We extend our congratulations to the dynamic leader in New York and around the nation – Hazel N. Dukes, on the occasion of the establishment of the Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellowship, as a part of the New York State University Black Leadership
Institute. The Dr. Hazel Dukes Fellowship is to encourage emerging leadership in New York State and around the country. This is an efficient tribute to a leader who has dedicated her life to the promotion of civil rights, human rights and social justice, but in particular in working with young people to bring them into the fold and to make them be productive in their personal and professional lives.
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This work started way back with President Lyndon Johnson in 1960 and Hazel Dukes was part of the Nassau County Democratic Committee, was on the forefront of establishing a Head Start program back in the 1960s. During Democratic or Republican National Administrations Dr. Dukes was an outspoken advocate for education and civil rights and campaigned relentlessly in those endeavors, so this recognition is very appropriate for the long service that Dr Dukes has given to education and her long history of working with young people in building leadership in the organization the NAACP where she has brought young leadership through all levels right through to top leadership. She has advocated up and all levels of the education system the need for the involvement and engagement of young people and young leadership, and she has always had around her a team of young people that she has personally taken charge of to bring them through the system both organizationally, professionally, and personally.
When Governor Hochul speaks of Dr. Dukes as an unrelenting force in the fight for civil rights and equality in New York City, she remarked that through this Fellowship, the legacy of Dr. Dukes will continue in the critical work for generations to come; that is indeed a significant and telling observation and so true and well deserved.
Dr. Hazel Dukes is a woman of great courage, strength, bravery and boldness, and she has through the decades exemplified by her own role in business and in organization, the active and unselfishness devoted to bringing young people and encouraging them to advance in their personal and professional development. We at Carib News are delighted to have worked with Dr. Dukes through the many decades, and we have seen her work not only in New York State and the United States of America, but the energy and commitment crosses borders and we have seen that same enthusiasm, drive and commitment to young people and to the development of people in general as she has traveled with us through the Caribbean to the many conferences, and has been outspoken and committed to the young people making the necessary steps for advancement, and not just young people, but collaboration between organizations and institutions and government to make sure that this happened. She has been unrelenting, and every occasion that presents itself to make her point or point of view known, and her determination expresses that it is imperative for all of us to work together and in particular, to make sure that the young people are coming along.
This legacy of working and promoting emerging leadership is now fully enshrined in this honor that is being presented to Dr. Hazel Dukes; it could not have been presented to a more deserving person, for her continued and devoted service for so many and for so long.
Congratulations Dr. Dukes!
