Farewell to old man winter of 2016 and welcome spring. When it was cold, it was very, very cold, but overall, winter was mild and quick. Or does it just seem everything goes by quickly these days. I am going to get some potting soil and seeds and plant the seeds this spring, and then see what blooms. But before that, there are quite a few things happening as we switch gears.
The 10th annual United Way of New York City’s Women’s Leadership Council’s Power of Women to Make a Difference Award Luncheon, held at Cipriani 42nd Street, raised nearly $1 million to support United Way of New York City’s ReadNYC program. The initiative is designed to boost literacy and improve educational outcomes for low-income New Yorkers by focusing on grade-level reading, which has proved to be a critical milestone in a child’s future success.
Sheena Wright, president and CEO of United Way of New York City, welcomed guests, and this year’s host, Juju Chang, co-host of ABC’s “Nightline,” honored Monique L. Nelson, chair and CEO of UniWorld Group; Laurie M. Tisch, president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund; Martine Reardon, chief marketing officer at Macy’s; and Jennifer Warren, managing director and head, U.S. Region at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, all female leaders who have had a positive impact on their communities and made a difference in the lives of others, although every woman there has done so in her own way, in her own time.
Premier sponsor for the second consecutive year was haute couture designer, Max Mara, who presented their spring/summer 2016 collection. Champagne Laurent-Perrier provided champagne for the ladies to sip while mulling over items in the silent auction included, which experience packages and luxury designer handbags by Max Mara, Givenchy, Chloé, Gucci, Michael Kors and others. Proceeds were in support of ReadNYC. Experiences included a VIP tour of Champagne Laurent-Perrier in Tours-sur-Marne, France (airfare included) and an exclusive shopping party at the Michael Kors Soho Flagship store in New York. Additional sponsors included Cepi Style, leading style specialist for executive women, and Source Media. Among those attending were Elinor Tatum, Monique Nelson, Jennifer Jones Austin, LuShawn Thompson, Elsie Berry and Valerie White.
Black Spectrum Theatre hosted an intimate staged reading and luncheon as an introduction to the revival of the company play, “Timeless:. The Mystery of the Dark Water.” Staged as a murder mystery, the storyline explores the theory that we have all been here before, and what happened then continues into the now.
The historic Akwaaba Mansion, located in Brooklyn, New York, was the perfect setting to stage this promotional treat, because the impeccable mansion, which now serves as a bed and breakfast, sets the tone for the intriguing mystery. Past lives may be something everyone has thought of at some point in their Earthly lives, but do we cast off the thought or do we, as the actors Reginald Barnes, Lisa Roxanne Walters, Sean C. Turner, Doug Wade, Edythe Jason, Adam Phillips and David French skillfully do, go beyond the limits of our imagination to examine the realm of possibilities and challenge disbeliefs? “Timeless” poses answers to the questions, “Do I know you?” and “Is life and death round like the Earth and is it timeless?”
Carl Clay, executive producer/founder of Black Spectrum Theatre, along with Nena Rollins, marketing director, are theatre production pros, having survived and surpassed the ups and downs of show business. BST was first founded in 1970 with a commitment to producing Black theatre that told the stories of Black American, Caribbea, and Latino people. Today, the 325-seat theatre resides within Roy Wilkins Park at 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard in Queens. Offered are a full range of theatre productions, including those by emerging artist, after school programs, the Youth and Children’s Theatre Compan, and a summer theatre camp. “Timeless,” which was written by Clay and directed by Bette Howard, with music by Onejae Allan and sound and visual effects by Derek Galloway,
premieres at BST Friday, May 20 through Sunday, June 12. Check out the website of the same name for further listings and ticket information.
The New York County Lawyers Association held a reception for the judiciary, with greetings from NYCLA President Carol Sigmond, welcome remarks by the Hon. Sheila Abdus-Salaam, associate judge, New York State Court of Appeals and a discussion on the roll of judges by Pamela Gallagher and Brian Graifman, judicial reception co-chairs. Among the honorees were judges from the United States District Court, Southern District of New York; New York State Court of Appeals; the First Judicial District; New York City Family Court; New York State Office of Court Administration; Appellate Division, First Department; and the First Judicial District, which included, the Hon. Raymond Bruce, the Hon. Erika Edwards, Hon. Ta-Tanisha James, the Hon. Tanya Kennedy, the Hon. Richard Lowe III, the Hon. William Franc Perry, and the Hon. O. Peter Sherwoood.
The John Jay Justice Award Ceremony, where the John Jay Medal for Justice was presented to Bryan Stevenson, Gloria Steine, and Anthony McGill and the Fierce Advocate Award was presented to Jerome Buting and Dean Strang, by presenters Bill Keller, Ellen Burstyn and Matthew VanBesien, took place at the Gerald Lynch Theater, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY.
Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Ala. has dedicated his legal career to helping the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned. Through his legal challenges, he has won reversals, relief, or release for more than 115 wrongly condemned prisoners on death row.
Gloria Steinem, political activist, feminist and founder of Ms. Magazine, has recently published her story, “My Life on the Road,” a compilation of stories gathered from listening and connecting to women all over the world. Anthony McGill is a principal clarinet player with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, but that has not dampened his commitment to social justice. Working pro bono with young African-American and Hispanic musicians and youth orchestras, McGill also works with incarcerated youth in preparation for their re-entry into mainstream society.
Buting and Strang are criminal defense attorneys who worked on the case of Steven Avery, who was wrongly convicted of sexual assault and attempted murder in 1985 and served 18 years in prison. The case became the bases for the Netflix documentary series, “Making a Murderer.” Past recipients have included Marian Wright Edelman, Children’ Defense Fund founder/presiden, and Harry Belafonte. Past presenters and program participants include Jessye Norman and James Earl Jones.
Until next week … kisses