Young Chefs Salute Women Achievers

Herbert Von King Park Cultural Arts Center’s Culinary Program, founded and sustained by volunteer Charlotte Mial, honored phenomenal women of New York for the fourth consecutive year, during March Women’s History awards ceremony and brunch, last week (25). Ms. Mial and her students produced the event and selected the honorees, this year, for their outstanding work in nontraditional employment for women.  Among the honorees were Central Brooklyn Community Activist Alma Carroll and Lisa Orloff, founder of World Cares, the Hattie Carthan awardees; Neversee Davis, who was bestowed the coveted community leadership award; and, in alphabetical order: electrician Joi Beard; gardener Marechal Brown, laborer Ebony Cochran, private trainer Jodi Cornish; plumber Tamara Grant, safety officer Kathryn Denise Green, driver Theresa R. Green, NYC assistant commissioner Annika Holder, Rashida Johnson, iron worker Tanya Ridley, psychologist Renee Roach, operating engineer Marie Sullivan.  The honorees were awarded with handcrafted pottery gifts from the Cultural Arts Center’s former ceramics program. Community leaders who hosted at various times included Henry Butler, Community Board 3 chair; Lemuel Mial, manager of Von King Park Cultural Arts Center, who also performed; the poet Lady Dee, Bernice Green of Legacy Ventures and David Greaves of Our Time Press.  Event highlights were the culinary work of the program’s junior chefs in the kitchen and their stellar service in the dining room; presentations by students in the Dramatic Arts program, an inspiring keynote by Loretta Tapia of Non-Traditional Employment for Women. Remarks by Tyrone Woods speaking on behalf of Councilman Al Vann rounded out the warm intimate afternoon.

Herbert Von King Park Cultural Arts Center’s Culinary Program, founded and sustained by volunteer Charlotte Mial, honored phenomenal women of New York for the fourth consecutive year, during March Women’s History awards ceremony and brunch, last week (25). Ms. Mial and her students produced the event and selected the honorees, this year, for their outstanding work in nontraditional employment for women.

Among the honorees were Central Brooklyn Community Activist Alma Carroll and Lisa Orloff, founder of World Cares, the Hattie Carthan awardees; Neversee Davis, who was bestowed the coveted community leadership award; and, in alphabetical order: electrician Joi Beard; gardener Marechal Brown, laborer Ebony Cochran, private trainer Jodi Cornish; plumber Tamara Grant, safety officer Kathryn Denise Green, driver Theresa R. Green, NYC assistant commissioner Annika Holder, Rashida Johnson, iron worker Tanya Ridley, psychologist Renee Roach, operating engineer Marie Sullivan.  The honorees were awarded with handcrafted pottery gifts from the Cultural Arts Center’s former ceramics program. Community leaders who hosted at various times included Henry Butler, Community Board 3 chair; Lemuel Mial, manager of Von King Park Cultural Arts Center, who also performed; the poet Lady Dee, Bernice Green of Legacy Ventures and David Greaves of Our Time Press.  Event highlights were the culinary work of the program’s junior chefs in the kitchen and their stellar service in the dining room; presentations by students in the Dramatic Arts program, an inspiring keynote by Loretta Tapia of Non-Traditional Employment for Women. Remarks by Tyrone Woods speaking on behalf of Councilman Al Vann rounded out the warm intimate afternoon.

As community leaders move forward in their efforts to name the Von King Park Ampitheatre after the beloved late educator and Von King Park (then Tompkins Park) supporter Almira Coursey, some audience members attending this year’s event say they will actively pursue the idea of naming Von King Park’s kitchen after Charlotte Mial, who has volunteered there for 15 years.  Way to go, Charlotte, and congratulations to this year’s phenomenal women.