Mayor recognizes Stalwarts Youth at backpack event
By Tangerine Clarke
Mayor Bill deBlasio’s Office
has honored the Stalwarts
Youth of Brooklyn during its
Aug. 26 back-to-school event
in Seaview Park, where scores
of students received backpacks
filled with school supplies.
Founding member, Anaya
Lee Willabus, accepted the
honor from Senior Community
Liaison, Mayor’s Community
Affairs Unit, Rohan Narine,
who inspired the youth in
their pursuit of education, and
encouraged them to give back
to their community.
Celebrating its fifth year of
stellar programming to engage
youth, the group partnered
with the Guyanese American
Law Enforcement Association,
Catholic Charities, PCNY in
the streets 4mycity.us, and
GrowingSoul’s Rox Anna Cameron,
to host the day of giving.
And as part of the organization’s
aim to keep youth
healthy and safe, members
received hand sanitizer and
masks from Senator Roxanne
J. Persaud, in whose district
the event was held.
The program that was
extended to students of Marine
Park, on April 28, delivered
more than 400 donated book
bags stuffed with educational
supplies including notepads
Caribbean L 22 ife, Sept. 4-10, 2020
and pencils.
Stalwarts Youth CEO, Dimple
Willabus applauded the
youth on their milestone, noting
that the group was meeting
the needs of residents who
suffered food insecurity, and
shortage of learning items due
to the on going COVID-19 pandemic.
She thanked the Guyanese
American Law Enforcement
Association (GALIA) for its
partnership, and its commitment
to working with the
community.
Willabus said these programs
also help to bring the
community together, to heal
after the loss of love ones to
the coronavirus. “Unity in
community,” she stressed.
Mark Holder, president of
GALEA in turn expressed how
important it was to support
children who were doing well
in school and in their communities.
“This is a great initiative
that helps to give back to the
community. Stalwarts Youth
are the future. We support
them one hundred percent,
and we are happy to provide
snacks, so they can go back
home feeling good about
themselves,” said Holder.
The fraternity, which comprises
NYPD officers, hosted
a town hall meeting with the
Guyanese community to discuss
the needs of neighborhoods
while providing support,
said Holder.
Members of the Guyanese Law Enforcement Association (GALEA) with President, Mark
Holder, fourth from left, Anaya Willabus and Dimple Willabus, of Stalwarts Youth, Community
Liaison, MayorÕs Community Affairs Unit, Rohan Narine, and GALEA volunteers after
sharing backpacks fi lled with school supplies to many children in Seaview Park in Brooklyn
on Aug. 26. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
Happy
Labor Day!
I join all New Yorkers in celebrating our
Caribbean-American diaspora, which
has contributed so much to the vitality of
our borough and our city. I hope to see
you Labor Day at the virtual celebration
as Brooklyn once again hosts an
incredible Carnival!
— Eric L. Adams,
Brooklyn Borough President
/4mycity.us
