelor's and master's degrees in communications/business. After college, she began working at Brooklyn Community Access Television (BCAT), known today as BCAT TV Network. She began as a production assistant and worked her way up to her current position as Production Manager.

At the BCAT TV Network, Tyne has worked on two State of the Borough addresses and three candidate debates--most recently with former council member District 39 and now Public Advocate Bill deBlasio, and former council member District 20 and now New York City Comptroller John Liu. In addition, Tyne has produced over 160 episodes of ''Brooklyn Elected Officials.''

During an internship at Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Tyne was privileged to work with actor Ben Vereen on ''Broadway: The American Musical.''

Tyne has been a faithful member of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church since her early childhood and currently works on the Pulpit Community, Combined Choir, Youth Ministry and the Arts/Culture Ministry. Tyne also directs, produces and writes plays for the children in her Brooklyn church community. She has a special love for children and choreographs dance moves for gospel music for their enjoyment.

In 2006, Tyne met Everton Griffith and in 2008 they were married. They currently reside in Westchester, New York.

Tyne enjoys being an active participant in her community and spearheaded a campaign to ``Rock the Vote'' by organizing local community members in the Van Siclen/Dumont area block, registering a noteworthy amount of individuals to participate in the presidential election of 2008.

Tyne currently owns/operates her own videography business entitled Tru Vision Entertainment. Ms. Newman has been the recipient of numerous honors and enjoys acting, singing, writing, skiing and shopping.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tyne L. Newman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jospehine Ajayi for her significant contributions to the nursing profession and her community.

Josephine Monilola Ajayi is a black American of Nigerian origin, born in Oshogbo, capital of the Oshun state of Nigeria. She had her primary and secondary education in Nigeria. She was trained and registered as a Grade 1 Midwife, and worked in this capacity in Nigeria for four years. She was married to David Ajayi, and later migrated to the United States to join him in 1973.

Josephine attended the New York City Community College and graduated with an Associate's degree in Nursing and became a Registered Nurse. She went on to earn a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the Long Island University Brooklyn Center, from where she later earned the MS degree in Community Health and Healthcare Administration.

Currently Josephine is the Regional Clinical Manager for Queens at the Visiting Nurses Service (VNS) of NY Long Term Home Health Care Program. She joined the organization in 1993 as an Admissions Coordinator, moved up to Patient Service Manager and then Compliance Manager. Before joining the VNS, she practiced her profession of nursing in several other institutions including St. John's Episcopal Hospital, Lutheran Medical Center, Metropolitan Jewish Geriatric Center and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center where she held the Assistant Head Nurse position in the Rehabilitation Unit.

She is an active and devoted member of the Calvary First Nigerian Seventh-day Adventist Church. She has been a Church Board member and has held many positions in the church, including, Deaconess, Secretary/ Clerk, Women Ministry Leader, Education Director, Youth Teacher, etc. She is a woman who loves God and strongly believes in the power of prayer. She is a Prayer Warrior.

She is blessed with five children, Temitayo, Olumide, Abimbola, Olubusayo (daughter-in-law) OlaOluwa and Atilola, all of whom are grown and independent. Outside of Nursing, Josephine is quite active. She belongs to Ipoti Ekiti Unity Club (IEUC) of New York, a cultural organization whose main goal is the betterment of the community the members came from, and she was recently the president of the club for five years. She also is a member of Nigerian Adventists in North America (NANA), an organization devoted to the spiritual, mental, physical and cultural well-being of its youth and older members. She is a member of the Africa Advisory Board of the Atlantic Union of Seventh- Day Adventist Church. She is a recipient of the Exemplary Leadership Award from the IEUCNY and the Ipoti community. Her hobbies include sewing, photography, shopping and cooking.

She is a woman who believes that ``what is worth doing at all is worth doing well.'' She fully commits herself to any efforts she decides to pursue, be it in her private or public life, with the goal of making a difference for the better in the job environment and in the lives of consumers of her services. She is a person who does not believe in mediocrity. She learns details of her job and endeavors to produce excellence. She is generous and supportive of others and endeavors to make a difference in other people's lives.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the achievements of Josephine Ajayi.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Barbara Biggs Glover, a leader in local business and professional organizations and a great asset to the Brooklyn community.

Barbara Biggs Glover is the daughter of Raymond R. Biggs, Sr. and Ruby E. Biggs, both deceased. She is the oldest of her siblings, four sisters and two brothers. Barbara grew up in Brownsville's Van Dyke Houses. Barbara is a graduate from PS 150, George Gershwin J.H.S. 166 and Prospect Heights H.S. She attended Pace University and New York Technical College.

Barbara was employed by New York Telephone Company 1968. She was an active Union Shop Steward in 1972 (CWA 1109) and 1986 (CWA 1101) and Chief Steward in 1995 for Communications Workers of America Local 1101. Barbara served as Vice President of the National Black Communication Coalition, NY chapter, a member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. CWA 1109 and CWA 1101 Equity Committee, CWA Local 1101 Women's Committee, CWA International Minority Caucus, Co-Editor for the CWA Local 1101 Newspaper ``The Generator'' in 1995, National Council of Negro Women, Brooklyn Women's Coalition, and the Association of BellTel Retirees, Inc. In 2001 she retired from Verizon after 33 years of service as a Facilities Specialist and Chief Steward.

In 1982, Barbara joined the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC) as a member of the former East New York Club (ENYC), Barbara was elected President and became a Life Member in 1993. In 1995, Barbara became a member of the Brooklyn Club, NANBPWC, Inc. Barbara was appointed and serves as the Brooklyn Club's Liaison to Acorn Community High School. She is currently the President of the Brooklyn Club, NANBPWC, Inc.

Barbara is a Charter member of The Brooklyn Restoration Lions Club International, District 20-K1. She has served as Co-Chair of membership and currently serves as Chair of Membership and 20-K1 Brooklyn Chair of Lions Guest. She is the Vice President of the 300 Quincy Street Association and serves on the 79th Precinct Community Council, Inc., as an Outreach Coordinator and has received an Appreciation Award for Service in July 2008 and a member of the Community Board #3 Block and Civic Committee. The East New York United Concerned Citizens, Inc. presented Barbara with a Woman of Distinction Award on Saturday, October 27, 2009.

Barbara Biggs Glover is a member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. Faith and Family is the essence of a person. She is blessed to be happily married to James L. Glover; they have two beautiful daughters Jerrita Elydia Teel, Anissa Nicole Glover, son James Malik Glover and two handsome grandsons William Ameer Toland IV and Samuel Alexander Bivens

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Aduke Aremu, an educator and writer whose work has helped children in Brooklyn and throughout the world.

Aduke Aremu was born in Brooklyn, New York where she graduated with honors from George W. Wingate High School. She received scholarships and awards to attend Hunter College where she graduated from with a Bachelor's Degree and Masters Degree in Education and Theatre. She received her degree in Education Administration and Supervision from the College of New Rochelle and a Ph.D. from New York University.

Her success as an educator and writer took her to Africa many times and eventually she received the loving name Aduke Aremu which she uses as an international writer along with her birth name Gwendolyn given to her by her parents.

Aduke Aremu worked for the Department of Education of New York City, the Department of Education of Connecticut and the Department of Education of Westchester County. During this 27 year period, she opened two Innovative schools: The Star Academy was created and opened by Aduke in the South Bronx for Bi-Lingual Students and the International Arts Business School at Wingate High School. The International Arts Business School was the brain-child of Aduke Aremu and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the United Federation of Teachers and the New York City Board of Education. Aduke organized a committee of business people, political leaders, artists and community leaders to galvanize interest in this project which found a home as a small school

at Wingate High School. Ms. Aremu partnered with Ana Goldson-Walker who introduced the business community and bi-lingual educators and artists.

During the 27 year period as an educator and administrator she created and organized numerous children projects, productions and workshops to include innovative practices in education and progressive arts and reading programs.

For 20 years she created and administered the world renowned Harlem Children's Theatre, a not-for-profit education and arts organization that performed in Nigeria, Jamaica, Barbados, France, Spain, England, Bermuda and Germany.

This Education Theatre company was also a special guest of the Nigerian Government at Festac (an International Festival of the Arts) and the Jamaican and Barbados Consul General. In Jamaica and Barbados she organized education missions. In 1985 she formed two additional new education nonprofits for the children of Brooklyn: New Dove and the New York Youth Consortium, Inc.

Aduke Aremu is also a published writer whose children books were published by Gumbs and Thomas of New York, a book of poetry published in Germany and in Atlanta, Georgia and ten plays that have been produced at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Public Theatre by the late Joseph Papp, the Negro Ensemble Company by renowned Director Douglas Turner Ward, The Billie Holiday Theatre, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, Town Hall, and 42nd Street Theatre Row.

Aduke also received an Award from the Nigerian Government for her writings.

Aduke has studied education abroad and worked with educators, artists and writers in Ghana, Germany, Nigeria, Benin, Tanzania Kenya, Jamaica and Barbados.

Aduke Aremu has serviced as a consultant for NEA in Washington, DC, the New York State Council for the Arts, the Governor's Office of New York and the United Nations with the late Mrs. Andrew Young. Presently Aduke is the CEO of the International Public Relations and Fund Raising Company--Dove LLC of Atlanta, Georgia and New York City.

Aduke Aremu is married to Calvin Anderson of New Rochelle, New York and has an extended family of four young adults (Hakim, CJ, Mimi and Tricia).

Aduke Aremu owes her success to Jehovah-God and great mentors, family and friends especially Vivian Y. Bright, Ana Goldson-Walker of Brooklyn, New York and Dawn Alli of New Jersey. These ladies have served as mentors and positive role models for Aduke's life goals and accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the achievements and contributions of Aduke Aremu.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ellen Carlisle-Smith, a leader in education in New York City.

Since the beginning, it has been instilled in Ellen Carlisle-Smith, that the correct way to live your life is to do what is right. What was right for Ellen Carlisle-Smith was to achieve a valuable education; She attended public schools in Queens, New York. After high school graduation, Ellen registered for classes at the City College of New York for her Bachelor's in Elementary Education. Setting a new standard for educated women during this era, Ms. Carlisle-Smith received a Master's Degree in reading from Columbia University, followed by a Master's in early childhood education from City College of N.Y. Ellen was selected to participate in a special program in NY for aspiring supervisors. She accomplished her certification in administration and completed this advanced degree in Supervision and Administration from City College of N.Y.

Ellen values the teaching and learning process, and believes that education gives all a solid foundation that will promote high standards, knowledge and leadership for a better life. Growing up with the encouragement from her educated mother, Ellen remembers vividly how her mother instilled within her the everlasting value of a good education.

In Harlem in 1978, she began teaching third grade, then grades kindergarten, second and fourth for the next nine years. Her principal recognized her effectiveness as a classroom teacher and assigned her to a reading specialist to remediate struggling students in reading and writing. Ellen taught a total of sixteen years in her first Harlem school. In 1994, she was promoted to a Reading Coordinator's position in Brooklyn, NY.

Ellen briefly relocated to Texas in 1996 for six years where she had a valuable learning experience as a principal intern/assistant principal. She returned to NY in 2002 and was offered the Assistant Principal's position at P.S. 399 in Brooklyn, NY. This journey taken by Ellen Carlisle-Smith brings her to where she is today as Principal of Public School 6, Brooklyn, NY.

Ms. Carlisle-Smith's philosophy of education begins and ends with the belief that educators must value all children. From that, she feels responsible to ensure that students will be provided with a quality education that will develop their academic, social, and creative abilities. As Principal of P.S. 6, Ms. Carlisle-Smith is most proud of all students and staff. She greatly values how everyone works together and protects each other, all in the sake of unity and strength.

Throughout her career, Ellen has been recognized by her colleagues for her hard work and many achievements. In June of 1998 she was awarded a ``Certificate of Achievement'' from Plano, TX. When Ms. Carlisle was an Assistant Principal at P.S. 399, she was presented the ``Performing Arts Award,'' in June 2004, April 2005 and April 2007. The NYS Education Deptartment awarded her the Rapidly Improving Gap Closing Schools Award. Ellen was presented the City Council Citation Award in March 2009 for outstanding citizen for both community and the great City of New York.

Ellen's hobbies are reading, knitting, baking and gardening. She loves spending time with her two adult children, Tracey and Craig. Ellen has an identical twin sister, Emily. She is also a member of the Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans, Queens, N.Y.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the contributions of Ellen Carlisle-Smith.