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Caribbean Life, March 24-30, 2022
By Tangerine Clarke
In a recent post on her Facebook page,
Renee Hastick-Motes congratulated Dr.
Eda Harris-Hastick, professor emeritus,
who was honored during the 15th Annual
Social Work Conference at Medgar Evers
College, CUNY where she was instrumental
in starting the Social Work Bachelor’s
Degree Program, and has worked for more
than 30 years.
“Congratulations to my bonus mother,”
Motes said, adding, “Give flowers to
people while they can still smell them.”
Thank you to Dr. Waleek Boone and the
entire conference committee for her recognition,
said the daughter of late, Dr. Roy
Hastick, founder of the Caribbean American
Chambers of Commerce. (CACCI)
Founder and Program Director of
Social Works at Medgar Evers College
(MEC), Dr. Ena Harris-Hastick, was a picture
of smiles, as she received her recent
honor.
The educator, a licensed clinical social
worker with 35 years of experience, also
served as director of College Counseling
Services and chairperson of Special Programs
at MEC, assistant chief of Alcoholism
Services at Harlem Hospital Center,
and administrator of NYC Department of
Mental, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism
Service.
Dr. Hastick, a founding member of Caribbean
American Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (CACCI) and who currently
serves as president of CACCI’s Educational
Foundation, has also served as a member
of the Caribbean Research Center’s Educational
Board, and is a former chair, SUNY
Downstate Medical Center Community
Board. She also served on the editorial
boards of Journal of Social Work Practice
and the Addictions of Journal of HIV/AIDS
Prevention in Children and Youth.
A woman with outstanding value, Dr.
Hastick, is a member of New York State
OASAS (Substance Abuse) Workforce
Department and appointed Commissioner
of the NYC Human Rights Commission.
By Tangerine Clarke
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the
Annual Caribbean Life Impact Awards, in
collaboration with Schneps Media, and AM
New York Metro, originally scheduled for
March 31, at Paradise Catering Hall in
Gravesend, Brooklyn, will be rescheduled
for a new date in the Summer. Organizers
will confirm a new date and venue to
Debbie Louis; CB 17 Board Chair, Joan Bakiriddin; Orlando Ross of Congresswomen
Yvette ClarkeÕs office; Council Member Farah N. Louis; Hercules Reid of Mayor
Eric Adams office; E. 45 th Street Block Association President, Jude Michel; District
Leader Edu Hermelyn; Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn; Hotel
Trades CouncilÕs (HTC) Political Director, Bhav Tibrawal; Senator Kevin Parker;
Block Association member, Marie West; Patricia Marthone; and members of the
community and HTC. Margarette Tropnas
accommodate the planning of logistics and
program content, to honor the outstanding
contributions of Caribbean nationals.
This year, the awards received an overwhelming
list of nominations, as such, Tarley
and her team were excited to celebrate
the professionals at the star-studded production,
that was planned with a red-carpet
award presentation.
The Paradise Catering Hall family-owned
business has been a supportive, and gracious
partner to Caribbean Life, Schneps
Media, AM New York Metro, collaborative,
and would like to extend deepest condolences
to the family of Michael Angelopoulos.
For more information, please contact
Amanda Tarley at Atarley@schnepsmedia.
com or 718-249-9640.
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Assemblymember Rodneyse
Bichotte-Hermelyn, along with Council
Member Farah N. Louis and Sen. Kevin S.
Parker, on Saturday hosted the co-naming of
an East Flatbush, Brooklyn, street in honor
of Bichotte Hermelyn’s late mother, Haitian
immigrant Marie Andrée Bichotte.
East 45th Street, at the corner of Farragut
Road, is now co-named Marie Andrée
Bichotte Way.
According to Lisa L. Derrick, chief-of-staff
for Bichotte Hermelyn, the Haitian American
representative for the 42nd Assembly District
in Brooklyn, the elected officials said Marie
Andrée Bichotte was “a great mother; an
immigration activist; a prayer warrior; a supportive
neighbor; a dedicated union member
and delegate; and a micro-lender, helping
many to achieve the American Dream.”
“Marie Andrée Bichotte supported many
who were in need by providing shelter and
connections to social services,” Derrick told
Caribbean Life.
She said the unveiling ceremony was well
attended, comprising several other elected
officials, faith leaders and community leaders,
as well as Community Board 17 members,
members of the East 45th Street Block
Association, and former colleagues of the
Hotel Trades Council.
Derrick said Sen. Parker, who represents
the 21st Senate District, “joyfully emceed
this memorable event commemorating
Marie Andrée Bichotte.”
Attendees were entertained with a musical
saxophone version of the National Anthem,
as well as a vocal rendition of “Stand Up,” a
song from the movie Harriet, and a musical
selection from La Novelle Naissance, a prayer
group organization that was founded by
Marie Andrée Bichotte, Derrick said.
She said several presenters shared their
personal experience with Marie Andrée
Bichotte, including, Bichotte Hermelyn,
chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, who
“shared her heartfelt stories of all that her
mother had done for the community, as she
so proudly revealed the T-shirt that bared her
mother’s picture.”
“Today, Mar. 19, is the one-year anniversary
of my mother’s passing, and I am
overwhelmed with joy to celebrate the life
and legacy of Marie Andrée Bichotte with her
East 45th Street Block Association neighbors
and the community at large,” Bichotte Hermelyn
said.
“Honoring my mother with a street conaming,
Marie Andrée Bichotte Way, is so
deserving,” she added. “And because of this
street sign, an opportunity is created for
those who come after her to ask who is Marie
Andrée Bichotte; and they can be told the
history of this great woman, the Harriet Tubman
of this community.”
Louis, another daughter of Haitian immigrants,
who represents the 45th Council
District in Brooklyn, said: “Our community
is home to inspiring New Yorkers like Marie
Andrée Bichotte, who dedicated her life to
serving others as a compassionate friend,
neighbor and union delegate with the Hotel
Trades Council.
Renee Hastick-Motes, second from
left, surrounded by well-wishers, and
her mother, Dr. Eda Harris-Hastick,
Professor Emeritus, sitting in front,
after she was honored at Medgar
Evers College CUNY. Medgar Evers
College CUNY
Brooklyn street co-named in honor
of Bichotte Hermelyn’s late mother
Caribbean Life Impact awards to be rescheduled
Medgar Evers
College honors Dr.
Eda Harris-Hastick
The late Marie Andree Bichotte. Joel
Jean Pierre
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