Brooklyn Senator Roxanne J. Persaud Tuesday night hosted her third annual Power 19 Award Ceremony at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, honoring 19 individuals from her Senate District 19 in Canarsie, Brooklyn.
Guyanese-born Persaud recognized the community members “who have made significant contributions in transforming their communities and institutions in and around Senate District 19.”
The honorees this year are firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and students, as well as a government official, a social worker, a librarian, an engineer and an author.
The evening began with the Senator defining the meaning of “Power 19,” followed by speeches from Samara Karasyk, senior vice president and chief policy officer of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and Jabari Hall, international empowerment speaker and founder of youth organization J-Has-Heart.
Before presenting each honoree with a New York State Senate Proclamation Persaud expressed appreciation and gratitude for the honorees’ “selfless passion in promoting change and inspiring hope in the community,” as well as their guests for supporting them and being the “wind beneath their wings.”
She also thanked the management and staff of Brookdale Hospital for their “invaluable partnership” in helping host the event and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, as well as Agape Bethel CDC for contributing giveaway bags for the honorees.
“Why Power 19’ Because we are Senate District 19, we are the Power 19,” Persaud said. “It is always our privilege and honor to recognize members of the community.
“Too often, we pass by people doing great things – the work that you all do, day in and day out,” she added. “And that’s why we are here, to say thank you.
“Over the past couple years, we have honored many people,” Persaud continued. “And all we ask is that you keep doing what you’re doing and pay it forward.
“Some of you may live here, some of you may not, but all of you have invested interest in the community,” she said. “You are all a part of this community.”
The 2019 Senate District 19 Power 19 honorees were: Emily Cabrera — Academic Excellence Award; Francis A. Valerio – Community Champion Award; Shamika Cousar — Community Empowerment Award; Iyana Curtis — Community Empowerment Award; Wayne Harris – Community Empowerment Award; Tom Mueller — Community Empowerment Award; Lieutenant Krystal S. Hayes — Community Engagement & Service Award; Walter Hochbrueckner — Community Engagement & Service Award; Michelle Singh — Humanitarian Award; and Brandon Bloomfield — Innovative Leadership Award.
The other honorees were: Lieutenant Ricardo Otero — Innovation Leadership Award; Brittany Coleman — Scholastic Achievement Award; Jada Edmunds — Scholastic Achievement Award; Peter Haggerty — Service and Bravery Award; Robert Puckett — Service and Bravery Award; Edward Rodriguez — Service and Bravery Award; Cherise Birchwood — Youth Community Empowerment Award; Javon Hawker — Youth Community Empowerment Award; and Malyka Bailey — Youth Leadership Award.
