42 THE QUEENS COURIER • BLACK HISTORY • FEBRUARY 13, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com s black history BROUGHT TO YOU BY EMBLEM HEALTH AWARD WINNERS JOHN CROW ALEXANDER Producer and host of ‘Caribbean Classroom’ John Crow Alexander was born in Noel’s Hill, St. James, in the parish of St. Andrew’s in Grenada (The Spice Island). He attended the St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS), in the town of Grenville. Alexander grew up in his father’s tailor-shop and his Grand father’s rum shop. This was where he learned the importance of helping others. Today, Alexander is a journalist, videographer, public speaker, information specialist, tape and news editor, and the producer and host of “Caribbean Classroom” (CC). This program is the oldest and longest running Caribbean television program in North America (approximately 25 plus years). With the help of many volunteers, CC is broadcast “LIVE” every fi rst Thursday of the month at 8 p.m. on QPTV, channel 34 in Queens. Caribbean Classroom is also seen in Brooklyn, on BCAT, every Monday at 9 pm., channel 67. “CARIBBEAN CLASSROOM: Community Empowerment Television.” Alexander earned his undergrad degree from York College, City University of New York (CUNY), and started work on a Masters in Library & Information Science degree at Queens College. Renascence man, Alexander provides instructions in all facets of video production at Queens Public Television (QPTV). Alexander is a stage performer with great skills and talents in dance, drama, and song. He plays percussions too. Crow worked with several different performance companies in the New York City Area, including the original Caribbean American Repertory Theatre (CART), IZULU Dance Theatre, National Black Theatre, Cheryl Byron and Something Positive, Dr. Carlos E. Russell, to name a few. In addition, Alexander worked at the World Famous Apollo Theatre as “The Executioner” (sand man), for the now defunct Caribbean Amateur Night. Currently, Alexander does Information & Referral and community outreach at the internationally known Queens Library Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center, home of the Black Heritage Reference Center of Queens County. Within the past 15 years, as an I & R Specialist, Alexander helped thousands: Lay people and professional have all made their way to Langston Hughes seeking and receiving professional assistance. Alexander is one of the driving forces behind Healing Hands Helping Broken Hearts. A volunteer organization founded by Marjorie Bibbons. With volunteers’ assistance, Bibbons use Healing Hands to distribute donated items to families in need. Crow assists organizing the annual Thanksgiving & Christmas Dinners that are free to the public. In addition, Alexander & Carnice Modeste co-ordinate fundraising activities for The St. John’s Educators’ Scholarship Fund. Monies collected are used to help parents whose children pass the necessary exams to attend high school in Grenada. DR. ANDRÉ MCKENZIE Vice-President for Academic Support Services at St. John’s University Dr. André McKenzie currently serves as Vice-President for Academic Support Services at St. John’s University, where he has worked for the past 27 years. He provides leadership and supervision for 14 program areas that constitute the Divisions of Academic Support Services and Special & Opportunity Programs. Some of those programs include: College Advantage, Gates Millennium Scholars, GEAR UP, Ronald E. McNair Scholars, Science and Technology Entry Program, Student Development for Athletes, Transfer Student Services, and the University Honors Program. In addition to his administrative duties, Dr. McKenzie teaches on both the undergraduate and graduate level and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the University’s School of Education. A native of Chicago, IL, Dr. McKenzie received BS and MS degrees in education from Illinois State University. He received an additional Masters degree and a Doctor of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. He is a Past-President of the Teachers College, Columbia University Alumni Council and a recipient of St. John’s University’s Vincentian Mission Award and The Spirit of St. John’s Award. Dr. McKenzie is a contributing author to African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision (2005), Student Freedom Revisited: New Issues and Perspectives (2005), and Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Greatness, The Demands of Transcendence (2012). His professional and civic affi liations include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., American Counseling Association, National Academic Advising Association, NAACP, Nalane, Inc., National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, New York Urban League, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. POSTHUMOUS HONOR JOHN WATUSI BRANCH Co-founder and executive director of the The Afrikan Poetry Theatre John Watusi Branch, co-founder and executive director of the The Afrikan Poetry Theatre in Jamaica, passed away on Saturday, December 28. He was 70 years old. Friends said they were “saddened by the loss of this cultural leader and institution builder,” who maintained the theater for almost 40 years. Branch went into a coma after suffering from a heart attack on Monday, December 23 and passed just days later. Branch got inspiration from the community, as well as the youth’s desire to learn. For nearly a decade, Branch organized yearly group trips to various parts of Africa. In 2012, he took a three-week trip to Ghana where his group stayed with local residents and took part in work projects. Additionally, Branch is a published author, and wrote a book entitled Journey to the Motherland, along with fi ve volumes of poetry. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina and his family moved to Brooklyn when he was six years old. They then moved to Jamaica in 1961 when Branch was 18. The community man lived in Jamaica with his wife, Safi ya. Together they have fi ve children.
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