GGE
Politicians Honored as 2008 Urban Leaders Award Winners
(Brooklyn, NY – April 15, 2008) The community came to be a part of Girls for Gender Equity (GGE)’s 2008 Urban Leaders Awards in honor of State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, City Council Member Letitia James, State Assembly Member Karim Camara and Principal Rhonda Taylor at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday April 11, 2008. Parents, teachers, students, and GGE supporters – including a representative of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke –attended the event. The award honors community leaders who exemplify the organization’s mission to encourage communities to remove barriers and create opportunities for young adults, especially girls, to live self-determined lives.
“This award reminds me that I have to work harder, but I am happy to see that our work pays off and you provide something valuable to work for,” said Senator Velmanette Montgomery.
Karim Camara added, “We don’t hear enough about the children who are doing great things in our communities. CNN is not here. The Daily News is not here. And the New York Post is not putting these young people on the front cover. We need to say that all of our children are not bad and doing deviant behavior in the community.”
A new space for the Urban Leaders Academy was unveiled at the ceremony, which included dinner and dessert; skits, poetry recitation, and dance performances by students in the Urban Leaders Academy; and live entertainment. During her opening speech, GGE Junior Internship Board President Judell Achampong said, “Every day I grow stronger, more intelligent, and confident that I can and will succeed.”
Urban Leaders Academy is a holistic after-school program, located at Middle School 61 and run by GGE, which is designed to assist young men and women to achieve academic excellence, explore career education, and maintain healthy lifestyles. Urban Leaders Academy sets high standards to help youth internalize the message that community activism and self -determination are achievable goals.
Click on the thumbnails below to view pictures from this event!
MEDIA ADVISORY
Girls for Gender Equity Names 2008 Urban Leaders Award Winners
Organization to Open New Urban Leaders Academy in Central Brooklyn
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2008
CONTACT: Joanne Smith, 917-647-3157 or jsmith@ggenyc.org
BROOKLYN, NY – Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) today announced the winners of the 2008 Urban Leaders Award. The award will be presented to State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, City Council Member Letitia James and State Assembly Member Karim Camara at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday April 11, 2008.
GGE is a community organization that runs the Urban Leaders Academy, a holistic program that serves young men and women in central Brooklyn. Urban Leaders Academy is an after school program located at MS 61 which is designed to help students achieve academic excellence, explore career education and maintain healthy lifestyles. The Urban Leaders Academy sets high standards to help youth internalize the message that community activism and self determination are achievable goals.
A new community safe space for the Urban Leaders program will be unveiled at the ribbon cutting ceremony. To celebrate the new space and the accomplishments of the program, GGE will honor community leaders who exemplify their mission of encouraging communities to remove barriers and create opportunities for young adults, especially girls, to live self-determined lives.
The students of the Urban Leaders program have organized a catered evening filled with performances, live entertainment and a brief award ceremony for community leaders.
The event is free and open to the public. To RSVP please email jsmith@ggenyc.org or call 718-857-1393.
WHAT: 2008 Urban Leaders Award Ceremony
WHEN: Friday April 11, 2008
5-7 p.m.
WHERE: MS 61 - Dr. Atwell Middle School
400 Empire Blvd. (between Nostrand & New York Avenue)
Brooklyn, NY
WHO: Girls for Gender Equity
New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery
City Council Member Letitia James
State Assembly Member Karim Camara
RSVP: jsmith@ggenyc.org or 718-857-1393
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