Longtime lawmaker Assemblywoman Annette Robinson (Bedford-Stuyvesant) on Saturday announced she is retiring from her seat and quickly endorsed and pledged her support for Community Board 3 Chair Tremaine Wright as her successor.
Bed-Stuy Assembly Member Annette Robinson
The announcement came over the weekend at the Vanguard Independent Democratic Association Breakfast. VIDA also nominated its President Henry Butler to run as a Hillary Clinton delegate in the upcoming April 19 Democratic Primary.
Robinson’s retirement sets up an expected tough race for the 56th Assembly District seat between Wright and community activist Karen Cherry.
Both candidates come from the neighborhood. Wright grew up on the same block off Tompkins Avenue in a tightly knit multigenerational family. She went on to receive a BA from Duke and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School, where one of her professors was President Barack Obama.
After graduating, she opened the Common Grounds Coffee House at 376 Tompkins Avenue, which enjoyed a good reputation for both political discourse and artists. However, last year, Wright closed the coffee shop.
Tremaine Wright
In 2009, Wright, along with four other candidates including current City Councilman Robert Cornegy, unsuccessfully challenged VIDA founder and veteran lawmaker Al Vann when he decided to run for a third term in the City Council. In 2012, Wright joined VIDA and she currently is the chair of Community Board 3.
Wright said in a statement that she was elated to receive VIDA’s endorsement and plans to run a strong, people-powered campaign.
Cherry grew up in NYCHA’s Tompkins Houses on the northern end of the district. A longtime community activist, she cut her political teeth as an active member of former Congressman Ed Towns’ United Democratic Club. She went on to work for Towns as a community liaison for over 20 years and currently works in the same capacity for Bushwick Assembly member Erik Dilan.
“I’m all about transparency and speaking the truth,” said Cherry, who said she has already garnered support from Towns for the run and is talking to several other people both in and adjacent to the district.
Karen Cherry
Cherry said the issues are as diverse as the district. “Every section has its own issues. In the NYCHA developments the issues are more about jobs, education and crime. In other parts, it’s about longtime tenants being kicked out and homeowners wanting to stay in their homes,” she said.
Cherry said she is about going straightforward and talking about the issues, and also paid tribute to Robinson.
“Annette (Robinson) has a good conscience and does what’s right,” said Cherry. “I’m honored to run behind her and fill that seat. She was always about informing and letting constituents know the resources out there and that’s good leadership.”
The New York State Assembly Primary is slated for Sept. 13
Editor’s disclosure: The author of this story, Stephen Witt, read from his novel, “American Moses”, at Common Ground and also played songs from his EP, “Simply Stephen Witt”, at the coffee shop.
I met this brilliant woman many years ago in the 1970s. She was part of a community of friends I met early on who had all come out of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. They were among the first artists I came to know as I spent time in, and then moved to, the Clinton Hill neighborhood where Pratt is located.
Claudine was a museum educator when I met her working at the Brooklyn Museum from 1977-1982, then moving on to positions as manager of school and community programs (1982-1984), and then assistant director for government and community relations (1985-1990) for that institution. She joined the Smithsonian in 1990 to serve as the director of the National African-American Museum Project, taking that initiative to its final proposal for a National African-American Museum of History and Culture. Such a museum will now be opening in the fall of 2016. In 1991, she also became the deputy assistant secretary for the arts and humanities and developed policy for many Smithsonian museums.
Claudine held other positions as well, including director of arts and culture programs at the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and then returning to the Smithsonian Institution as assistant secretary for education and access. In all of her work, she labored tirelessly–through the creation of policies and programs–to make the art/culture/educational experience one that was accessible to all…including those who had long been left out of the parameters of consideration when said policy and programs were being shaped and implemented.
I was quietly in awe of Claudine Brown, and told her so. I once saw her speak at a conference for an hour or more, with no notes, giving an inspired, engaging, detailed and deeply knowledgeable talk on art, culture and institutional policy and access that touched on so many salient points which she wove together into a memorable narrative and a call to action on the part of the audience.
Her BA from Pratt Institute, followed by her Master’s in Museum Education from Bank Street School College of Education, and finally her Juris Doctor law degree from Brooklyn College all attest to her desire to secure the knowledge and tools necessary to effect institutional and societal change. She made that her life’s work and succeeded in ways that will continue to resonate for a very long time.
You will be missed Claudine, but your work, presence and brilliance will remain as eternal inspirations. (Asé..and so it shall be.)
From Nadia Fattah
Claudine Brown was a past president of Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA). She is responsible for professionalizing GIA and laid the groundwork for our racial equity work. Her positions for the Smithsonian Institute included director of the National African-American Museum Project (1990 to 1995), Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Arts and Humanities, Deputy Secretary of Education and Access.
She was a fierce and gentle person, intelligent and powerful. She was part of the group that helped mentor me at GIA. She was beloved in our field and those of us who were fortunate enough to know her carry her inspiration with us.
IDA TURNER, 100
Ida Turner
Ida Turner, 100, of Jupiter, Florida, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at home with family in Dallas, Georgia.
Born June 10, 1915 in Blakely, Georgia, Ida is predeceased by her parents, Corry and Ella (Humphrey) Ford of Jupiter, Florida and her late husband, Lee Arthur Turner of Swainsboro, Georgia.
The youngest of seven siblings, Ida was also preceded in death by her brothers and sisters: William (Willie Vera Slaton); Hattie (Clifton Hodge, Sr.); Kinsey (Adabelle Sapp); Mahalia (Luther Smith); Matilda (Ernest Pearson); Corry, Jr. (Arlene March).
Ida worked in the service employ of many notable families throughout her life. Employers included Bessie DuBois, Harold S. Vanderbilt, James Roosevelt (FDR’s son), Betsey Cushing Roosevelt, Loni Anderson and Burt Reynolds. A member of the culinary staff of the United States Naval Air Station Officers Club at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York numbered high among the most memorable and favorite places in which she was publicly employed.
Ida and Lee met in West Palm Beach in the 1930’s. Working at times as a team in both Palm Beach and Jupiter Island, they would by 1938 transfer their skills and relationships to New York City. They made their home in Harlem and married in 1943 producing six children: Lana (1950), Linda Lee (1950), Beverly (1952), Dennis (1955), Deborah Ann (1957) and Darrell (1959). LaRose (1935), daughter of Lee’s previous marriage, came as a teenager to live with Ida and Lee in New York and was adopted as the eldest of their children. One daughter, Beverly (1952-1988), preceded Ida in death.
An active and faithful member of Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ, Inc., New York City and Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, Jupiter, Florida, Ida served enthusiastically on usher boards, choirs, auxillaries and special programs. She loved all the ways she could serve her God, church and neighborhood communities.
In addition to the named children above, Ida is survived by son-in-laws: Craig Lee Simmons (Linda); King Solomon Lawson (Beverly); and Negrill George DeSouza (Deborah Ann) and one daughter-in-law, Allene “Arlene” Ingram (Darrell). A host of surviving relatives include: 24 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; 10 nieces and 4 nephews.
Services will be held at the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery, 6823 East Church Street, Jupiter, Florida.
Family visitation will be held from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday, March 18, 2016 at the church.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 1:00 PM. Reverend Michael S. Maeweathers, Sr. is the officiant. Burial will follow the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, 6823 East Church Street, Jupiter, Florida 33458.
Flowers, cards and notes may be sent to The Turner Family, c/o Brown Funeral Home, 1004 South Dixie Highway, Lantana, Florida 33462.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Brown Funeral Home of Lantana.
After their impressive victory last week against Brooklyn powerhouse Lincoln High in the City Championship, the boys of Jefferson High School won another big game this time in Albany to capture their first New York State AA Federation title with a 72-65 victory over Aquinas Institute. The Orange Wave added the cherry on top to their season.
Thomas Jefferson Defeats Aquinas for NYS Federation title. (Photo courtesy of: MSG)
In last week’s game, it was the Rasheem Dunn and Shamorie Ponds show, however, Ponds picked up his fourth foul midway in the third quarter which forced the hands of Jefferson’s head coach Bud Pollard to bench him. Have no fear, the cavalry was near as Ponds’ teammates picked up the load as Aquinas was chopping away at the lead Jefferson had built. Contributions by C.J. “big shot” Smith who dropped 15 points, Jordan Morgan, Malachi Faison, Eric Massingale, Marques Watson and Kerome Grant. Coach Pollard was in a pleasant mood and was quite satisfied about the supporting cast his team gave saying, “Sometimes it’s usually Shamorie and the miracles of Rasheem and one of them might take the lead one night, but those backup dancers really performed”. Ponds said winning this state title is “a dream come true”. Ponds also said the City Championship loss to Cardozo in 2014 really motivated him.
Coach Pollard had all of his coaching staff and the players autographed the game ball for what will be the last time he will be with this group. The basketball will be on display at Charles Barron’s office thanking the East New York and Brownsville community for their ongoing support as the boys of Jefferson High became 2015-16 City and State Champs!
Sports Notes: (Football) The stare down between the New York Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick continues. Will the Jets up their offer and re-sign him? (Basketball) Many reports indicate that maybe the Knicks’ losing woes have gotten to star player Carmelo Anthony. Sources say that Anthony is prepared to waive his no-trade clause if the team does not upgrade the roster. (Baseball) 11 days till Opening Day for both the Yankees and Mets.
The 590 Madison Street building has been a music-learning and study center for more than 85 years, serving thousands of students.
It was founded in 1930 by Philadelphia-born, Barbados-raised L. Elsie Cumberbatch Graham to house one of Brooklyn’s first official music instruction schools owned and operated by a person of color.
Ms. Graham’s Girls High School teacher urged Elsie to open her own school and share her extraordinary music gifts. She opened the Stuyvesant School of Music where, as a teen, she taught voice and organ to children and adults. From that space, she also started three choirs: a children’s, men’s and a men’s and women’s choir.
That in itself is historic, but the rooms and walls of that building and that school – now run by Ms. Graham’s daughter as the Patricia F. Robinson Music Studio – also echo a song about gifts, legacy and survival like no other music school in the Borough of Brooklyn.
Ms. Graham-Robinson continues to build on the legacy, turning out world-class musicians like mezzo-soprano Bonita Hyman, who makes her Metropolitan Opera debut this spring performing in Elektra. But for a while it was a struggle to keep the music going.
Yet, Patricia, a former Nathanial Macon J.H.S. (now Ruggles) classmate of this writer, has tapped into the same “never give up” spirit that compelled her mother to teach through the dirges of the Depression and keep in time with the day-to-day while raising, like her mother, two children.
A few years ago, Ms. Robinson, a classical musician, issued a call to the community for pianos; the response was enormous, and included gifts from music lovers, piano movers, former students from all over the city.
Five years later, she was forced to turn to refinancing to keep the doors open. Every cent was invested in the music school for concerts, scholarships, travel and more. When the bank was just about to close her doors, Patricia had no choice but to inform the students and their families.
Edward and Tanya Odom, parents of one of her students, stepped forward. Edward, a former trumpet player who years before had taken lessons with Ms. Graham, the elder, asked: Why didn’t you tell us sooner?
Long story short: the Odoms purchased the property to essentially save the school. Now Pat pays an affordable rent for a situation that is beyond win-win.
“Ed helped my mom with the music school from the time he was a very young man learning to play the trumpet,” says Patricia.
“When he discovered I was in the process of selling – which was my mom’s instructions in the will in the event the school was lost–he told me he wanted to save what my mother and I had built.”
Pat immediately went into contract with the Odoms. “Since then, the school has grown and progressed in many wonderful ways. Without Tanya and Ed the school would have been lost.”
“We are so grateful. And my mother, who passed in 1999, is also.”
Two years ago this month, former students of Elsie Graham came together to celebrate the centennial of her birth year and share personal memories of lessons learned at 590 Madison Street – where the sound of music is alive and well.
Six elite women entrepreneurs were celebrated during Women in Business New York’s March Women’s Month celebration held last night at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
The crowd extended that salute with resounding applause for the founders of WIBNY, Cassandra Tennyson and Koren Benbow-Fung, for their own work as business owners and activists who are impacting the lives of sister entrepreneurs across the city.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Tennyson worked at several companies, including Solomon Smith Barney, America Online Corporate Communications and Citi Private Bank Events. However, her passion for event planning led her to launch Sublime Moments Events in 2006, a full-service event business. As founder and CEO with 14 years of event planning experience, her goal is to be one of the leading event planners in New York City.
Koren Benbow-Fung, also a New York native, worked in advertising for 16 years at MTV Networks, Nickelodeon and FOX Networks before launching her own business. She is now CEO and owner of JMFW Printing, a full-service printing, design and digital solutions company. As a woman entrepreneur working in a male-dominated field, Benbow-Fung mentors other women to pursue leadership roles in the printing industry.
Over the years, the two friends have worked hard in their respective businesses and always made time to support each other through the challenges of business ownership in New York. “Being an entrepreneur is empowering, but it’s not easy,” said Tennyson. “It’s really important to have a strong support system if you want to turn your dream into reality.”
Cassandra Tennyson
Tennyson and Benbow-Fung both saw a need for more women business owners to collaborate. So in 2015, they co-founded Women in Business New York, a network and accelerator that provides services to connect, empower and fuel the growth of women entrepreneurs. “We are a network of women with a mission,” said Benbow-Fung. “We want all women-owned businesses to be exposed to the resources necessary to succeed, grow and, most importantly, generate revenue.”
By joining the network, members can access shared workspaces, training programs, networking events and more. They can also benefit from digital and tech services, such as printing, cross-platform marketing and graphic design support.
“Entrepreneurship continues to grow among women,” said Tennyson, who is also an active member of the Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Committee at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
“We need a strong support system for women businesses in New York. Through our organization, we are doing our part to help these businesses succeed.”
For more information about Women in Business New York, visit www.wibny.com.
Jamillah Wright is Founder & CEO of Write It Up, a full-service writing and communications company.
