Senate Resolution No. 4919

BY: Senator DILAN

commemorating the Golden Anniversary of the
Founding of the Conselyea Street Block Association
on April 20, 2018

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commemorate
and honor those organizations which assume responsibility and leadership
in meeting the needs of their communities; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the Golden Anniversary of the Founding of the Conselyea
Street Block Association to be celebrated at an event on Friday, April
20, 2018, at 211 Ainslie Street in Brooklyn, New York; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, Elizabeth Speranza and her friends gathered around
her kitchen table to discuss various neighborhood issues; Elizabeth
truly believed the best way to solve a problem was to work with people
and build relationships; the women called themselves the Conselyea
Street Block Association (CSBA); and

WHEREAS, The group of housewives hosted block parties and day trips
for the young people, and helped adults learn the English language;
later, Elizabeth Speranza and Jan Peterson, a social worker who hoped to
reduce poverty in the neighborhood, joined forces and the Conselyea
Street Education Action Center was incorporated in 1972, with these
additional original members: Margaret LaPolla, Molly Manna, Millie
LaCioppa, Tillie Tarantino, Ann Barone, Marion Varriale, Agnes Grappone,
Anna Mae Pecora, and Frances Anella; and

WHEREAS, CSBA immediately began holding English as a Second Language
classes for adults, helping people with their immigration and personal
problems, and providing breakfast and lunch to people who needed a good
meal; and

WHEREAS, This vital organization was staffed with mostly volunteers,
and served not only the residents of Conselyea Street, but the whole
neighborhood; the CSBA needed larger offices and decided to establish a
day care center for the local residents of the working class Italian
American community; and

WHEREAS, Through the members' steadfast efforts and with the help of
several prominent women, Small World Daycare Center opened its doors to
the public for the first time in 1975; and

WHEREAS, Later, CSBA opened the Swinging Sixties Senior Center,
providing quality elder care services and various activities to Brooklyn
seniors; and

WHEREAS, The success of CSBA is in direct correlation to the efforts
of its staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized
by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an
uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the
institution and the community it serves; and


WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
associations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Conselyea Street Block Association upon the occasion of
celebrating its 50th Anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Conselyea Street Block Association.