Stalwarts Youth honors volunteers
with Certificates of Appreciation
By Tangerine Clarke
Thirteen-year old Anaya Willabus,
co-founder of Stalwarts
Youth non-profit of Brooklyn, an
award-winning author, on Saturday,
Oct. 3, presented Certificates
of Appreciation to volunteers during
a dinner reception at Tropical
Paradise Ballroom, on Utica
Avenue, in Brooklyn.
They are Curtis Edwards, Raymond
Inderjeet, Sara Edwards,
Pascal Balasie, Sarrah Jeen Exilas,
Amar Dyal, Salima Edwards,
Yanina Shavialenka, Tariq Saifurrehman,
and Svitlana Shavialenka.
The organization also presented
plaques to Caribbean Life
reporter, Tangerine Clarke, for
her journalistic endeavors, and
Andrew Douglas CEO, of AMD
Transportation, who continues to
haul hundreds of donated boxes
of food from Washington to be
distributed to those in need.
Volunteers, over the past four
years, have played a huge part
in the development of Stalwarts
Youth, and in the height of the
COVID-19 pandemic, have distributing
needed supplies to residents
BO ROUGH O F MANHAT TAN C OMMUNI T Y C O L L EGE
Caribbean L 30 ife, Oct. 9-15, 2020
in Brooklyn and Queens
communities.
Anaya, who wrote her first children’s
book at 8 years old, making
history as the youngest author in
New York, said the organization
that was founded, in 2016, with
her mother Dimple Willabus to
empower her peers in literacy
programs, grew, due to the needs
of the community.
She said multiple backpack
distributions; as well facemasks,
and food hamper initiatives, have
been rewarding, and impactful.
“I saw how great the need was
during registration,” said the
inspiring young lady, highlighting
the important part, volunteers
play in service to the community.
Dimple Willabus, a community
activist, who has the support
of her family, older daughter
Chantelle Grant, who kept the
audience entertained as Emcee,
husband, Winston, who gave the
vote-of-thanks, and tech-savvy
son Brandon, are all making a
difference towards the success of
the framework.
“This year has been very challenging
for most of us and we
were happy to be in a position
to donate fresh groceries, masks,
adult diapers, backpacks and
more to members of our community
and beyond,” said Dimple,
co-founder and chair, of the
non-profit.
The evening of appreciation
that was blessed by Pastor
Ellsworth Chester of Victory
Assembly, Brooklyn, provided
entertainment, and lots of giveaways.
Caribbean Life contributing writer, Tangerine Clarke. Tangerine
The Stalwarts Youth has been
established to empower youth
to always Dream Big, knowing
there is a pathway to achieve their
goals, though a commitment to
intellectual growth and cultural
development.
Clarke
Anaya Willabus, one of the
founders of Stalwarts Youth,
a non-profi t organization.
Tangerine Clarke
Virtual
Open House
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Visit:
www.bmcc.cuny.edu/cng
/cng
/cng
