LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Brenda Gibbs upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Cornerstone Award by the Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Brenda Gibbs has given not only of her time and energies but
also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has
been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Brenda Gibbs
upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Cornerstone
Award by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Zeta Lambda Chapter,
to be celebrated at its 6th Annual "A Mother's Dream" Scholarship Gospel
Brunch on Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Terrace on the Park, Flushing Mead-
ow, New York; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Illinois, Brenda Gibbs graduated third in
her senior class from Zion-Benton Township High School; she went on to
attend Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa before transferring to
Mount Mary College in Milwaukee where she majored in Occupational Thera-
py; and
WHEREAS, During her time at Mount Mary College, now Mount Mary Univer-
sity, Brenda Gibbs served as President of the College Council, was a
member of the biology club and occupational therapy club, joined the
campus choir, and participated in athletic association tournaments; and
WHEREAS, In addition, while serving as vice president of the junior
class, Brenda Gibbs produced and directed the Mount Mary Variety Show
during which time she was listed in an edition of WHO'S WHO IN AMERICAN
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES; and
WHEREAS, Initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as an under-
graduate member of the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chapter, Epsilon Kappa
Omega, Brenda Gibbs was soon thereafter elected "Sweetheart" by the
undergraduates of Delta Chi Lambda Chapter, Milwaukee, of Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at their annual Sweetheart Dance; and
WHEREAS, Brenda Gibbs graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary College in 1964; upon the
completion of her internship and exam credentialing requirements, she
came to New York and worked as a staff Occupation Therapist (OT) at
Goldwater Memorial Hospital for one year; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed woman went on to serve as a staff OT, student
supervisor, assistant director, and for a short time, director of Occu-
pational Therapy at Mount Sinai Hospital; and
WHEREAS, In 1970, Brenda Gibbs was hired as a staff OT at Downstate
Medical Center/SUNY University Hospital of Brooklyn, where she became OT
director in 1975, until her retirement from the Department of Orthopedic
Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Brenda Gibbs earned her Master's degree in Political
Science/Public Policy Administration from Queens College in 1991; she
spent the latter 18 years of her career, from 1995 until 2013, working
as an Occupational Therapist with Visiting Nurse Service of New York;
and
WHEREAS, Throughout her illustrious career, Brenda Gibbs has guest
lectured at the Columbia University OT Program, the SUNY Downstate OT
Program, and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine; she has presented at an
OT National Conference, became certified in upper extremity prosthetics
training, and authored an article in the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OCCUPA-
TIONAL THERAPY; and

WHEREAS, For more than five decades, Brenda Gibbs has been an active
member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she has served on
various committees, as well as on the AKA Day Care Board and as Health
Committee Chairperson for the Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter; and
WHEREAS, Active within the community, Brenda Gibbs's association
memberships include the American Occupational Therapy Association,
Retired United University Professions/NYSUT, New York State Occupational
Therapy Association/Metropolitan District and the NAACP, to name a few;
and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Richard, and their
three children, Gigi, Peter and Brendan, as well as their grandchildren,
Bryson, Peter, Jr. and Nyah, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of
her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Brenda Gibbs has displayed through-
out her life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Brenda Gibbs upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the Cornerstone Award by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Zeta
Lambda Chapter; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Brenda Gibbs.