by Quinn Lisa
On Friday, May 31st, 2024 at the elegant El Carib Country Club, in Brooklyn, PDPA Women Celebrating Women held its Spectacular Emerald Award Ceremony, commemorating the amazing women and our elected officials’ contributions to our community. This event was beautifully presented by the PDPA Executive Team under the leadership of Rose Graham, Wayne Ragguette, Thelma Moore, Andrea Dawes and Rt. Rev. Sylveta A. Hamilton- Gonzales.
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Women their families and friends came together to celebrate their various achievements; in the fields of Education, Health, Business, and Politics. Women elegantly adorned in fashions that reflected their personalities and culture danced to old-school Caribbean and American music under resounding applause to celebrate great women who have accomplished so much adversity.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a Democrat from California, was the distinguished guest of honor and keynote speaker. The illustrious event was highlighted with a beautiful speech presented by Congresswoman Lee, a protege of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman in Congress, from Central Brooklyn. Chisholm was the first black woman to run in the Democratic Presidential primary race to be President of the United States.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the eminent keynote speaker, opened the nostalgic door in her speech about her mentor and friend, Congresswoman Chisholm, one of the renowned female legends of our time. Rep. Lee captured the pivotal moments of Chisholm’s extraordinary performance in Congress, her trailblazing legislative tenacity, and her audacious leadership that changed our world. Rep. Chisholm was the founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus.
She was a strong supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and legalized abortion. Rep. Chisholm in her quest to be President of the United States had Lee as her campaign manager and her Chief of Staff. It was an amazing speech riveted with enthusiasm and empowerment to the young intergeneration women in the audience. To hear the words “Unbought and Unbossed” is this mantra that encourages our next generation of women leaders to rise to the occasion and bring their own chairs to the table for change. In addition, Congresswoman Lee celebrated the great accomplishments of the awesome women being honored with the distinctive Emerald Awards in the ballroom.
Political leaders such as Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Democratic leader of the Ninth Congressional District, in Central Brooklyn, and her mother Matriarch and founder of PDPA Una S. T. Clarke, other guests, and elected officials praised the honorees for their profound contributions to society.
In her motivational speech Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, leader of the Ninth District who is currently sitting in Shirley’s chair, stated that she was the youngest black member in Congress on her arrival to Washington DC. Rep. Clarke painted a picture of her experience when she arrived.
Rep. Clarke explained she was considered to have a “safe seat.” Consequently, she did not receive any assistance to navigate her trajectory in Congress until the empathic leader Congresswoman Barbara Lee pulled her under her wings, and mentored her, emulating the mentoring Barbara Lee received from Hon. Shirley Chisolm. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke connected the historical times that tied the knots, past to present intertwining Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s leadership within a magnificent complete infinite circle with Rep. Chisholm, Rep Lee and herself in a singular outstanding leadership as change agent for our community, in her inspirational speech. Her speech touched and inspired many of the young women in the room who hoped to be in her shoes.
Among the young guests were students and alums of the M.A.C.A.D.E.M.Y School of Science and Technology. Student Gov. President Skie DeGale and Journalist Quinn Stewart were sponsored by President Sabrina HoSang-Jordan and the Caribbean Food Delights Foundation.
Seniors Nile Anderson, Brook McKenzie, and alumni Daylon Bacchus, Ashley Hamilton, Patricia and Shianne Smith and 4th Grade student Christian Howe were all participants. They handed the Emerald Awards to our Matriarch and founder of PDPA Dr. Una S. T. Clarke, who presented to all the honorees encircled by some of Brooklyn’s finest elected officials. Alumni Cerena Parkinson, on her way to Oxford University, in England, to study Fine Arts, displayed her extraordinary talents evident in her paintings with vibrant Caribbean colors and imagery to add to the ambiance of El Carib. A country club engulfed with crystal chandeliers and fine draperies, a feast for the human eyes. After these academically astute and gifted students contributed to the successful PDPA Women Celebrating Women Emerald Awards presentation, they enjoyed their evening with a motivational blend of old and new music, delicious gourmet foods, and intergenerational socialization.
The PDPA Women Celebrating Women Emerald Award Event was an amazing opportunity for women to come together and enjoy the immense contributions they have made to the community’s education, health, business, and political development and advancement.
