Serranos Celebrate Black History Month

February 20, 2009

 
Dr. Neville A. Parker (left) and Ms. Angela E. Randall (right) each received a Congressional Record, State Senate Proclamation and 56th Presidential Commemorative Inaugural Coin.

Congressman José E. Serrano and State Senator José M. Serrano today honored two outstanding local leaders in their annual celebration of Black History Month.

The honorees were Angela E. Randall, who served 37 years at the Hunts Point Multi-Service Center, providing thousands of children with quality and affordable healthcare; and Dr. Neville A. Parker who, most recently as Director of the CUNY Institute for Transportation Systems, won awards for his work in urban planning.

"Though we celebrate Black History Month just once a year, leaders like Ms. Randall and Dr. Neville are making contributions every day," said Senator Serrano. "The families I represent in Manhattan and the Bronx are living a better life and breathing cleaner air thanks to our two honorees."

"I can think of no better way to celebrate Black History Month than to honor these two outstanding citizens," said Congressman Serrano. "Their work in their respective fields exemplifies the meaning of the word service. I salute them both. As we celebrate their achievements we are also still celebrating the great step forward our nation took this year, in electing our first African-American president. Our national journey on race continues, but we have surely matured a great deal since the civil rights movement a few short decades ago."

The event also featured a spoken word performance by Charles Thompson, Sr., representing Palladia Star Hill, a residential treatment program in the Bronx. Mr. Thompson, who was the 2008 OASAS Annual Recovery Fine Arts Festival Winner, delivered his poem, "My People as a Power."