Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams honored Brooklyn’s latest “Heroes of the Month” at a ceremony in the Rotunda of Brooklyn Borough Hall on Wednesday, June 5. He recognized two men — one a civilian, the other a state trooper — who saved a suicidal man from jumping off the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, an MTA conductor who rescued a 13-year-old autistic child from the tracks, and a 10-year old boy who founded an online thrift store that sells children’s clothing to online parents.
“Our Heroes of the Month showcase the best our borough and our city has to offer,” said Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams. “These individuals stepped up when their community needed them most, setting an example for their peers while never seeking credit for their contributions. We are proud to have them representing Brooklyn, and look forward to seeing what they accomplish in the future.”
For the month of March, Borough President Adams recognized Jacob Abraham and State Trooper Joshua Kaye, who saved a 79-year-old man who was about to jump off the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Because of the heroic and quick thinking of Jacob Abraham and State Trooper Joshua Kaye, the man was kept from harm and transported safely to a nearby hospital.
For April, Borough President Adams honored Hopeton Kiffin, a subway conductor who rescued a 13-year-old autistic boy who was wandering on the tracks. On Thursday, April 4, express train operator Hopeton Kiffin spotted a 13-year-old boy standing by a third rail between local and express tracks, just past the Hoyt Street 2/3 local station in Brooklyn. The boy, on his way to school, had climbed down to the roadbed and was standing precariously near a third rail.
The youth was taken to the next stop, which happened to be at Brooklyn Borough Hall, where police helped reunite him with his family. Said Conductor Kiffin: “I have an eight-year-old daughter, and I was just trying to be calm. What I’ve learned is that passengers feed off our emotions. If they sense you’re calm, they will remain calm. Being calm makes them calm.”
For May, Borough President Adams recognized Obocho Peters, a young entrepreneur who founded I Am Obocho, an online thrift store that sells children’s clothing to low-income parents. The inspiration for his enterprise came when his mom couldn’t afford to buy new toys. He suggested that he sell the clothes and shoes that he was no longer wearing to raise the funds for the toys he wanted. He also knew that he and his mom were not alone. “If it’s a challenge for my mom to pay the rent, take care of me, and take care of herself at the same time, I know it’s a challenge for other families too.” He asked his mother to build him a website, titled “I Am Obocho.” He also proactively took small business classes at CAMBA to help him gain business expertise. Initially, OH-BO-CHO was afraid that he wouldn’t get support from his East Flatbush community because of his young age. But a community business, Bargain Land, took a chance on the young man and helped him in developing two store ads, his first commercial, and sponsored a meet-and-greet that gave him a platform from which to share his vision and his mission with the community.
“I am honored to be chosen as May’s Hero of the Month. Being a part of this ceremony shows me that I can help families see a brighter future for their children. Receiving this award motivates me to stay focused on my mission. My name Obocho means “I Am Love” and I want to continue to share my Love with the community,” said Obocho Peters, Founder of I Am Obocho.
