Senate Resolution No. 200

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Joseph Kerwin upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Libby Post
Leadership Award by the Pride Center of the Capital
Region

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the profound impact of
those exemplary individuals within the great State of New York who
proactively work for the enfranchisement of minority communities, and
the importance of such work for the benefit of all citizens of this
State, and indeed, all citizens of the Nation; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Joseph
Kerwin upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Libby
Post Leadership Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region to be
celebrated at its Annual Awards Gala on Friday, October 19, 2018, at the
Albany Capital Center, Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious event benefits the Pride Center of the
Capital Region and celebrates the important contributions of individuals
who work hard to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community; Joseph Kerwin is one such
individual; and

WHEREAS, Joseph "Joe" Kerwin, a native of Troy, New York, is the
oldest of three children; after graduating from LaSalle Institute in
1982, he began his years of training and study as a member of the
Franciscan Friars, a Roman Catholic community of religious priests and
brothers; and

WHEREAS, He spent almost 20 years with the Franciscans working in
various capacities including years as a priest; and

WHEREAS, Believing that his life needed to go in a different
direction, Joe Kerwin left the Franciscan community in 1998, and moved
back to the Albany area where he has lived ever since; and

WHEREAS, Joe Kerwin has a Master's degree in both Theology and
Psychology; in the years since his return to the Capital District, he
has worked as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities AIDS Services
and the Administrator of the AIDS Program at Albany Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, Currently, Joe Kerwin works at the New York State
Department of Health's AIDS Institute as the Director of several
Medicaid redesign initiatives providing healthcare and support services
for people living with HIV/AIDS; and

WHEREAS, Joe Kerwin has enjoyed volunteering in the community having
served on several not-for-profit board of directors; he served on the
board of directors of the Pride Center from 2010 to 2018, and was
President of the board from 2017 to 2018; and

WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts
of individuals who unite for the cause of improving the quality of life

for others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Joseph Kerwin upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the Libby Post Leadership Award by the Pride Center of the Capital
Region; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Joseph Kerwin.