DA Katz co-hosts Black History Month event
BY BILL PARRY
Queens District Attorney Melinda
Katz went back to Borough Hall to
join Acting Queens Borough President
Sharon Lee in hosting a celebration of
Black History Month Wednesday in
the Helen Marshall Cultural Center.
The event was filled with music,
dances and awards to several outstanding
individuals who exemplify the best
of Queens, including Karlton Jarret,
an assistant district attorney with the
Queens DA’s Office. There were performances
by the Devore Dance Center
and music was provided by the Bartlett
Contemporaries.
Katz also surprised the family of
William Tucker Garvin, who was the
office’s first African-American Assistant
District Attorney. Garvin joined
the office in 1952 and after a distinguished
career retired in July 1966.
Denis Jordan and other family members
accepted the plaque in his honor.
Kats presented the Office’s first
African American Community Partnership
Award, named after the DA’s
newly-established Community Partnership
Division, to ADA Karlton Jarrett.
Before joining the DA’s Office
more than 10 years ago, Jarrett served
in the military and was a runner up
for the New York State Soldiers Of the
year. He is an immigrant from Jamaica
and currently works in the Integrity
Bureau.
The guest of honor for the evening
was former New York City Councilman
Archie Spigner, who served from 1972
through 2011 representing South Ozone
Park in the 1970s and later St. Albans,
Hollis, Jamaica, Springfield Gardens,
Cambria Heights and Rosedale. He authored
numerous legislation related to
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.8 COM | MARCH 6-MARCH 12, 2020
construction of the AirTrain, the Parsons
Boulevard Subway Extension and
secured funding for numerous community
projects.
The other honorees included Fred
“Bugsy” Buggs, a radio legend honored
for his contributions in communications
and media, Dorita Clarke,
who has worked tirelessly taking high
school students on college tours, Ayanna
Cole, a dedicated leader doing community
outreach and anti-poverty advocacy
and is the founder of Life Light
Street Production.
Jovoda Cooper was honored for
her community service as an officer
with the NYPD’s 105th Precinct in
Queens Village, Damien Escobar, a
world renowned violinist, author, entrepreneur,
and philanthropist from
Jamaica, Madeline Johnson, an awardwinning
producer at QPTV who also
serves on numerous boards related to
the arts, uplifting women and more.
Dawn Kelly, public relations professional
and entrepreneur who is
also the CEO of the Nourish Spot, Inc.
in Jamaica. Kelly was honored by the
U.S. Small Business Administration
as Microbusiness Person of the Year
in 2019.
The remaining honorees included
Roslyn Nieves, the community development
manager at QPTV and liaison
between the residents of Queens and
various government, nonprofits and
community organizations, and Branna
Young, a registered nurse and a role
model for students in the Health Occupations
and Profession Exploration
program.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
ADA Karlton Jarrett (l.) receives the first African American Community Partnership
Award from Queens DA Katz with his parents Carlton and Yvonne attending.
Courtesy Queens DA’s Offi ce
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