Volume 4/ Issue 8 Black Westchester March 15, 2020 Women's Month Issue

VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 7

COMPLIMENTARY

Unapologetically Delivering News To Communities Of Color in Westchester & Surrounding Areas

MARCH 15, 2021

INSIDE BW

WORKING FAMILIES PARTY ENDORSES LAUREN CARTER FOR MT. VERNON CITY COUNCIL PAGE 6

914 SPOTLIGHT JANEIRA FORTÉ & LORRAINE LOPEZ PAGE 7

CELEBRATING WOMEN

OF WESTCHESTER TRACI ALEXANDER (P13) VINNIE BAGWELL (P14) YOCASTA JIMENEZ (P15) TRACY MCCOOK (P16)

LATINO EMPOWERMENT CELEBRATING CELEBRATES WOMEN-OWNED WOMEN’S MONTH BUSINESSES

BY LORRAINE LOPEZ PAGES 20-21

PAGE 22

CELEBRATING HER-STORY PAGE 23

NRPD’S COMPLAINT SUPPRESSION & THE NEED FOR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT

BY DR. NORRELL EDWARDS PAGE 24

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MARCH 15, 2021

“IT ALL STARTS HERE” Become a Police Officer

Westchester County Civil Service Exams for: • Police Officer • Police Officer (Spanish Speaking) Filing Period Exam Date

March 1 — March 29, 2021 May 15 OR May 16, 2021

For information and to apply, visit: humanresources.westchestergov.com Westchester County Department of Human Resources 148 Martine Ave, Suite 100, White Plains, New York 10601 (914) 995-2388

MARCH 15, 2021

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FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK Founded in 2014 by DAMON K. JONES AJ WOODSON Published by URBANSOUL MEDIA GROUP 455 Tarrytown Rd., Suite 1318 White Plains, NY 10607 (914) 979-2093 www.BlackWestchester.com

Email:

BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter: @BlkWestchesterM and @PBPRadio Instagram: @BlackWestchester and @PBPRadioShow Facebook: /BlackWestchesterMagazine

Publisher DAMON K. JONES @DamonKJones

Editor-In-Chief AJ WOODSON

@BWEditorInChief

Mistress Of Information Brenda L. Crump News Reporters/ Writers AJ Woodson Damon K. Jones Lorraine Lopez Jonathan Campozano Robert ‘Dr. Bob’ Baskerville Dr. Norrell Edwards

As Publisher of Black Westchester Magazine (BW), I would like to thank everyone for their support of our efforts to bring information to the people of Westchester County. As we embark on a new chapter for BW, we hope to continue to empower the reader on issues in their communities.

Independent media like BW has become more than a mere institution; instead, the independent media acts as a direct participant in the traditional three-branch system of governance.

What many fail to realize is that independent media serves a fundamental role in making democracies run efficiently, even though there are frequent clashes. Independent media system thus often “reflects the political philosophy in which Democracy indeed functions”.

This being said, BW will not be disregarded as a trivial player in the responsibilities of being a check and balance system in the political process of the Black Communities of Westchester.

BW’s purpose is not only to address the political process that affects the everyday lives of communities of colour in Westchester County. BW’s mission has also been to shine a light on the brilliant culture, morals, values and elegant lifestyle of Black people. It’s time to change the narrative on how Black people are portrayed in media.

As Publisher of BW, our doors are open to the public. From the publication, the website, our radio show and now the newspaper; our doors are open to the people. We do not do this for any grander position or status; we do it for the people.

A FEW WORDS FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF W elcome to our March 15, 2021 Women’s Month Issue.

This month, the nation celebrates Women History Month, although here at Black

Westchester we celebrate the achievements of women every month because women make history 365/24/7. With that said we welcome you to our Women’s Month issue.

Yes, I said Women’s Month as supposed to Women’s History Month because this year we are celebrating many Wonderful Women of Westchester. My mother always said give her, her flowers while she is alive to smell them. With that in mind, we are celebrating many women of Westchester, some you may have heard of, some we are introducing you to for the first.

Some are well known like Sculptor Vinnie Bagwell (page 14) and Dr. Traci Alexander (page 13) while many are unsung sheroes you may have never heard of. While there wasn’t enough space to celebrate every Woman of Westchester worthy of gracing these pages, we hope you enjoy reading about the ones we selected.

I would also like to thank all of you for the congratulations and well wishes in winning the Craig Newmark School of Journalism, Center for Community Media’s 2021 City Election Reporting Fellowship, and thanks to Dr. Bob for the write up (page 6) and you know we couldn’t do a Women’s Month Issue celebrating Women of Westchester without celebrating our resident Latina, Lorriane Lopez (page 8), check out the expanded Latino Empowerment section (pages 20-21).

We would like to take this time to thank all the readers, listeners, supporters, sponsors, contributors, and advertisers for their support in our effort to deliver the “News With The Black Point Of View,” since 2014. Send us your feedback, let us know what you think of this issue. Let us know subjects/topics you would like to see us cover in the future and send your letters to the editor to BlackWestchesterMag@gmail.com.

Peace and Blessings AJ Woodson, Editor-In-Chief and Co-Owner BLACK WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY CLAIMS OF

ADVERTISEMENTS THAT APPEAR IN PRINT OR ANY OTHER DIGITAL OR AUDIO FORMAT. ADVERTISEMENTS DO NOT INFLUENCE EDITORIAL DECISIONS OR CONTENT, WE ARE THE FREE PRESS!

Photographers AJ Woodson Graphic Designers AJ Woodson Paula S. Woodson/ PS Visually Speakin’ For Advertising Rates Contact Heather Smith at hsmith. blackwestchester@gmail.com Letters To The Editor BWEditorInChief@gmail.com

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NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW

MARCH 15, 2021

BLACK WESTCHESTER NEWS

BY AJ WOODSON

WORKING FAMILIES PARTY ENDORSES LAUREN CARTER FOR CITY COUNCIL

Mount Vernon – Lauren Carter, candidate for city council, who received the endorsement from former Councilman James R. Jubilee, Tuesday, February 23rd, and the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee, Wednesday, February 24th after the party withdrew their endorsement of Cathlin Gleason-Boncardo has been endorsed by the New York State Working Families Party on Friday, February 26th.

The Working Families Party stated they believe that people have a right to decent housing, affordable and accessible healthcare as well as addressing the urgency of climate change. These are issues that are also important to the people of Mount Vernon.

“I am humbled to receive the support of the Working Families Party and stand with them on these important matters,” Ms. Carter shared with Black Westchester. “Some residents are living in sub-standard conditions, the pandemic has disproportionately affected people of color, and the lack of environmental justice initiatives have created undue burdens in our community. As a member of the city council, I want to propose legislation to address these and other issues for Mount Vernon.”

Lauren will be on the party slate with Councilwoman Janice Duarte and André Wallace. Other candidates include MV Forward 2021 ticket of Cathlin Gleason-Boncardo, Danielle Browne and Ed Poteat, Nicole Lucio, and Gregory Cannata, then you have Councilwoman Delia Farquharson is also running for re-election, and candidate Hope Marable.

BW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AJ WOODSON WINS CENTER FOR COMMUNITY MEDIA 2021 CITY ELECTIONS REPORTING FELLOWSHIP

BY ROBERT ‘DR. BOB’ BASKERVILLE The

Center for Community Media announced the 30 recipients of the 2021 Elections Reporting Fellowship, Wednesday, March 3rd. Black Westchester Editor-In-Chief AJ Woodson and Westchester Hispano Publisher Maria María del Carmen Amado were among the recipients of this prestigious award.

Writing in nine languages and covering more than 15 communities – including African, Arab, Bangladeshi, Black, Caribbean, Chinese, Filipino, Haitian, Indian, Irish, Jewish, Korean, Latino, Nepalese, Pakistani, and Russian – the group reports on communities across the tri-state region, from Bushwick to Parkchester, and Brooklyn to Westchester, as well other areas across the globe.

Black Westchester (BW) Editor-In-Chief AJ Woodson joined a select group of community journalist from the NYC area who were awarded the Center for Community Media’s 2021 City Election Reporting Fellowship, was announced earlier today. An arm of the City University Graduate Center’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, the CCM provides a host of services designed to support media outlets that concentrate their coverage on local issues frequently overlooked by today’s highly corporatized, profit-driven media industry.

“I am honored to have been selected as one of the fellowship recipients,” Woodson shared. “It is a testament to the hard work we have put in to be recognized as a serious community media outlet. It is definitely a good look for the Black Westchester brand.”

Part of a dynamic duo that includes BW Publisher Damon K. Jones, Woodson and Jones launched Black Westchester in June 2014 in the hoping of filling the lacuna that opened after consolidation and downsizing forced some of the County’s bigger, better-known media outlets to slash coverage of the needs and concerns of Westchester’s 100,000+ African-American residents.

“I’m real proud of AJ,” Jones remarked, after getting word of the award.

“It’s a good look for him as a writer and an editor. He’s worked hard over the years to establish himself as a serious journalist.”

Despite working on a shoe-string budget, since its launch Woodson alone has published over 2,500 articles, covering a variety of topics that would’ve otherwise gone unreported. The fellowship is the latest in several awards that have been bestowed on the BW team in the past year, which includes their selection to City & State New York Magazine’s Westchester Power 100, and a Local Media Digital Innovation Award for community journalism from the Local Media Assoc.

Thanks to the support of the Fellowship, in the coming months Woodson will be able to expand his reporting beyond the borders of Westchester County, with plans to focus on the NYC 2021 election, dealing with issues residents in nearby Bronx neighborhoods are facing.

The CCM states the fellowship is part of the 2021 City Elections Initiative, started by the Center for Community Media to support community media in deepening and expanding their coverage of local and citywide elections, and connect community-based publishers with prospective advertisers in political campaigns, city government agencies, and voter education campaigns.

Woodson’s selection for the fellowship is just one part of the overall mission of CCM, which provides a host of support services to media outlets that concentrate on communities that are frequently overlooked by today’s highly corporatized, profit-driven media industry.

STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS CALLS ON GOV. CUOMO TO RESIGN

The top Democratic lawmaker in New York called for the resignation of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Sunday amidst allegations of sexual harassment and an ongoing investigation around botched counts of COVID-19 deaths in the state’s nursing homes.

The New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins formally called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign shortly after the governor reiterated he would not step down in the wake of two more former aides alleging inappropriate workplace behavior.

“Every day there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government. We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding the Covid-19 nursing home data, and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project,” StewartCousins said in a statement. “New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health, and economic impacts of it. We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state, Governor Cuomo must resign.”

Her statement was the first among Democratic leadership to call for Cuomo’s resignation after pressure to do so had been mounting from other Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Stewart-Cousins’s counterpart in the State Assembly, Speaker Carl Heastie, issued a statement shortly after, aligning himself with the Senate Majority Leader but stopping short of directly demanding Cuomo resign.

“The allegations pertaining to the Governor that have been reported in recent weeks have been deeply disturbing, and have no place whatsoever in government, the workplace, or anywhere else,” Heastie said in his statement. “I too share the sentiment of Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins regarding the Governor’s ability to continue to lead this state. We have many challenges to address, and I think it is time for the Governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York.”

The demand by Stewart-Cousins, who in 2018 became the first woman to lead a state legislative chamber, could potentially trigger a cascade of calls from other lawmakers for the governor to resign — especially Democrats — and could leave the governor inflicted with devastating political wounds as his administration also weathers a U.S. Justice Department probe of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including nursing home fatalities.

Three state senators quickly followed Stewart-Cousins’ lead: Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger and state Sen. Sahmra Brouk issued separate statements calling for Cuomo to step down.

“I stand with you in calling for Gov. Cuomo to resign so we can move our state forward,” Gianaris tweeted. More elected officials have joined the call for the Governor’s resignation as more women come out with allegations.

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RACISM BY ZIP CODE: NURSES AND THE COMMUNITY RALLY AGAINST RACIAL DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE

BY AJ WOODSON

Mount Vernon – Dozens of community members, faith leaders, healthcare workers, various union representatives, and elected officials joined nurses from Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital, Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital, and Montefiore in the Bronx, Friday, March 12th on the steps of Mount Vernon City Hall, to demand transparency and investment in the health of the city of Mount Vernon. Calling the city a prime example of the racial disparities prevalent in the health care system, especially during the pandemic. The Speak Out For Healthcare Justice Rally was in response to the release of an eye-opening new report critical of the impact of Montefiore health System’s aggressive expansion in southern Westchester County.

The city’s one and only hospital has faced the threat of closures before. Mount Vernon, a city that is 65% Black, densely populated, was disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Despite the disparity, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) says Montefiore invested federal, state, and taxpayer dollars in White Plains Hospital instead of Mount Vernon. The move has residents, healthcare workers, and community leaders questioning if this isn’t just another example of racism by zip code!

The NYSNA has been advocating for the Safe Staffing bill and released a 12page report titled “Unequal Empire: How Montefiore’s Expansion Reinforces Racial Disparities in Healthcare.” The report released Friday by the New York State Nurses Association and the Save and Transform Mount Vernon Coalition, concludes Montefiore’s expansion in Westchester County has deepened the racial divide in healthcare.

The study is critical of how Montefiore makes decisions on allocating resources in the primarily minority populated areas served by the healthcare entity. Nurses say those decisions have had a negative impact on healthcare access and community health in those neighborhoods.

Mount Vernon Hospital nurse Bernetta Urquhart was fired up after she says she’s faced a year of chronic understaffing and cuts to services.

Montefiore also closed the ICU in Mount Vernon during the pandemic, forcing critical patients to be sent to neighboring hospitals.

“Montefiore closing this ICU is hurting people every day and it’s dangerous to do that,” said Urquhart.

NYSNA represents Montefiore nurses in New York state’s largest labor union for RNs. NYSNA members have staged recent labor actions, including a strike and picket lines, at nearby Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital.

The Save and Transform Mount Vernon Coalition is a civic group focused on improving Mount Vernon Hospital.

“We’ve talked this past year about restorative justice, we’ve talked about health equality, and when we talk about injustice, injustice is not having and ICU, injustice is closing beds, injustice is transferring services, injustice is decreasing staff... and so what we have seen during COVID-19 is the faultline of systemic racism, injustice, inequity exposed more and more and we can not continue to look away, we have to face the inconvenient truth of what has been happening,” said Mayor Shawyn Patterson Howard.

BOWMAN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE ON HEALING AND REVITALIZING SCHOOLS

BY AJ WOODSON

Rep. Jamaal Bowman voted on Wednesday, March 10th for the final passage of H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, which will provide urgently-needed resources to defeat the coronavirus, put vaccines in people’s arms, money into families’ pockets, children safely back into classrooms, and people back to work.

“The American Rescue Plan, although not perfect is a significant and profound step to rebuild what we’ve lost during this pandemic, move toward making families whole, and save lives,” Rep. Bowman said.

He was joined by Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, who spoke on this plan addressing environmental justice and equality.

“I thank you for looking at this through an equity lens, Congressman Bowman, it’s not just about equally distributing the money but it also calls for distributing the money where the money is needed most because we know every community hasn’t be resourced equitably and this is what that does.”

Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, Mount Vernon Council members Derrick Thompson, Marcus Griffith, and Janice Duarte, County Legislator David Tubiolo, Ken Silvers, and members of the Mount Vernon City Schools District Board and several other local education advocates were also among the speakers and supporters of this plan.

“Our Black and Brown and poor communities have been redlined over the past 50 years. While schools in other parts of the county and district receive double the funding of Mount Vernon and the Bronx, that’s just completely unacceptable. So this plan, this 1.6 trillion dollar plan over 10 years is to make sure that we target resources into the communities that need it the most, into the communities that have been redlined. As we do that, we’re going to see our kids blossom beyond our imagination,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman who is the vice-chair of the Congressional Committee on Education and Labor for the 117th Congress.

Congressman Bowan held a press conference, Saturday, March 13th at the Mount Vernon S.T.E.A.M. Academy to announce what he calls a much-needed

revolution for schools in underserved communities. A new plan to heal our schools in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.

Bowman is proposing a $1.6 trillion plan to be allocated over the next 10 years to fund climate-friendly modifications at every public school in the nation, hire and train more teachers, and increase funding for lowincome and disability-focused programs. Under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, $128 billion will go directly towards reopening schools, $200 million of which will go to schools in Bowman’s District 16 - which covers much of the north Bronx, as well as the southern half of Westchester County including Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Bowman’s hometown of Yonkers but he says more needs to be done.

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BW WOMEN’S MONTH ISSUE

MARCH 15, 2021

JANEIRA FORTÉ LORRAINE LOPEZ

We posted on social media asking the readers who would you like to see us featured in our Women’s Month issue. On the suggestion of one of our readers, Stephanie Swan, Black Westchester proudly spotlights Janeira Forté a Greenburgh native and a true unsung hero.

From the age of 8 years old to a young adult, Janeira resided in Greenburgh Housing Authority, then moved to Manhattan Avenue. At the age of 10, she became involved in the Town of Greenburgh’s Summer Leadership Training Project, founded by Dr. Bob Petrillo. She saw this as an opportunity to earn money ($2.00/hr) while learning leadership skills.

This program became Janeira’s safe haven in many ways. When the founder tragically passed away, and the organization was facing closure, Janeira became the Executive Director at the age of 24, continuing the annual tradition for 15 additional years. This program helped thousands of young people deal with the everyday stressors of being adolescents throughout the community. It helped young people make positive choices and stay drug-free. When asked what made her keep the doors open, she said, “to provide young people from my community with the same safe haven I had growing up.”

Since moving on from the Summer Leadership Training Project, Janeira continues to impact our community. She recently co-founded Ride 4 Justice, which directly responds to police brutality, murders, and injustices against Black people. Ride 4 Justice is a unique and peaceful way to fight for the right to live as Black people in America. The first ride brought in over 400 freedom fighters from all of Westchester County and beyond who rode their bikes 15 miles in the name of justice. Ride 4 Justice has held two bike rides during the pandemic, and they look forward to many more. To evoke change on a systemic level, Janeira is on the Greenburgh Against Systemic Racism Committee to recommend police reform policies where needed.

In her professional life, she is currently serving as the Interim Chief Program Officer for a national non-profit organization, uAspire - helping young people from low-income neighborhoods get the resources they need to attend college. Janeira’s personal, educational journey led her to work in college affordability. Out of high school, she attended Lincoln University, her dream school but unfortunately did not have the financial resources to continue at Lincoln.

“Being a first-generation college graduate, I personally understand the circumstances of families who may lack the necessary tools, resources, or knowledge to find affordable pathways to postsecondary education,” Janeira shared. “uAspire is impacting the lives of students who desire to pursue higher education through its three-prong approach of training, advising, and policy work to increase equity while pushing toward systemic change.”

FROM SCHLOBOHM TO CITY HALL

We could not celebrate the achievements of women and put out a Women’s Month issue without celebrating our own resident Latina, Lorraine Lopez, co-host of the People Before Politics Radio Show and Latino Empowerment columnist. Some may have first heard of Lorraine from BW’s PBP Radio Show, but Lorraine is a longtime power player in Yonkers and Westchester political circles, a dedicated community activist, and the voice of the voiceless in her community for years.

Lorraine made history in 1999 as the first Latina to be elected in the Yonkers City Council. Like Demi Lovato, Lorraine has shown her own personal strength and likes to give others strength as well. She always fights for the underdog. Like the lyrics of Demi’s anthemic song, “Skyscraper,” Lorraine has risen from the ashes like a phoenix, not allowing anyone to define her worth.

You can take everything I have/ You can break everything I am/ Like I’m made of glass/ Like I’m made of paper/ Go on and try to tear me down/ I will be rising from the ground/ Like a skyscraper, Like a skyscraper She is been through it all but never lets that stop her or uses it as an excuse why she can’t do it, she is a survivor. Some may see her as rough around the edges or even abrasive and loud at times, but what most people love about Lorraine is she is always real. She will always say what’s on her mind, unapologetically. Even if having to apologize you may get a Sorry, Not Sorry!

You may see her all dressed up at a ball or large political function rubbing elbows with high-ranking politicians but unlike a lot many elected officials - former or current - she can still walk through the hood and get love. Even though she spent over 20 years in City Hall she never forgot where she came from and the residents always knew they had an advocate for them in the building.

As the first Latina to serve on the Yonkers City Council, Lorraine authored or sponsored several laws including the Carbon Monoxide Local Law, requiring carbon monoxide detectors in homes in Yonkers before the county and state passed similar laws. A move she is very proud of. Lorraine went on to serve as the Special Assistant to the Mayor under both John Spencer and Phil Amicone (two Republicans). She oversaw the Dept. of Constituent Services. Constituents were always welcomed to walk in knowing that she was their liaison between them and the city municipality.

She saw what the needs of the community were and made it happen. She also served as the Supervisor to the Dept. of Human Rights among her many other roles.

When she retired in 2011, she received the Key To The City for all her years of service by Mayor Amicone. When it was lost, Mayor Mike Spano replaced it in 2019, giving it to AJ Woodson so he could re-present it to her live on air, one Sunday night at the beginning of PBP Radio show.

While she walks humbly, don’t let the smooth taste fool you, please do not mistake her meekness for weakness. She is not someone you wanna test, just ask those who have made the mistake of crossing her. When she is minding her business you might want to leave her alone, because as Demi sang in Sorry, Not Sorry...

Now payback is a bad bitch/ And baby, I’m the baddest...

But what Lorraine is most know for is how she fights for and advocates for her people. She will go all out for those in the community who have no one else to fight for them, complete strangers she doesn’t even know. A lot of what she does, you may see elected officials taking photo ops for, and she never complains about not getting the credit. She doesn’t care about being in the media, she does it for the people. And while the public may not know, they know and that’s all that matters to her. Lorraine does it for the people cause they are her people. She can not wait for COVID to be over so she can actually hug her people again!

MARCH 15, 2021

BW HER-STORY

BLACK WESTCHESTER 9

ELVIRA CASTILLO

Black Westchester celebrates and proudly highlight Elvira Castillo President and Founder of Westchester Latinos Unidos, for her extensive record of working with the vulnerable and povertystricken groups on the issues they face every day such as hunger. With more than eight-yearsexperience working with local community organizations in her hometown of the Dominican Republic, she has a reputation for volunteering at a grass-root level on community building, neighborhood cleanup, mentoring, and consulting to at-risk Latino families facing housing, health, and legal issues.

As one of the Broker/Owners at Four Seasons Real Estate Center (557 Gramatan Ave.) in the city of Mount Vernon - where she has been a resident for over 22 years - she is very active in the community where she donates toys and coats for children during the holidays and coordinates back-to-school clothing drives for the homeless shelters.

A model for effective change, Elvira’s leadership gives her the ability to rise to the challenge to help instill an atmosphere of confidence, enabling others to lead with certainty and responsiveness under all circumstances. Her knowledge of organizational dynamics and tactical realities is suited to practical change with a strategic alignment.

Elvira also has a Dental Hygienist degree, which has given her the ability to utilize it to implement a home care dental instruction day for seniors where she donates home care products and educational discussions on proper dental care. Each February during children’s dental health month, Elvira selects a school to donate her time as well as dental products to the children. Her intentions are to continue to serve her community as much as she can for as long as she can. She believes that “you get by giving”.

Elvira currently serves as an 18-year board member of the Fleetwood Park Cooperative Board. She also served separately as a board member of the Mount Vernon’s Planning Board, and the cities Zoning Board for over 12 years.

Founded by Elvira in 2013, the Westchester Latinos Unidos (WLU) provides innovative consulting services to Westchester County. WLU implements the latest strategies, on obtaining the resources available for Latino families and business owners in Westchester County.

WLU’s core philosophy of guidance and sustainable practices ensure WLU clients that a full array of tools are at their disposal. WLU has proven to transform existing Latino businesses into viable operations. WLU’s unique collaborative methodology places our clients’ needed service businesses in synch with the ever-evolving sensibilities of today’s well-educated consumers.

“Seeing a need for energetic, nonprofit work in this area, we formed our organization to provide sensible solutions. We’ve consistently grown since then, all thanks to the helping hands of this amazing community!”

Her casual, moderately small nonprofit is the only one of its’ kind within the dynamic town of Mount Vernon. Therefore, it is poised for much-needed growth through brand awareness, grant opportunities, better cost control, and social media connections. With the management expertise, Westchester Latinos Unidos will become the leading Hispanic-Latino Organization for meeting the needs and services of our Hispanic residents of Mount Vernon, Yonkers, New Rochelle, White Plains, etc.

She does not receive the credit or recognition she deserves, so we decided to celebrate Eliva Castillo in our Women’s Month issue. She is a true unsung shero.

JOYCE SHARROCK COLE ALICE ROKER

Joyce Sharrock Cole was appointed to the position of Ossining Village Historian Tuesday, July 21, 2020, in a small event at Duers Circle, the newly upgraded intersection on the west side of Ossining’s historic double arch. Sharrock Cole currently serves on the Village’s Historic Preservation Commission and is the first African-American to serve as Ossining’s Village Historian.

History is personal for Joyce Sharrock Cole, she grew up without any sense of her own family’s past. Some of her grandparents had died young, others weren’t talking. But then, when she was 41, a family reunion and a helpful genealogist led to the discovery that her great-grandmother was the product of a plantation owner’s son in South Carolina.

“Up until that point, I didn’t feel a connection. I couldn’t find my place in history. There’s power in knowing who you are, and now I know who I am and who I descend from.”

Assembling her own genealogy exposed Cole’s deep connection to the Village of Ossining, where she grew up and has always lived. She realized one of her mother’s best friends was the great-granddaughter of the Reverend Henry Edward Duers, a runaway slave who fought in the Civil War and became a ground-breaking figure in the African-American community. He came to the Village of Sing Sing and helped many families – including the Sharrocks – to move north during the Great Migration.

It is like she was destined for the job. Now Cole helps others make similar connections, and discover their own roots. Black Westchester salutes Joyce Sharrock Cole for making history as the first African-American Ossining Village Historian and helping others discover their history!

Councilwoman Alice Roker has blazed trails for decades, both in her career with NBC and in her second career with the Town of Yorktown. She has made a tremendous impact in every area of her professional life and is a cherished member of the Yorktown community.

At NBC, Alice became the Co-Producer of Channel 4’s News Program, “Live at Five,” a job that New York Magazine called “the most powerful job in local News.” She left the television industry in 1987 after she and her former husband adopted a little girl, then moved with their family to Yorktown.

Alice was elected Town Clerk in 1989, becoming the first AfricanAmerican in Yorktown history to gain a seat in town government.

Under Alice’s direction over the next twenty-five years, the Town Clerk’s Office was modernized and her work was recognized by the New York State Education Department. Alice is most proud of creating Yorktown’s Record Center, which holds one of Yorktown’s earliest books, including the Register of children born to slaves and the Book of Manumissions: the names of people freed from bondage long before the Emancipation Proclamation. Alice is also proud of the book that she co-wrote with Linda Cooper about Yorktown’s history: “Images of America: Yorktown” published in 2003.

Years after retiring from office, Alice felt the call back to public service.

She believed that civility was lacking in Town Board Meetings, the town’s infrastructure was crumbling and needed to be addressed, and a period of economic revitalization was sorely needed. Alice ran for and was elected to Yorktown Town Council in 2017.

Alice has always worked for the betterment of all of the people of Yorktown. Her dedicated service to this community is an inspiration to others for many years to come.

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R E C O V E R Y .

VOTE MIKE KHADER! "AS YONKERS IS GROWING IN DIVERSITY, WE NEED THE LEADERSHIP OF MIKE KHADER WHO CAN BRING OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER. WE NEED A LEADER LIKE MIKE BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS THE SOUL OF THIS CITY." -DR. ALEXANDRA CONNOLLY

YOU CAN COUNT ON HIM TO GOVERN AND LEAD OUR CITY BY PUTTING RESIDENTS, FIRST!

New York Attorney Lauren P. Raysor is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on:

Personal Injury • Bankruptcy Civil Rights • Matrimonial & Family Court Member of the Westchester Black Bar Association Former President of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association Member of the Mount Vernon NAACP Chair, Mount Vernon Coalition for Police Reform

Help is just one call away.

Call attorney Lauren P. Raysor at 914-733-8080.

11 West Prospect Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550 (914) 733-8080 • laurenpraysor.com Attorney Advertising. Prior Results Do Not Guarantee a Similar Outcome.

12 BLACK WESTCHESTER

BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM

MARCH 15, 2021

Five Towns: One Book

Bringing our communities together for an important conversation around

CASTE by Isabel Wilkerson

A Virtual Visit and Discussion from Ms. Wilkerson on April 25th at 4PM CASTE explores through an immersive deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.

Isabel Wilkerson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, is the author of the critically acclaimed, New York Times bestsellers The Warmth of Other Suns, and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.

JOIN these additional facilitated talks about CASTE: Thursday, April 8th . 7 – 8 pm Saturday, April 17th . 4 – 5 pm

Wednesday, April 28th . 1 – 2 pm Monday, May 3rd . 7 – 8 pm

Copies of CASTE are available via your local library.

Place a hold via the Westchester Library System’s online catalog or download the ebook via Overdrive. Contact your local library for assistance.

Sponsored by CURE: The Coalition for Understanding Racism through Education in partnership with these five libraries: Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle and Rye

www.learnwithcure.com

REGISTER NOW!

https://caste.eventbrite.com

MARCH 15, 2021

NEWS WITH THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW

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BW COVER STORY: TRACI ALEXANDER

BY AJ WOODSON

Dr. “TEA” Traci E. Alexander is the leader in Ed•u•tain•ment a powerhouse mom, working in the media industry that spans three decades, an award-winning journalist for; Ebony.Com, BET, Queen Latifah, garnering exclusive sit-down interviews with notable leaders and icons such as President Barak Obama, Ambassador Susan Rice, Alice Walker, Hill Harper, Cyntoia Brown-Long, “The Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin, and noted as the first African-American woman to anchor the evening news for ABC in Central Louisiana, and produced programs for “The Queen Latifah Show.” She is also the creator and executive producer of the LITerature Lounge that supports her mission to increase the number of men and women of color to attain an advanced degree in higher education. She was also responsible for bringing the famed author of The Color Purple, Alice Walker to Westchester, October 10, 2018, for a rare appearance at New Rochelle High School in the Whitney Young Auditorium for a conversation about her bilingual collection of poetry, Taking The Arrow Out Of The Heart.

Dr. TEA has just joined The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon staff as Director of Development. Dr. TEA will be responsible for leading the Club’s plan to generate resources and support for one of the leading youth development organizations in the greater New York metro area. Her work in fundraising and business development has been dedicated to advancing social justice for women of color, and to supporting underserved and marginalized communities. Alexander has helped raise visibility and fundraising campaigns for nonprofit organizations across the country, most recently for a fundraiser for the BGCMV featuring former U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

I have known Traci for years and had the pleasure of watching her become and thrive as a prominent media pioneer, an award-winning journalist, and professor in the fields of communication and leadership development for over 30 years. It was great news when we heard she will be bringing her talents to the BGCMV. It is our pleasure to celebrate her in our 2021 Women’s Month issue.

“I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to work with the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon,” said Dr. Alexander. “Since we worked together last fall on our event with Ambassador Rice, I have seen first-hand the commitment of their board and the passion of their staff to help the youth of Mount Vernon reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” She added, “As a communicator and connector of people with passion to causes with purpose, I look forward to growing our relationships and develop the resources they need to help the youth in this special community realize their potential for a brighter future.”

The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon offers after-school, teen, and summer programs for over 800 youth in the Mount Vernon community, and serves over 1,400 through a variety of other programs to help them learn and grow in a safe, fun, educational environment.

“Our Club has had a meaningful impact in the lives of thousands of current and former youth in the Mount Vernon community for over 100 years and we have ambitious plans to grow in the future” said Rob Potack, Board Chairperson for Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. “It is critically important for our organization to have a development executive with an entrepreneurial spirit, fundraising know-how, and a successful track record of raising awareness and funding. Traci Alexander embodies all of these qualities and so much more, and we are excited to have her join us.”

Every day, the BGCMV’s dedicated, highly trained staff and volunteers serve youth members with a wide variety of engaging, interactive activities and programs, to help them improve their self-esteem, develop positive values, and achieve their highest potential in academic success. The mission of the Boys & Girls Club is to develop today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with such a tremendous background, connections, accomplishments, and experience join us to lead our development plans,” said Mel Campos, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. “Traci is the perfect fit for our organization to help build our programs and provide the resources that our kids need to grow. On behalf of our entire staff, we welcome Traci, and look forward to a great future together for our Club and for the Mount Vernon community.”

Dr. “Tea” Traci Alexander, former Host & Producer DrTeaTV’s Book Alive and CEO Mz. Mom appeared on our People Before Politics Radio Show, Sunday, March 18, 2018, and we look forward to interviewing her on an upcoming episode to discuss her new position. Black Westchester salutes Dr. “Tea” Traci Alexander, the personification of Black Excellence.

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2021 WOMEN’S MONTH ISSUE

MARCH 15, 2021

BW COVER STORY: VINNIE BAGWELL

BY AJ WOODSON

Vinnie Bagwell creates art that nods to history’s untold narratives and reveals its unspoken truths. Her visualized prominent black historic statues address civil rights, segregation, the slave trade, and historic racism. Bagwell understands that public art means many things to people. It is a form of expression. This Yonkers native uses her art as a conversation starter, to sometimes invoke those difficult conversations we need to have, but rarely want to. Her art documents history can sometimes be a celebration or a legacy. Damon K. Jones and I started Black Westchester to help change the narrative of how our people are depicted in the media. Vinnie uses her art to balance the narrative.

Her latest creation is a 7-foot sculpture of abolitionist and suffragist Sojourner Truth located at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in Ulster County to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage.

Isabella “Bomefree” Baumfree was born enslaved in Ulster County among Dutch people. She freed herself from slavery one year before legal enslavement ended in New York.

Following her deeply held religious views she traveled as an itinerant preacher, speaking ‘truth’ to the harsh inequities people of color and women suffered while calling for systemic change. Naming herself Sojourner Truth, she became one of the nation’s leading voices for abolition and universal suffrage in the 19th century.

“On the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and the 19th Amendment, I am delighted to mark it with the permanent installation of Sojourner Truth,” Sculptor Vinnie Bagwell shared at the unveiling, Wednesday, August 26, 2020. “It has been an honor for me to create this work because this is a moment when the Empire State of New York turns the protest into progress. This public artwork— sited in such a public place—will enlighten and unify the community-at-large in our values and commitment to fight for justice and equality.” Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, chairwoman of the New York State Women’s Suffrage Commission, said the unveiling of the statue was a fitting way to honor the abolitionist and suffragist.

Vinnie Bagwell’s first commission: “The First Lady of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald” was commissioned by the City of Yonkers in 1996. It is the first sculpture of a contemporary African-American woman to be commissioned by a municipality in the United States. In 2018, a 7’ bronze of Hartford educator, “Walter ‘Doc’ Hurley”, commissioned by the State of Connecticut, became the first public artwork of a contemporary African American in the State of Connecticut. A life-sized sculpture of music icon Marvin Gaye was also commissioned by the District of Columbia Department of General Services, for the new Marvin Gaye Recreation Center in NE DC.

In 2012, director Ruben Santiago-Hudson sought Vinnie out to create two bas-reliefs to enhance a 112-year-old piano for August Wilson’s play, “The Piano Lesson” at the Signature Theatre in New York City. At the request of the Alabama Historical Society and the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Vinnie created “Liberté”, a 22” h bronze, to exhibit in the inaugural, year-long “Road to Equality: The 1961 Freedom Rides” exhibition to commemorate the 50th anniversary

of the Freedom Rides at the new Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery in 2011.

Vinnie Bagwell was born in Yonkers and grew up in the Town of Greenburgh. She displayed a remarkable gift for drawing at an early age and developed a passion for painting in high school. A Morgan State University alumna, Vinnie is an untutored artist and began sculpting in 1993.

Vinnie’s multidisciplinary work crosses over between illustration, graphic design, painting, and sculpture. Her portraits display immense spirit and verisimilitude and have souls, which grandly speak to viewers.

She has powers of observation and an innate understanding of proportion.

Vinnie is an untutored artist and began sculpting in 1993 and renowned artist who led the conception and development of the Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden in Yonkers, NY (http://enslavedafricansraingarden.org/), York and whose achievements include being awarded with public work commissions in New and across the US.

Vinnie is also co-author of “A Study of African-American Life in Yonkers From the Turn of the Century”. Vinnie was recently announced as a winner of an award from Americans for the Arts. For more on Vinnie Bagwell visit her website - https://www. vinniebagwell.com/

Black Westchester proudly celebrates Vinnie Bagwell!

MARCH 15, 2021

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BW COVER STORY: YOCASTA JIMENEZ

BY AJ WOODSON

I first met Yocasta Jimenez, LMSW (better known in the community as Yogi) when she put together a Small Business Pop-Up Shop in The Galleria Mall to help promote small Black and Brown businesses for Black History Month. I invited her on our radio show, People Before Politics to discuss it and immediately knew I wanted her to be one of the Westchester Women, we would spotlight in our Women’s Month Issue.

Ms. Yogi is also known as The Hip Hop Therapist.

She is the President and Founder of Teens Under Construction, Inc. She believes in incorporating Hip-Hop culture into Teens Under Construction, Inc. (TUC) as a way to unite our community through cultural communication which helps provide youth engagement and educational growth.

TUC is a mentoring and counseling organization, servicing at-risk youth ages 15 – 24. Ms. Yogi has a passion for the work she does. She loves working with young people and educating people about effective ways to engage youth in order to provide them the ability to obtain success.

As a “teen mom” and “high-school dropout” she personally knows the difficulties associated with being an “at-risk youth.” Her experience has afforded her the ability to reach the youth in unique ways by incorporating music and other urban tools.

“My love for the work and the teens has demonstrated success as we currently have over 20 clients in different colleges and trade programs,” Ms.Yogi shared with Black Westchester. “Within the next 2 years, we hope to expand our service to an independent living program where we will have the ability to house displaced youth and/or youth that have aged out of care in addition to providing our initial services.”

After the first 2 years, she hopes to maintain a position of executive director and continue to have an influence on the culture of the business. It is extremely important to her that the youth continue to be the organization’s focus and that it never loses a culture of acceptance, understanding, and nurturing.

“I have chosen this because I see the needs in many communities,” she continued. “I have personal experiences that have led me to want to improve the quality of life of others. Through my experience as a licensed social worker I have had the ability to complete research that has proven that despite the trauma and other negative life-changing factors, an individual can prove to be successful after encountering nurturing, loving of supportive people in their life. It could have been a teacher, counselor, friend, mate, or any other form of support and empathy.

At TUC we will serve as that person and place of nurture and support.

She started TUC in 2014 but the idea has been brewing since she was 13 after a stint in juvenile detention where they were treated very poorly.

Yocasta is a survival and is proof you do not have to allow your past to define you.

She has been broke but never broken, she’s been homeless and incarcerated. I was a fighter. She had a lot of anger and her family frequently frowned on her behavior and she was often left out of family events. She was a teen mom, a high school drop out but that’s is not the end of her story, she is also a Fordham Graduate. Now she uses her experiences to reach the youth, letting them know she understands where they are because she has been there.

She got a second chance to make something of herself

and know she pays it forward, dedicating her life to at-risk youth who many have given up on, letting them know they are not alone, she is there for them. TUC has allowed her and others to offer various programs, music production, CPR, a Drop-in center where food and workshops were provided, fashion/shopping days, bubble soccer at Gardella Day, the TRUTH Program (Teens Reconstructing Under True Hip Hop) where we provided social-emotional learning to youth in group homes and incarcerated.

“I Got my GED enrolled in Westchester Community College and drop out like 4 times. The 4th time was a charm, I figured things out made it Fordham and I graduated top of my class. Now I am an LMSW. Through my struggles, I triumphed and now I’m here to help our youth do the same,” she shares with Black Westchester.

She also offers a 6 Week Hip-Hop Therapy Curriculum and how it can be implemented into other’s institutions and organizations. TUC offers Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Global Cultural Communication.

SEL is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success. People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. From effective problemsolving to self-discipline, from impulse control to emotion management and more, SEL provides a foundation for positive, long-term effects on teens and young adults.

Global Cultural Communication: Hip-Hop is a global cultural communication style including the pillars of music, art, and dance. Slam poetry, beatbox, and beat making have become worldwide ways young people and adults use to express their thoughts, feelings, ideas, values, knowledge, and wisdom in urban, rural, suburban, and other environments. Hip-Hop music has served as a powerful voice and form of expression for young black audiences and has evolved into a culture with its own language, style of dress, and mindset.

“We pride ourselves on incorporating Hip-Hop culture into our organization to engage youth and reinforce youth development and empowerment,” Yogi shared.

She could have easily allowed her past as an excuse, but instead, she uses her combined experiences to inspire the youth. She is truly an unsung shero. If you didn’t know now you know. Black Westchester salutes and proudly features Yocasta Jimenez aka Mrs. Yogi The Hip Hop Therapist. If you didn’t know now you know.

This is her-story!

16 BLACK WESTCHESTER

2021 WOMEN’S MONTH ISSUE

MARCH 15, 2021

BW COVER STORY: TRACY MCCOOK

BY AJ WOODSON

First, allow me to salute and pay tribute to all the nurses and health care workers who have been selflessly fighting on the front lines day in and day out to keep the rest of us safe during the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Their sacrifice and willingness to put their own lives in danger daily is nothing less than heroic. We couldn’t do this special Women’s Month Issue to celebrate Women in Westchester, without celebrating healthcare workers. One in particular immediately came to mind while we discussed women to celebrate.

Not only does she represent everything above she has also been a Health Care Justice Advocate for over 25 years fighting for equality in healthcare for the cities of Mount Vernon and New Rochelle. I’m talking about Tracy McCook, RN, Chair of the Executive Committee of the hospital’s nurse’s union, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the state’s largest nurses union, with more than 42,000 frontline nurses in its ranks.

Some may be asking what is Healthcare Justice? What does it look like? Healthcare justice is social justice that revolves around the concept of equality and human rights. It pertains to the opportunities, privileges, and wealth of people. Social justice in health care examines how these rights are manifested in the lives of individuals. It also aims to redress inequalities based on gender, race, religion, age, and other characteristics. Systematic racism and discrimination affect social justice on a global level and drive Health Care Activists like Tracy to strive for human rights and equality for individuals. Social justice in health care simply translates to the delivery of high-quality care to all individuals. Achieving social justice is critical in health care to ensure that all individuals can maintain their highest level of health and wellness.

Who is Tracy McCook? Well, I’m glad you asked. Tracy is a native Mount Vernonite. She was born in Mount Vernon Hospital and delivered one of the last babies in 1998 that was born in her hometown hospital that has been in threat of closure and has systematically been gutted and stripped of services. She is a wife, mother of two college-age children, and graduate of Mount Vernon High School and Mount Vernon School of Nursing, formerly known as the Dorothea Hopfer School of Nursing.

Tracy does not look at herself as an activist, but after having her concerns and the concerns of her patients fall on deaf ears, she organically became the voice of her co-workers, patience and the residents of the cities of the hospitals she worked in including Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, fighting racism by zip code. Speaking up and fighting the racial disparities in health care and the role that hospital systems and health policy decisionmakers play in reinforcing those healthcare disparities.

“I’m for what’s right. I’m not a politician, I don’t aspire to be a politician, I don’t aspire to be an activist, I’m just a nurse on the front line, looking out for the needs of the patients in this community and I am the voice for them. I’m not looking for notoriety, fame, or anything.”

Her fight for equality in healthcare in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, predate Montefiore threatening to close Mount Vernon Hospital and not providing healthcare workers with what they need to protect themselves during the pandemic in New Rochelle, she first started speaking up the two hospitals were under the Sound Shore Healthcare System in the late 1990s. When Sound Shore was exposed for what they were doing, they went belly up and bankrupted. this started a bigging war between Montefiore and the Westchester Medical Center and as we know Montefiore won and took over in late 2011. Shortly after in early 2012, Tracy and others noticed that Montefiore didn’t have any intentions of doing what they promised.

They acted as if Mount Vernon should just be happy with whatever you give them. When asked if she feels its a racism issue she quickly responded;

“I feel there is a level of racism there but I also feel that there’s this perception that Mount Vernon is not only a city with just poor people but a city where people don’t want anything for themselves, they don’t want better. They should be happy with whatever you give them. I felt when Monte came in, yeah their throwing us a bone but they felt, you aren’t used to anything so you should be happy for the bone we are throwing you because you don’t have anything anyway. It’s just hurtful. Do I think there is an undertone of racism, absolutely, but I think they have a perception when you’re Black you do have anything? They look at the demographics of Mount Vernon and formed an opinion of us that is not accurate. there are a lot of people in Mount Vernon that have, they are homeowners, they have private insurance. But on a whole, we are perceived as the land of the misfits. But because we didn’t have certain things when they got here, Mount Vernon should be glad with what we give you, we’re not going to give you what we give our other campuses, we’ll give you something. It’s like they feel we should appreciate that because they took us from bankruptcy, we took you when you were losing you should be happy with what we give you. I feel that is the message. Is it a racism issue, yes, is it about money, absolutely?

I think the money issue maybe be greater than the racism. I think if this was an affluent African-American community where everyone had private insurance, I think the treatment would be totally different.”

Her response is the very definition of racism by zip code. The hospital gets more money if the client base is mostly full if privately insured instead of public insured. For Montefiore Health Systems it’s about zip codes.

Whether she considers herself a healthcare justice advocate, she has been advocating for equitable care and fighting the healthcare disparities she’s at Mount Vernon and New Rochelle hospital. Even under Sound Shore when they weren’t always getting paid on-time, they persevered

Tracy is determined to do the same under Montefiore even though they may be a health care giant.

“Yes Montefiore is a giant, but David took down Goliath too.

So with our perseverance and base, we are not going to allow their size to intimidate us.”

This is why we are proudly featuring Tracy as one of our Wonderful Women of Westchester in our Women’s Month Issue. You might not know her name but she has been fighting healthcare disparities, for equality in health care for Mt Vernon and New Rochelle for over 20 years. One has to ask, as bad as it is, how much worst would it be if not for Tracy and other Health Care Justice Advocates like her. We salute you and wanted to give you your flowers now while you can smell them.

Tracy McCook is truly an unsung shero!

MARCH 15, 2021

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WOMEN’S MONTH ISSUE

MARCH 15, 2021

THE WOMEN BEHIND MOUNT VERNON ARTS SOCIETY AKA MOUNT VERNON ARTS COUNCIL

BY AJ WOODSON

The Mount Vernon Arts & Culture Society aka The Mount Vernon Arts Council was created out of the many years dedicated to preserving, enhancing, and celebrating the Arts in the city of Mount Vernon.

In the 1990’s Mayor Ernest D. Davis, set out to preserve the arts in Mount Vernon by creating the Third Street Task Force. A consultant Ann Tucker was hired to work from the outside, while Judy Williams-Davis worked from inside City Hall.

The Mt. Vernon Arts Council replaced the Mayor’s Third Street Task Force to Encompass the entire City and not be under the politics of the City. A separate entity that helped the City use the Arts as a catalyst for change. As a seperate and independent 501c3, when the

(left to right): Cathy Webb, Nora Tyndall (Treasurer), Maureen E. Wilson (Director Mt Vernon School of Music), Ann Post (Curator, Arts Committee Chair), Cheryl Dennis, (botton row): Tammie Phifer (Secretary), Lorna Kirwan, Gerri Post (1st Vice President), Carol Merchant (Asst. Treasurer) and Judy Williams-Davis (President)

politics and government changed the Arts remained intact.

The Taskforce gave opportunities for unknown artists to work with the veteran arts world. Art exhibits were held all over the City. People would visit City Hall just to see the artwork. The arts were alive and doing well. Businessmen were putting millions into Third Street Renovation. Harlem’s event organizers began to coordinate activities with the Task Force, ideas began to culminate and the celebratory festival, Arts on third Festival was born. It became an annual celebration of culture, arts and entertainment, every year since 1999.

The free outdoor event spanning over six city blocks featuring various family-friendly arts and entertainment quickly grew in attendance. Starting with a crowd of 3,500, the last festival held a walking crowd of 100,000. The festival sponsored by the Taskforce had over 200 vendors and grew to three stages of entertainment.

After an injury of Ann Tucker, the festival was run by organizers Judy WilliamsDavis and Shari Harris. Later, Cathy Webb would come aboard to handle all stage entertainment. Dough E. Fresh flew in every year to close the festival out, no matter where he was.

Gerrie Post is Grant procurement, Ann Post is our curator and an artist.

She owns her own art studio “The Riley Studio,“ Maureen E. Wilson is a musician and the Director of Mt Vernon School of Music. Collectively these women provide cultural arts that embody creative thinking and critique, which encompasses the analyses of contemporary visual culture alongside other art forms i.e. visual art, literature, music, theatre, film, dance, etc.

The Arts Council began an after-school music program in the Doles Center for children that would otherwise not be able to afford music lessons. Maureen Wilson the executive director opened the program with 140 children, many with special needs, and were able to thrive. Currently, the arts Council continues to help young people to maximize their lives.

LONICE EVERSLEY

Like many of the women we are celebrating in this issue, Lonice Eversley wears many hats. Mother, sister, friend, loving daughter, writer, coach, mentor, dedicated educator, and Master Teacher for the NYCDOE, are just a few of her many titles. This Westchester resident comes from a family of educators, and activists. Her great grandfather was a Principal In North Carolina in the late 1800s. Her great uncle was a teacher and administrator, and her mother was an early childhood reading specialist in the Bronx, for 37 years.

“What we always knew about education is that it is a means to liberate, and that is the energy I bring into the classroom so that my students can grow intellectually and apply that knowledge to efforts that bring about change in their lives, communities, and ultimately the world,” she shares with Black Westchester.

With more than 22 years of experience as a teacher at the high school and college levels, Lonice is committed to empowering young minds through exposure to diverse perspectives that foster critical thinking. It is Lonice’s main objective to provide opportunities for her students to prepare for college academically, socially, and emotionally.

Lonice started her career in politics. She was a Congressional Black Caucus Fellow, during which time she worked on education and labor policy. Then she worked as Legislative Finance Analyst at the New York City Council, where she worked on housing policy.

As a veteran teacher, she has served students in East Harlem and the South Bronx. “It has been my honor

The Mount Vernon Public Library has become a key sponsor to housing art exhibits and arts education. The next exhibitions and concerts will be done virtually due to COVID restrictions. Also, the Mt Vernon Arts Council is currently soliciting the Mount Vernon City Council to allow them to design a Black Lives Matter (BLM ) Plaza in the front of City Hall on the pedestrian walkway.

Not only is the message important but so is the location as well. Although the work is symbolic, it sends a strong message starting with the city leaders, that all lives will not matter, if Black Lives Don’t Matter. It will also support the hundreds of Cities that have BLM plazas speaking out against the racial injustices and denied democracy for all. All artists should register online to be a part of it. Visit the Mt. Vernon Arts & Culture Society’s website MVACS.com.

The arts have a long-standing place in the City of Mount Vernon, producing prolific artists such as EV White, Art Carney, Dick Clark, Heavy D, Al B. Sure, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen whose Mother Vivian Ayers works of poetry was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, Academy Award Winning Actor Denzel Washington (who just had the School of the Arts named after him), JB Smooth, Douglas Baldeo, Children Author EB White, just to name a few and of course, we claim Doug E. Fresh. If there ever was a city that is influence by the arts it is Mount Vernon.

Black Westchester salutes Judy Williams-Davis, Maureen E. Wilson, Ann Post, Gerri Post, Nora Tyndall, Tammie Phifer, Carol Merchant, Cathy Webb, Cheryl Dennis, Lorna Kirwan, the women behind the Mount Vernon Arts Society for continuing preserving and providing a place for the arts for the youth and future generations to be influenced. The arts are a known catalyst for change in a community organically. Through Mount Vernon Arts Society, these women are driven because they understand that art has the power to change the lives of our young people.

to facilitate learning experiences in English and Sociology, for young people,” she stated. Lonice is intentional about stressing critical thinking and ensuring that learning is active and not passive, in her classroom.

“When we look at equity in education, we have to think of it as the next civil rights movement, because that’s exactly what it is. Our students have been left behind for far too long.” Lonice shared at Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s press conference on Healing and Revitalizing Schools, on March 13th at the Mount Vernon STEAM Academy.

Lonice is a second generation native New Yorker from the Bronx, and is an alum of A. Philip Randolph Campus High School (Harlem) Clark University, New York University, and Fordham University. Her daughter is a fashion design student at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Mother and daughter co-own Lotus Lorraine, LLC, an educational consulting firm.

When schools shut down in the spring of 2020, Lonice sprung into action. She wrote blogs and offered support for teachers who struggled with facilitating virtual learning. Teachers as far away as Nevada saw Lonice’s blogs and reached out to her through social media, for help. Lonice explained, “As a Teacher Leader, I felt that it was my obligation to support my fellow teachers. All of it was in service of students, who deserved the best possible education.” Lonice Eversley is a shining example of leadership and dedication to effectively educating our young people. Lonice sees investments in students as investments in the future of our society.

Black Westchester salutes and proudly features Lonice Eversley in our Wonderful Women of Westchester.

MARCH 15, 2021

THREE YEARS AND COUNTING

BLACK WESTCHESTER19

DEMOGRAPHICS GENRE Male - 42.55% female - 57.45% RACE/ETHNICITY/NATIONALITY Black/ African-American- 62.24% Hispanic or Latino - 6.12% White - 23.47% Asian - 2.04% Caribbean - 10.20% Native American - 7.14% Other - 2.04%

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THREE YEARS STRONG AND COUNTING

AGE 17 OR YOUNGER- 5.15% 18-20 - 1.03% 21-29 - 4.12% 30-39 - 6.19% 40-49 - 31.96% 50-59 - 29.90% 60 OR OLDER - 21.65% EMPLOYMENT STATUS Employed, Working Full-Time- 46.24% Employed, Working Part-Time - 5.45% Self Employed - 15.05% Unemployed - 5.38% Retired - 18.28% Disabled, Unable To Work - 8.60% RELATIONSHIP STATUS Married- 33.68% Widowed - 3.16% Divorce - 14.74% Separated - 1.05% Domestic Partner or Civil Union - 2.11% Single but Cohabiting - 8.42% Single, Never Married - 36.84% HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION Graduated from High School- 9.72% GED - 2.78% Some College - 23.61% Graduated College - 37.50% Some Graduate School - 8.33% Completed Graduate School - 18.06% POLITICAL AFFILIATION Republican- 5.26% Democrat - 50.53% Independent - 25.26% Something Else - 18.95%

About Black Westchester: BlackWestchester.com is a magazine (website) and print newspaper for people of color for Westchester and the Tri-State area of New York at every economic level. Black Westchester is committed to being a platform to profile life, culture, economics, politics, sports, and entertainment and those who are representing vision in these marketplaces and who can both encourage and provide role models to other men and women. Black Westchester, through its online magazine, print newspaper, weekly talk radio show, and editorial content, will be a vessel of community information throughout Westchester and the Tri-State area of New York. Our mission is to promote the concept of “community” through media.

The Black Westchester Newspaper is a monthly newspaper, 10,000 distributed monthly throughout Westchester and Surrounding Areas with a heavy concentration in Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Yonkers, Elmsford, White Plains, Greenburgh, Peekskill, Tarrytown, NE Bronx, Harlem, Stamford, CT with a slightly smaller presence elsewhere in the county and surrounding areas.

Black Westchester is the best vehicle to reach communities of color throughout the county, but not limited to just communities of color, we have a large non-African-American readership as well.

Black Westchester and the People Before Politics Radio Show started in July and August of 2014 respectively and the print edition started on our threeyear anniversary in August 2017. In such a small amount of time, Black Westchester has heavily influenced the county, public policy, and the elected officials while informing the public in a way that was missing, filling a necessary void.

Larger news outlets such as The Journal News (Lohud), News 12 Westchester and Fios1 News, The New York Post, ABC News, and others also follow us and have quoted us for breaking stories that they, in turn, did follow up stories on. Black Westchester is the voice of the voiceless and has covered many stories that other news outlets often overlooked and in turn followed our lead and reported later.

Black Enterprise Magazine reported, “Black buying power currently stands at over 1.1 Trillion dollars annually and is on the road to hit about $1.5 Trillion by 2021. These figures have also been documented by the Huffington Post, The Atlantic, MediaPost.com, Fortune Magazine, and many other respected media outlets. This collective buying power means that nearly 2 Trillion dollars will be flowing through Black American annually very soon, making us a centerpiece for various researchers, marketers, advertisers, and other campaigns designed to influence black spending patterns.

With that said, for businesses who do business and want to do business with communities of color in Westchester County and surrounding areas, advertising with Black Westchester, not only makes dollars but also makes perfect sense. We are the voice of the Black Community.

Sponsorship and advertising are also available in our weekly talk radio show, People Before Politics Radio, where we have been bringing you Real Talk For The Community since 2014.

20 BLACK WESTCHESTER

LATINO EMPOWERMENT

MARCH 15, 2021

LE CELEBRATES WOMAN’S MONTH

BY LORRAINE LOPEZ

When AJ asked me to dedicate these LE pages to Women’s Month, I knew immediately the women I wanted to highlight. First, Karine Patiño and Amy J. Vele, both young Ecuadorian-American women who are currently running for office. Karine for Village/Town Trustee of Mount Kisco and Amy for City Council in Peekskill. I follow both of them on their journeys and incredible milestones and accomplishments they have achieved. They’re both role models for our young girls and I wish them much success. Next, we have Maddie Cheatham, founder of Pamela’s Big Heart Foundation, an organization dedicated to her beloved mom after her passing. A young African-American Yonkers native, wife and a mother of three, who dedicated her life to helping others. Her community involvement is extraordinary, I couldn’t be more proud of her, she is an unsung hero. Then we have Jeni Wallace an Indian-American woman, founder of the Matthew Wallace Foundation, an organization dedicated to her beloved son Matthew after his passing. Jeni is a personal friend. One of the most loving, intelligent and passionate women I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. The work her organization does to help those in need including PPE’s and food during Covid-19 is just amazing. She inspires me. We must never forget Vanessa Guillen. Thank you Jonathan for this exclusive with Congressman Jamaal Bowman. It’s time for Justice. And saving the best for last, we also have Blanca P. Lopez, a native of Perù and current Assistant Director of Operations to County Executive George Latimer. Blanca to me is the jewel and pride of the Latino community in Westchester, especially to Latinas like myself. I’m in awe of her. Her knowledge, her work ethics, her passion for her work and community, her accomplishments and just about everything about her including being a loving mom, what being a Guerrera is all about. I personally from the depths of my soul, knowing how hard she had to work to achieve her status in the world, want to thank her and send her a special honor. I Salute you!

KARINE P. PATIÑO

AMY J. VELE

A s a first-generation Ecuadorian-American, living between two worlds allowed her to understand firsthand how lack of

resources and funding can impact a family but also an entire community. Public schools are impacted the hardest, the resources needed for strong infrastructures are missing.

Throughout her professional career, she have found that

MADDIE CHEATHAM

“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” - Thurgood Marshall Karine Patiño was born in Sleepy Hollow and raised in Mount Kisco, NY. A first-generation daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants. Karine obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Pace Univ. She then took some time to understand and develop her career path. With that goal in mind, Karine volunteered with Neighbors Link and the Mount Kisco Police Dept. to assist in the creation of PACT, Police and Community Together.As Program Coordinator, Karine worked with various community organizations and leaders to organize community events meant to improve the communication and relationships between the (then Mount Kisco, now Westchester County) police department and its residents. PACT was unique in its approach and of its time, though it started with educating the community it led to also educating our officers. By 2011, over 300 officers had received cultural competency training developed by PACT. Karine developed a passion for ensuring effective communication, access to information, and inclusion that has guided her to this day.

During her time at Pace Law School, Karine was the Program Coordinator for the Latin American Law Student Association where she spearheaded the law school’s first “Street Law en Español’’ legal workshops. She also honed her practice of law as a student attorney for the Immigration Justice Clinic at John Jay Legal Services. Before and throughout law school she was an immigration and general practice paralegal. Once admitted to practice law, Karine opened a law office in Mount Kisco. She represents her clients in immigration and criminal matters. In 2018 Karine joined the Putnam County Legal Aid Society where she can apply her unique skills to ensure her clients benefit from meaningful representation and equal treatment in court. This has been an interesting career choice for Karine, as she is often the only attorney of color in court. As our society increasingly becomes aware of the historic inequities that impact people of color, the legal profession is also coming to terms with this reality. Latino, black, and other minority lawyers are extremely underrepresented in the legal profession, she hopes for a more diverse profession in the future.

In June 2020, Karine was given the incredible opportunity to put her passion and experiences to work. She was appointed by CE George Latimer to the Westchester County Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force. Karine was able to apply her experience with Mount Kisco’s PACT (Police and Community Together) program to contribute meaningfully to the task force. Most recently, Karine announced her decision to run for Village/Town Trustee of Mount Kisco. It’s clear that Latinx and black communities need to be involved and represented as equals in decision-making in order to effect meaningful changes in our communities but it’s easier said than done. With the decision to run comes the extraordinary responsibility of serving constituents meaningfully and effectively while acting as a voice of change; Karine hopes to accomplish this balance. Outside of her community engagement and career, Karine is a new mother. She hopes her work and commitment to the community will one day be a source of inspiration for her daughter. having the courage and will to do things differently is vital and necessary when we talk about change How can we reimagine our current system of government so that it works for all of us?

“I’m the first in my family to graduate with a Bachelors’s and the first to work in the political field. I’m diligent with my work because of my lived experiences. My family sacrificed so much so that I could be where I am today and not a day passes that I don’t remind myself of that. I feel a sense of responsibility to be in politics because it’s the best way I can honor those who came before me and continue to pave the path for those after me. When we elevate one another, we uplift our entire community. We show up for one another in times of instability not because it’ll help us win elections but because we truly care for one another. We deserve leaders who will center equity in their platforms. We need leaders who aren’t afraid to embrace a vision that focuses on finding solutions that are going to make it easier for everyday people to live a dignified life. Local government can create generational stability but only if there’s a will to put forward policies that make that future possible.”

Embracing something new or different is scary when it’s never been done before. We need leadership to have the political will and courage to act, even if it means going against what’s always been done.

While running for office was not something I had planned or aspired to do until more recently, she realized she had to turn her frustrations into something productive and hope that it inspired others to do the same in their communities. At 23 she was offered an opportunity to be campaign manager for the Peekskill Democratic Committee in 2019. All four races were won by historically wide margins and we were able to expand the margin in the Mayor’s race by 800 votes from the previous election. After a successful win, she had the opportunity to join Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith in his first term as his Legislative Aide and I’m so thankful to have come across the opportunity to be in these spaces. She’s proud of the work she has been able to accomplish so far and she believes it’s a testament to what she can achieve once in office.

“I’m running with Progress4Peekskill because the demand for structural change on a federal and local level is real and necessary. Change requires us to do things differently, challenge our perception of what we have considered “normal” and reimagine how we can do our job as council members differently.

All of us have organized to some capacity, taken on a leadership role, and have been on the ground, listening to the needs of residents and engaging in open conversation around some of Peekskill’s projects.

I look forward to working with every single member of our community to ensure that Peekskill residents feel like their needs and concerns are being heard. I’m proud to call Peekskill my home and I believe our slate will bring a new perspective on how city government can work for its people.”

Born and raised in Westchester County, Maddie is the third of seven children born to single mother Pamela Dale Cheatham. Maddie graduated from Lincoln High with a regents diploma. Straight after high school in 2006, she attended Utica College and volunteered with the Young Scholars Program, an after-school program for community youth. She then attended and graduated from Westchester Community College in 2013, and was on both The Alumni Assoc, Council, and The Outreach Committee for the college.

“A new member of National Council of Negro Women-HVS, I am honored to be apart of a group of women who are phenomenal and really care about charity and the good of everyone. I am also the new Corresponding Secretary for the council!”

She founded Pamela’s Big Heart Foundation Inc., in 2017 after the death of her mother. Her mom’s tireless work within our great community inspired her to live her life of serving in honor of her mother!

Dubbed the community mom, she grew up on Hawthorne and Riverdale Avenues in Yonkers, her mother cared for and gave her last for anyone who

needed the help. I’m honored to honor her. First working with Weshab helping to keep families together and then working at Leake & Watts taking care of underprivileged youth as well as mentally challenged youth. Her mother was someone who saw the bigger picture, she knew and pressured the importance of being open to all, the importance of education, and all of the places it will take you if you obtain it, but most important she taught Maddie humility. In 2020 the foundation became incorporated so it creates jobs and we obtained 501(c)3 status to further assist in our community.

Maddie is always striving to make a difference and she is fully committed to making Yonkers the hub of kindness, compassion, and unity. April 4, 2018, Mayor Mike Spano proclaimed it Maddie Cheatham-Walker Day in Yonkers in recognition of her community outreach efforts in Yonkers. Mom of 3 amazing children and wife to Donald Walker, my family means so much to me and they are a big part of the reason that I do the work that I do.I want a better future for not only my children but all children! Under my organization, I also run Yonkers Peace March Association, Yonkers Community Leaders Coalition, and The Homeless Outreach Forum.

MARCH 15, 2021

LATINO EMPOWERMENT

BLACK WESTCHESTER

21

VANESSA GUILLEN AND THE PUSH FOR JUSTICE: A CONVERSATION WITH CONGRESSMAN BOWMAN

BY JONATHAN CAMPOZANO

Vanessa Guillén, a 20-year-old Latina and U.S. Army soldier was

murdered last year at Fort Hood in Texas by another member of the military. She was missing for more than two months until her remains were found. The person suspected of both sexually harassing and murdering Vanessa committed suicide before law enforcement could apprehend him.

Vanessa’s murder received worldwide attention. We witnessed how out of date the military’s policies related to sexual offenses are. The Army’s internal investigation found no credible evidence that Vanessa was sexually harassed despite her family stating she complained about being sexually harassed but was afraid to report it.

In response to the Army’s internal investigation, Congresswoman Jackie Speier introduced the I Am Vanessa Guillén Act (H.R. 8270) on September 16, 2020. The Act makes various reforms including the following: • • •

Black Westchester recently spoke with Congressman Jamaal Bowman about Vanessa Guillén’s murder and the I Am Vanessa Guillén Act: BW: What are your thoughts on the sexual harassment Vanessa Guillén endured and her subsequent fear to report it?

JB: What Vanessa Guillén endured is truly evil and horrific, but we misunderstand it if we just stop at giving her family our thoughts and prayers. The torture Vanessa endured speaks to an epidemic within the Army and the Department of Defense at large —one that for too long has conflated respect for hierarchy with a tolerance for misogyny. Her fear and her unwillingness to come forward are rational within a system that for decades has protected perpetrators of sexual abuse and violence and normalized or ignored retaliation against survivors and whistleblowers. We have to change that, because we cannot be a society that allows what happens to Vanessa to happen to anyone else, ever again.

BW: Do you agree or disagree with the suspensions/firings of the 14 leaders at Fort Hood? Why or why not? Should more have been done?

JB: I absolutely believe that justice for Vanessa begins by holding everyone who played a role or failed to intervene in her abuse, torture and murder accountable for every bit of pain they caused her and her family. But we have to be clear-eyed about this: we don’t have real evidence that’s happened yet. We don’t know the names of all fourteen people at Fort Hood being held responsible,

Lists sexual harassment as a crime in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a process for members of the armed force to allege a complaint of sexual harassment to an individual outside of the immediate chain of command of that member.

Allows the Office of the Special Prosecutor to decide whether to prosecute a sex-related offense outside of the existing military chain of command.

we don’t know what “leadership failure” tangibly means, and we don’t even really know what “fired” means for the three people being let go from the base. We need a lot more transparency, because justice doesn’t work in the dark. These were vicious crimes, and to begin to heal, Americans need to feel confident that corruption and criminality, even within the U.S. military, will be held to account.

BW: Are you in support of the I Am Vanessa Guillén Act (H.R. 8270) and will you be voting in favor of it?

JB: It’s a significant step in the right direction. Mostly because it begins to change the idea that military organizations can be trusted to investigate themselves when crimes are committed within their ranks. Historically, as Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Speier, and others have pointed out for many years, justice can’t be delivered within the chain of command, because there’s too strong of an incentive to hide and bury the facts. An independent body that holds military organizations to account is in the new bill, and that’s a needed policy change. I think there’s probably still more work to do after this bill, especially on establishing clear definitions for assault and harassment within a military context, but this is definitely a big step in the right direction.

Jonathan Campozano, a Greenburgh resident, is a lawyer in Westchester County.

Throughout his career, he has practiced immigration law and also worked in government at both the state and local level. Half Ecuadorian and half Puerto Rican, he is one of the first generations, on both sides of his family, born and raised in the United States.

JENI WALLACE

Jeni Wallace was born in 1966. She attended St. Francis of Assisi School on Baychester Avenue, St. Barnabas High School on McLean Ave., and New York Institute of Technology. While attending NYIT she studied political science and met her husband Lynwood. Jeni and Lynwood had three wonderful children, Hailey, Matthew, and Mark.

The Wallace family has made Yonkers their home for over 20 years.

Jeni had a 25-year career in Medicaid/ Medicare managed care serving as Vice President of Operations for 10 years. Mrs. Wallace is the Executive Director of the Matthew Wallace Foundation, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in memory of her son Matthew.

The Matthew Wallace Foundation has been instrumental in feeding the community and distributing PPE items.

BLANCA P. LOPEZ, M.S.

Blanca López’s experience in the social services field spans the areas of housing, community development, immigration, education, and nonprofit management. She is an advocate for affordable housing and community services for vulnerable families and individuals living in Westchester County. She was born in Peru and migrated to the U.S. at 8 years of age.

Currently, Ms. Lopez is the Assistant Director of Operations for Westchester County responsible for oversight of all county housing-related programs, overseeing the

recommendations and implementation of policies from the Police Reform Task Force across all County departments and continue to work with the Probation Department on Raise the Age implementation. Ms. Lopez joined the Latimer administration in 2018 serving as an adviser to Fair and Affordable Housing and liaison to various county departments such as Planning, Probation, Correction, Emergency Services, Human Rights Commission, and the Office for People with Disabilities.

Prior to this position, she worked in the not for profit sector as the Dir of the Neighborhood Preservation Company (NPC) for Human Development Services of Westchester, a program funded by New York State to preserve affordable housing, stabilize vulnerable communities and assure that residents obtain secure and stable housing.

Ms. López also served as the Legislative and CommunityAffairs Representative for former Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey assisting constituents in the areas of housing, immigration, and veterans affairs, as well as developing strategies to reach Spanish speaking and immigrant populations throughout Mrs. Lowey’s district.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Latin American and Latino Studies from Fordham University and a Master’s Degree in Urban & Public Policy and Management from the New School University. She is a Fellow of the New York Immigration and Social Justice Institute’s Immigrant Advocacy Fellowship Program and was honored by The Business Council of Westchester as one of Forty under Forty Rising Stars in 2011. Ms. López is also the first Latina elected to office in the Villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook, serving as Trustee for the Port Chester-Rye Union Free Board of Education from 2009 through 2012. In 2016, she was recognized by then New York State Senator George Latimer for her noteworthy achievements as part of the Women of Distinction event Honoring Women in New York.

She is a member of the Port Chester-Rye Brook Kiwanis Club and Board President of the Council of Community Services for Port Chester, Rye Brook, and Rye Town, a nonprofit organization that provides supports to local nonprofit organizations and serving these communities.

“It is an honor to be recognized during Women’s History Month. My success and achievements would not have been possible without sacrifices made by generations of women who came before me.”

22 BLACK WESTCHESTER

MARCH 15, 2021

WESTCHESTER WOMEN IN BUSINESS

CELEBRATING WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES

BY AJ WOODSON

We can not celebrate Women’s Month without celebrating Women-Owned Businesses. While there are too many to share on this page I just wanted to take this time to highlight a few of my favorites. While I always encourage everyone to support Black Businesses all year round, this month please make an extra effort to purposefully support women-owned businesses, BW salutes all the women-owned businesses out there!!!

CUPCAKE CUTIE BOUTIQUE

(MOUNT VERNON) FASHIONABLY DELECTABLE, WE BAKE THE PERFECT TASTE FOR THE PERFECT OCCASION. Specializing in Edible Decor and Dessert Bars consisting of Homemade cupcakes made from the best ingredients with love. Not only are they cute, they’re delicious!

Fashionably delectable- we bake the perfect taste for the perfect occasion. Whether it’s our subtly sweet red velvet cupcake or our famous banana pudding cupcake, your taste buds are sure to love. These days, as we sift, whisk, and frost, our love for baking shows. Our end product is always sweet and satisfying. Whether they’re cupcakes for a child’s party, a Wedding cake, or something just to satisfy a sweet tooth, our goal at Cupcake Cutie Boutique is always to provide the pleasure of great taste with visual appeal and style.

“We offer an unprecedented collection of flavors and frostings,” said Miesha Stokley, Founder, and Co-Owner of Cupcake Cutie Boutique. “Our trained culinary team has developed a one-stop-shop for your favorite cupcakes and treats in the state of New York.”

In addition to the vast assortment of gourmet cupcakes and sweet treats, Mount Vernon-based bakery will offer mouth-watering breakfast selections, diabetic and vegan options.

“It’s essential that we offer something for everyone,” added Stokely. “Our vegan and diabetic-friendly product line offers a delicious option for individuals with dietary restrictions or limitations.”

Cupcake Cutie Boutique caters all social events and offers monthly cupcake decorating classes and more. Their annual Gingerbread House Party is always a huge success, where young girls get a chance to decorate their Gingerbread Houses. Another annual event is their Tasting Gala, A Cupcake Winter Wonderland.

Miesha also started Black Girls Bake Inc, a not-for-profit organization for girls and women, designed to support their passion and expertise on the craft of baking.

“This is just the start of the Cupcake Cutie Boutique brand,” said Stokley.

“We are looking forward to expanding this bakery concept across the entire metro area and beyond. One taste of our products will put a smile on any customer’s face.”

Stokley (daughter) is a life-long Mt. Vernon resident and a graduate of MVHS. Stokely then went on to attend the Univ of Miami where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently employed as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Montika Jones (mother) is also a life-long Mount Vernon resident and graduate of Mount Vernon High School. Jones is a decorated Detective of the Mount Vernon Police Department, promoted to detective Thursday, January 2, 2014. She donates much of her time to help her community and wife of Black Westchester Publisher Damon K. Jones.

“Detective Montika Jones of the Mount Vernon Police Department understands the importance of a healthy relationship with officers and citizens. “There needs to be a bridge where we can meet in the middle,” stated Detective Jones with a smile. She believes that the community in Mt. Vernon will benefit from participating in National Coffee with a Cop day, Saturday, October 28, 2017. The twist to this bridge was including cupcakes into the equation. Cupcake Cutie Boutique hosted the event on a perfect day. Citizens of Mt. Vernon engaged in conversations and concerns with members from the Mt. Vernon Police Department. Dr. Cornell West spoke of serving the people with love. Without conversations with both citizens and officers, the relationship will continue to be loveless” shared Cynthia Turnquest-Jones of Tha BUMP (Tha Brown Urban Mother Partnership.

Westchester Magazine described their Alcohol-infused cupcakes: This one is for the adults! In Mount Vernon, this mother-daughter-owned business is serving up a party by specializing in cupcakes infused with liquor. Try their Patron margarita cupcake, the spiked piña colada, or the Baileys Irish Creamette.

Don’t worry kids, there are still plenty of delicious flavors for you to try. Some of the most popular include the banana-pudding cupcake, a banana-cinnamon cake filled with banana pudding, frosted with banana buttercream, and topped with a vanilla wafer. Other favorites include the fudgy brownie-sundae cupcake and red velvet with cream cheese frosting.

8 South 6th Avenue, Mount Vernon NY 10550 - Tel: (914) 530-5536 info@cupcakecutieboutiqueny.com - http://cupcakecutieboutique.com/ Twitter: @CupcakeCutie914 – Facebook & Instagram: @CupcakeCutieBoutique Follow Black Girls Bake on Facebook: @blackgirlsbake

HARMONY DESIGNS FURNITURE & INTERIORS (MOUNT VERNON) “I find it important to introduce products and design concepts that really are good for you and suitable to meet your individual needs.” — Robin Harmon-Myers

Harmony Designs Furniture & Interiors is a 2500 square foot retail store with a design studio and local art gallery/event space on its lower level. They are geared to helping customers and design clients experience harmony by catering to their unique/beautiful/divine selves. Harmony is a lifestyle store. They have furniture, gifts, accessories, personal products, art and framing, and interior design services. They make an effort to source locally when we can, organic and natural when they can and they aim to inspire the idea of conscious consumerism which steers away from being “price” driven towards becoming “value” driven.

In 2002, Robin Harmon-Myers - sister-in-law to Mount Vernon Hip-Hop legend Heavy D - fell in love with a 100-year-old building on the Southside of her town (Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon), purchased the building with her husband Floyd and instantly set out to model what she believes. “I believe we have everything we need to live well, thrive, and create beautiful lives. We must take inventory of what we have and honor it...learn how to best care for and leverage it and show it some love.”

Harmony Designs Furniture & Interiors continues to blossom creating radical transformations to residential, commercial spaces and lives as well as providing a retail shopping experience like no other.

“I firmly believe that everyone deserves and can have, an environment that is clean, beautiful, and one that reflects their artistic style and inspires their dreams. Our environments tell our story and others are reading that story all the time. I feel the importance of articulating that because it creates in others an opportunity for greater awareness that our environment is but a reflection of our “in-vironment”. I believe we all begin with four walls, a ceiling, and a floor. What we do with it is determined by who we believe we are and not so much what we have financially. What I love most about co-creating with my design clients is guiding them to a sharper and even broader vision of what’s possible with what they have and watching their world recalibrate into better alignment so there is harmony at last,” Robin Harmon-Myers shares with Black Westchester.

Harmony Designs Furniture & Interiors also provide Interior Design for those who want to transform their space into a lovely home or office with beautiful decors and wonderful interiors. Professional services they provide include; Commercial - Have a vision for a retail space, restaurant, or office space? They are there to help from concept to implementation, Window Treatment - Having windows are great! How a window is treated can either diminish or enhance this magnificent feature. It’s one of their favorite aspects to design, Declutter & Organization - Less is more that is for sure. Their home organization service not only benefits the space but also the clients’ spirit. They edit and then recompose to make it beautiful, Framing -At Harmony Designs there are lots of frame options to choose from for fine art, family photos, or creating mirrors, Space Analysis & Planning - This process is foundational to how we approach design.

Once they collect the data: & the clients’ dreams, site conditions, and what the space communicates, they then incorporate their unique vision and the plan reveals itself, Reupholstery/Refinishing - Harmony Designs is big on repurposing items to avoid them ending up in landfills. It’s amazing what paint, fabric, and a fresh approach can do, and much much more. Black Westchester proudly spotlights Robin & Harmony Design, a class act 115 South 4th Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550 - 914-699-0809 - Emal: info@harmonydesignsfurniture.com – www.harmonydesignsfurniture.com F: @HarmonyDesignsFurniture – IG: @HarmonyDesigns – T: @DesignInHarmony - Open Tuesdays – Saturdays from 10am - 5:30pm

LACROIX LAW, P.C. (White Plains)

Immigration Services, Naturalization, Family-Based Petitions, Deportation Defense, Asylum, Various Applications For Juveniles, and Victims of Domestic Violence, Etc. 277 Martine Ave, Suite 209, White Plains, NY 10601 Tel: 914-368-3550 – Email: miriam@mlacroixlaw.com Website: https://mlacroixlaw.com/ Miriam Lacroix, Esq. owner and attorney-at-law

KING’S SOUTHERN DELIGHT (Mount Vernon) 283 East Third Street, Mount Vernon, NY 10553 - 914.668.7335 kingssoutherndelight.com - Facebook: @Kings-Southern-Delight Proprietor: Emma Hackson, Redina Hembree

SUGGARPLUMS (New Rochelle)

WEEZIE D LADIES BOUTIQUE (Bronxville)

534 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801 Tel: (914) 235-3330 - Website: https://suggarplumss.com/ Facebook: @SuggarPlums - Instagram: @Suggarplums

TAMIKA Y ROSE AGENCY (Elmsford)

979 Main St, Peekskill, NY 10566, Tel: (914) 734-2520 - Website: http://www.kathleenstroom.com

Tel: 914-337-1008 - Email: info@weezied.com - Website: www.weezied.com Twitter: @WeezieDBoutique – Facebook & Instagram: @WeezieD 1st African-American Female Minority-owned insurance brokerage business in Westchester 67 E Main St, Elmsford, NY 10523 - Tel: (914) 432-3087 – Fax: (914) 290-4902 Email: roset6@nationwide.com Website: https://agency.nationwide.com/ny/elmsford/10523/tamika-y-rose-agency-10726711

KATHLEENS TEA ROOM (Peekskill)

BK SOULFOOD & CATERING (Yonkers)

1131B Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 Tel: (914) 237-5083 - Email: bksoulfoodandcatering@gmail.com Website: http://www.bksoulfood.com/ - Owner: Barbara Kirkland

MARCH 15, 2021

CELEBRATING HER-STORY

NADINE HUNT-ROBINSON

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ON WHITE PLAINS COMMON COUNCIL

BLACK WESTCHESTER 23

DARCEL CLARK BECAME FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Nadine Hunt-Robinson

made history Tuesday, November 4, 2014 by becoming the first African-American woman elected to serve on the White Plains Common Council.

In her sweeping victory, she earned White Plains voters’ endorsement to fill the unexpired year remaining of former Councilman Benjamin Boykin’s NADINE HUNT-ROBINSON ON PEOPLE BEFORE POLITICS RADIO council term.

Hunt-Robinson, who lives in the Fisher Hill neighborhood and has been active in local civic and community service groups, was unanimously approved on February 3, 2014, after being nominated by Councilman John Kirkpatrick and appointed by Mayor Thomas Roach. Ms. Hunt-Robinson told White Plains CitizenNet Reporter she was approached by the White Plains Ministerial Fellowship and asked to agree to accept the seat because if she did not, the White Plains Black community would not have a seat on the Common Council with the departure of Mr. Boykin.

“White Plains is a great city and I want to help work on policies and laws that will ensure that our city continues to flourish,” Hunt-Robinson shared with BW after her appoinment.

She was challenged in a City Committee nomination election and won by a narrow margin (one vote WPCNR reported) and subsequently was appointed to the Council by Mayor Roach and the Common Council in a unanimous vote. She was endorsed by the White Plains Examiner, and apparently in her forum appearances impressed many.

On the FASNY issue particularly in recent hearings, she carefully noted she was concerned about the health and safety of White Plains High School students and would be considering those issues carefully in any decision vote on the FASNY site plan.

Married to the Rev. Dr. Tyrone H. Robinson, pastor of the First Community Baptist Church in Greenburgh, Hunt-Robinson is a native of Jamaica who immigrated to the U.S. with her parents in 1971. She attended New York City public schools before receiving her B.A. from Adelphi University and a law degree from the Villanova University School of Law. Throughout her career, Hunt-Robinson has mentored students interested in legal careers. She’s also served as a mentor with the Family Services of Westchester’s Big Brother and Big Sister program; as chairwoman of the Women’s Ministry at her husband’s church; and as a board member of the White Plains Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

As a registered independent, she became the only non-Democrat on the sevenmember Council. Black Westchester salutes Councilwoman Nadine Hunt-Robinson!

Associate Justice Darcel Denise Clark made history by becoming the 13th District Attorney for Bronx County, January 1, 2016.

She is the first African-American woman to hold the office in New York State.

Prior to her election, Ms. Clark served as an Associate Justice for the NYS Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department, and as a Justice of the NYS Supreme Court, Bronx County as well as a Judge of the Criminal Court in the Bronx and NY Counties, spending more than 16 years on the bench.

A native Bronxite who was raised in NYCHA’s Soundview Houses, and is a product of the New York City public school system, District Attorney Clark graduated from Truman High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Boston College, where she was the first recipient of the University’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Scholarship.

D.A. Clark then attended the Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., where she served as Class President for each of her three years in law school.

After earning her law degree at Howard, Clark

returned home in 1986 to begin her legal career at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney.

After trying many cases as a prosecutor, including drug felonies, violent crimes and homicides, D.A. Clark served as a Supervising ADA in the Narcotics Bureau and eventually became the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Court Bureau.

In 1999, she left the Office to accept her first judicial post.

Having dedicated her life to public service, District Attorney Clark has devoted herself to the Bronx, not only as a native and resident of the borough, but also as someone who has worked to earn the public trust.

Mrs. Clark also serves on the Boston College Board of Trustees and has served in leadership positions in the National Association of Women Judges and the Black Bar Association of Bronx County.

District Attorney Clark is married to a NYPD Detective, Eaton “Ray” Davis. BW salutes and congratulates Darcel Denise Clark on making history and becoming the first AfricanAmerican woman DAi n the Bronx County’s 13th District.

LOIS BRONZ

THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND FIRST WOMAN ELECTED CHAIR OF THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF LEGISLATORS

SHAWYN PATTERSON-HOWARD MAKES HISTORY AS MOUNT VERNON’S FIRST FEMALE ELECTED MAYOR

24 BLACK WESTCHESTER

BW COMMUNITY VOICES

MARCH 15, 2021

NEW ROCHELLE PD’S COMPLAINT SUPPRESSION AND THE NEED FOR CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT

BY DR. NORRELL EDWARDS, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OF NEXT STEP FORWARD INITIATIVE

A little over two weeks ago, on February 15th, a White off-duty New Rochelle PD officer punched a Black man in the face. Eight months before that incident, on June 5th, NRPD officer Alex McKenna shot and killed Kamal Flowers, a young Black man, after Flowers fled a traffic stop. Six years ago, an NRPD officer pulled a gun on 2 kids of color who were having a snowball fight—you can still find the footage for yourself on Youtube. Imagine, these are just the most severe stories that made headlines—the tip of the iceberg. New Rochelle residents, particularly Black residents living in subsidized housing areas like the Lincoln corridor, City Park and Heritage Homes have experienced decades of disrespect, unwarranted searches of their bodies and homes, racially profiled stops, harassment, and more from the New Rochelle Police Department. This history has everything to do with anti-Blackness, personal and racial bias, and a struggle overpower.

We are often reminded that the New Rochelle Police Department is an award-winning police department that has received accolades for its “best practices in community policing, use-of-force, crisis intervention, and de-escalation.” The New Rochelle Police force can simultaneously be award-winning and also incredibly biased, prejudiced, and predatory against Black and Brown community members. The continued refusal of police leaders across the country and in our own New Rochelle, to acknowledge biased policing, is reflective of an abusive tactic—gaslighting.

Ava Duvernay’s now infamous and culture-shifting When They See Us, a mini-series about the Central Park 5, exposes how gaslighting has been used as an interrogation tactic to coerce confessions. Gaslighting does not only apply to interrogation; “gaslighting is a series of manipulation tactics to make you question reality.” When it comes to misconduct, bias, and complaints in New Rochelle—we are being gaslit.

In an open letter to the Mayor, New Rochelle PBA President claims “you would think that if racial bias truly existed as described in your plan, it would be reported and complained about at an alarming rate. Yet, complaints of racism, bias, or other wrongdoing against New Rochelle Police Officers are effectively non-existent.” They are non-existent because it is near-impossible to file any kind of complaint.

At a recent community hearing about police reform on February 9th, community members spoke about being dissuaded and talked out of filing complaints when they went to the police station. Someone else spoke of a rumor that complaints were simply thrown out. Many more are afraid to speak out for fear of retribution or harassment. There are no complaints because there is a culture of suppression and fear. How is anyone supposed to complain if you won’t let them? This is gaslighting.

At a recent meeting between police and community members, one detective spoke about driving around himself to collect complaints. Again, given the well-understood culture of complaint suppression, why would anyone opt to file a complaint that way?

This is why Next Step Forward Initiative has been speaking with community members and collecting stories about police encounters. The complaints exist, but they have nowhere to go. Ultimately, if New Rochelle does not address the root problem of this injustice—nothing will change.

Many community members value the idea of policing—they want to be protected like their typically White or well-off peers in the North end. They want to be treated with kindness, decency, respect, and given the benefit of the doubt, as White community members are given. Bias related to race, socioeconomic status, and criminal background prevent this from happening.

Police MUST treat everyone respectfully, no matter the scenario—whether that person committed crimes past or present, mouthed off at them, or whatever the case. Teachers, physicians, and other civil servants and caregivers deal with difficult charges all of the time, but that gives them no right to abuse, talk to down to, use unnecessary force or treat those individuals in any kind of fashion. That is an abuse of power.

Next Step Forward and other community members feel that anti-racism and bias training is not enough to fix these issues. In order to engender a culture of real transparency and accountability, a civilian oversight structure is needed. New York City, Buffalo, Albany Rochester, Syracuse, Ossining, Ithaca, Clarkstown, and other cities within New York state all have a citizen oversight structure for police. New Rochelle is the only bigger-sized city in the

state that does not have one whatsoever. A civilian complaint review board with real investigation and subpoena power is long overdue in New Rochelle.

City leadership is resistant to the idea for fear that it will be “adversarial.” Yet, that is already the case. Overpoliced community members suffer abuse or mistreatment from the NRPD with little avenue for recourse or acknowledgment. It is time that government and the police department cede some power to the people, giving them the tools to truly hold them accountable. If you’re a New Rochelle resident please write to your council member about a CCRB and show up to the March 9th hearing to speak about the need for a CCRB. Register to speak at https://www.newrochelleny.com/FormCenter/City-Clerk12/Citizens-to-be-Heard-and-Public-Hearing--84

MARCH 15, 2021

BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM

BLACK WESTCHESTER

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MARCH 15, 2021

BLACKWESTCHESTER.COM

BLACK WESTCHESTER 27

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER SINCE 2014

“Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew.”

– Cicely Tyson COMPLIMENTARY

Unapologetically Delivering News To Communities Of Color in Westchester & Surrounding Areas

MARCH 15, 2021

A Diverse Workforce for a Diverse County Dr. Dial Hewitt and his colleagues in the Westchester County Department of Health have been on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic for the past year, working exhausting hours and putting their own health and safety on the line to serve others.

Despite the risks and the challenges they face, the Department’s doctors, nurse practitioners, public health nurses, lab techs and support staff remain firmly committed to their mission: protecting the health and safety of the people of Westchester.

“You go into this field because you care about people and you get gratification from helping them,” said Hewlett, who is board certified in Internal Medicine and in the sub specialty of Infectious Diseases.

“I am fortunate and blessed to work with such dedicated professionals,” he said of his colleagues at WCDOH. Most recently, he has been helping oversee the County’s vaccination clinic on Court Street in White Plains.

Hewlett noted that Westchester was ground zero for the Covid-19 pandemic, where an outbreak occurred in New

Rochelle. The virus spread through houses of worship, congregate care settings and other locations – and the Health Department staff mobilized swiftly to respond.

“They were willing to put their lives on the line when we didn’t know very much about this disease,” Hewlett said of the entire Health Department team. “Whatever we have asked of them, they do it.”

Dr. Hewlett has also been involved in outreach to Westchester’s minority communities to provide “accurate, scientific information” and encourage people of color to get vaccinated. He said he hopes to alleviate the hesitation of some Black and Latino residents to get the vaccine.

The executive team at the Health Department has been praised for its leadership during the pandemic, including: Dr. Sherlita Amler, commissioner; Renee Recchia, first deputy commissioner; Dr. Hewlett; Dr. Marisa Montecalvo, Dr. Ada Huang and Lori Smittle, PhD (doctor of nursing).

To receive notifications of all upcoming civil service exams, people can sign up to receive email notifications at https://exams.westchestergov.com/webexam/emailSubscri ption/subscribe.htm.