Community Leadership Awards
THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS are presented to people who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their community and have had a positive effect on their community through their work and dedication.
The Community Leadership Awards will be presented at the Launch Party for the Strawberry One-Act Festival on Monday, January 25, 2010 at 7pm - 9:30 pm.
Tickets: $37.00 Dinner and Drinks included.
The recipients are: CHRYSETTA PATTERSON, MSW, Chairperson to the New York Consortium for Youth Development, PASTOR KEN BOGAN from Greater Restoration Baptist Church, EARLEAN W. GOLSON, Community Public Servant, BILL BRIGGS, Founder & Director of Youth and Tennis, Inc. and MAX "THE SAX" LUCAS, Musician and Community Public Servant.
Event Location: The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin,145 West 46th Street, NYC,
Between 6th & 7th Avenues.
To purchase a single ticket $37.00 click here.
To purchase a table for 8 - $282.00 click here.
To purchase a table for 10 - $352.00 click here.
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Chrysetta Patterson, MSW, Chairperson to the New York Consortium for Youth Development.
Nominated by her colleagues to Chair the New York Consortium for Youth Development (NYCCYD). Ms Patterson is also an Administrator, consultant, Synchronous facilitator, trainer and curriculum developer, specializing in, Youth Development, Building Cultural Competency and Professional Leadership training.
Consultant and Trainer for the New York State Adolescent Services Resource Network at Hunter College School of Social Work (ASRN), Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA) and numerous contract agencies, Ms. Patterson has developed and trained in curriculum designed to enhance Professional Development.
Ms. Patterson works in collaboration with OCFS, New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Adolescent Workgroup, the New York City Children Services formally known as (ACS) Administration of Children Services, (IOC) Improved Outcomes for Children initiative.
She has been cited as an expert in the field of child welfare while working in collaboration with the Youth Justice Board’s publication “Stand Up, Stand Out 2007. A Certified Big brothers Big Sisters Mentor supervisor who has developed and designed mentoring programs for contract agencies.
Her extensive experience spans both Child Welfare and Mental Health where she began her career and was consistently promoted until becoming a Program Director. Chrysetta has been working in the field of human services for over 20 years.
To look at other areas of interest to Ms. Patterson she is also the Executive Director of Pamoja International Cultural Exchange Inc whose mission is to bring about understanding among people of the world. Ms. Patterson was chosen to represent as an international speaker for the African American Diaspora in Senegal, West Africa.
Her in-depth background of computer technology, has lead her to be involved in the development and operation of a number of various specialty projects, curriculums and services.
Pastor Ken Bogan, Greater Restoration Baptist Church
Ken Bogan was born in Clarksville, TX to Lonnie and Dimple Bogan. In 1984 he graduated from Wiley College with a degree in philosophy. He did his graduate theological studies at Duke Divinity School. Ken moved to New York City. He married Bettye Watford in 1997 and they have worked together in the community of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. In 1997 he planted a new church in Crown Heights, Greater Restoration Baptist Church. Greater Restoration has played a vital role in the Crown community. Pastor Bogan has tried to push the idea of reconciliation and bringing the community together. Pastor Bogan has led the church to create:
· An After School Program that focuses on tutoring, homework and music;
· Two summer day camps with enrollment of over 100 children between ages 6-12;
· GED Classes;
· Organized construction teams from around country to repair houses and build community spaces;
· To partner with Crown Heights Mediation Center to create entrepreneurs program bringing young Hasidic Women and African American women together to create a business;
· Teaches rites of passage programs to young middle school; and
· Christmas Toy Drive providing toys for more 300 families
Pastor Bogan and the Greater Restoration Church invites each year more than 300 volunteers from all over America to help serve his community. There are too many people to name that help make this possible. Pastor Bogan is grateful for the love and generosity of all that give unselfishly of their time.
Earlean W. Golson, Community Public Servant, received her Bachelors of Arts from C.U.N.Y. in 1974 and her Masters from Long Island University in Community Health and Health Administration in 1977.
Ms. Golson receives much pleasure from helping and serving her community. She served as the Chairwoman of the Woman’s Day Committee of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church on West 135th St. in NYC. In 1980 she established the 136-137th Street & Edgecombe Avenue Block Association, of which she was the president for several years. In 1985 she was President of the Parent Advisory Committee of the Upper Manhattan Day Care Center. She was a board member of the Renaissance Health Care Network and a parent volunteer for the Rights of Passage for Boys at Abyssinian Baptist Church.
In addition, she produced for 10 years the Black History Program at St. Mark’s Church & Metropolitan AME Church for the students of schools in District #3 & #5 in Manhattan. She also sponsored a Recognition Breakfast for the School’s Crossing Guards in Precincts 25, 26, 28, 30 & 32 and for a few years she sponsored an Appreciation Breakfast for the Police Officers in Precincts 25, 26, 28, 30 & 32 and provided a program in which the students were able to ask the police officers questions about their work to help increase communication and mutual respect within their communities.
Ms. Golson takes her time to make the people around her feel special no matter how big or small their job may be. She feels that every contribution a person makes benefits the entire community at large. She also sponsored an Appreciation Luncheon for the Sanitation Workers in District #9 & #10 and during the holidays you can find her working tirelessly providing meals for the homeless.
Bill Briggs, Founder & Director of Youth & Tennis Inc.
His mission has been to motivate, build self-esteem and improve the quality of life for youth 3-19 years of age through their School for Academic and Social Development and Tennis Academy. His non-profit Tennis Academy has been free since 1973 and has a successful history of helping youth. Their program is unique because it allows the sport of tennis to be accessible to economically challenged families. During the school year the organization is the infrastructure in several sites accommodating as many youth and school districts as possible.
Their summer program utilizes several park sites in Queens. Instructional tennis, peer tennis, parent/youth workshops and academic services are their four key operations. Many students have been awarded academic and tennis scholarships to Colleges and Universities through out the United States.
MAX "THE SAX" LUCAS, Musician and Community Public Servant
Maxwell Lucas was born on September 13th, 1910 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada to Ms. Lena (Halfkenny) Lucas and Mr. Osborne Nathan Lucas. His mother was the first black to have her own business on Main Street in Amherst, Nova Scotia. He entered the United States in 1919, while visiting with his mother to spend some time with her sister in West Virginia. While visiting with these relatives, his father died which required them to return to Canada. After the funeral, his mother decided that she could make a better living for the family in the U.S. so they moved to Washington, D.C. where she was the first black to work in a white Beauty Parlor as a beauty operator while also working on her own hair products; a sign that he was destined for greatness.
He states that about the age of 12, he met a family in D.C. who were musicians whom he visited quite often, called the White Brothers from Bethlehem, Pa. Hearing them I was essentially inspired to play music at age 14. I was presented an Alto Saxophone, I studied for six months and was offered a seat in a band Hugh Kirksy and his Orchestra. At about age 16, I visited New York and saw a man on the street with a banjo and told him that I played the saxophone. He sent me to a Barber Shop on 133rd street between Lenox and 5th Ave. where the owner Mr. Saltus told me to get my Saxophone and play. After hearing me play a few songs, he took my address and in a couple of days, the man I had met with the banjo came to get me for a Saturday night job. It was a Parlor Social or a Rent Party and I have been playing ever since”
In the 1940s he recorded two Rhythm and Blues albums with Ed Wonder Veer and Douglas Blackman. By the 1950’s, he was at home for only 30 days a year with his family; otherwise he was on the road entertaining the people. He headlined with Buddy Johnson and his Band for 20 years until Buddy decided to break up his group. He then started playing and recording with Roberto Vasquez for about 8 years then Carlos Barbera for the next 8 years. He became quite popular and received many jobs playing for anyone during his times needing musical backup.
As Max “The Sax” continued to evolve into a musical marvel in his own right he has had the opportunity to play with some of the greatest jazz musicians of all times gracing the stage of the Apollo Theatre with greats such as Aretha Franklin, Marva Lewis, Nat King Cole, Billy Exstein, Benny Goodman, Howard Johnson, Al Cobbs, Arthur Prysock, Eric Johnson, Fred and Dakota Statin, Ivy Joe Hunter and Pearle Bailey and Clean Head Vincent.
Max had the opportunity to play and tour with some of the greatest musicians of our times. Musicians like Don Redman, Hot Lips Page, Fess Williams, Mercer Ellington, Cat Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Willis Jackson, Sil Austin, Tiny Bradshaw, Sam Cook, Jackie Wilson, The Platters, The Coasters, Teddy Kenyers, Frank Henderson, Jimmy Standford, Clarence Crawford, Lucky Thompson, Marlow Morris, Saint Clair Mills, Lonnie Simmons, Freddy Green, Elmo Hope, Hurricane Harris, Buddy Lucas, Charles Rawlins, Clarence Mack, Herman Bradley, The Midnighters, Buddy Montgomery, Harold Minerve, Teddy Smalls, Johnny Berdine, Lord Westbrook, Streaming J Hawkin, Bardou Ali, Charlie Ward, Panama Francis, Dennis Brooks, Louis Armstrong, George Baker, Dickie Well, Jerry Butler, Don and Ted Byron, Sam the Man, Les Brown, St. Clair Mill, Lonnie Simmons, Fred Green and Betty Shirley.
