FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 11, 2021 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 45
Jamaica educator recognized for her commitment to students
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
New York Edge, the city’s largest provider
of aft er-school programs, surprised
a teacher in Jamaica with a “Th ank You
Meal” from McDonald’s on Oct. 16.
Kadianne Gordon, a dance teacher
at P.S./I.S. 116Q, was presented with an
award by Evelyn Garcia, supervisor of the
McDonald’s restaurant at 181-25 Hillside
Ave. Garcia thanked Gordon on behalf of
McDonald’s and delivered free breakfast
meals for the class.
“It was a really nice surprise. All of
the staff members knew except me,” said
Gordon, who was led by her students to
the school auditorium fi lled with balloons.
Gordon began her journey with New
York Edge as a student at P.S./I.S. 116Q
in 2008, and began her passion for dancing
in kindergarten. Aft er moving from
Brooklyn to Queens, Gordon continued
her dancing career, which she was able
to do through the New York Edge aft erschool
programs.
Heavily infl uenced by her previous
dance teachers, Gordon became part of
her old environment by becoming an educator
at her former school and pursuing a
career as a dance teacher.
Th is is Gordon’s third year teaching
dance at New York Edge. She has also
spent four years as a volunteer teaching
dance in high school.
Gordon, who has taught dance for
seven years, teaches a class of 20 students
who learn ballet, jazz, hip-hop and
African dance.
She makes sure that her students are
exposed to diff erent kinds of music and
moves, so that they can have a little knowledge
in diff erent areas of dance. Th rough
teaching dance, Gordon helps her students
build self-esteem, stand up for what they
believe in, and rise above peer pressure.
“I always tell them to try their best.
Everyone is diff erent. We all dance diff erently,”
Gordon said. “Th ey don’t have to be
perfect; I just want them to try.”
As educators inspire and shape the next
generation, McDonald’s honors impactful
teachers with a free breakfast “Th ank You
Meal” to make sure teachers get the recognition
they deserve.
McDonald’s franchisees have supported
educators in the local neighborhoods
they own and operate their restaurants
for decades, including initiatives
like McTeachers’ Night, coordinating food
drops at educators’ homes aft er school
and free meals during the pandemic.
“As a former teacher, this ‘Th ank You’
meal means the world to me, and I know it
will touch my customers and my employees,”
said Stefanie Cabrera Bentancourt,
a McDonald’s owner/operator in Miami,
Florida. “Educators are the backbone of
our communities. Th ey’ve done so much
for us, and it’s an honor to join my fellow
owners/operators across the country to
celebrate with them.”
York College president to be guest speaker in JCAL conversation series
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Last February, Jamaica Center for
Arts & Learning launched JCAL Talks, a
speaker series spotlighting Queens-based
thought leaders in arts and future, education
and politics, and civic and community
life. On Nov. 16, JCAL Talks returns
in-person for the fi rst time, with Dr.
Berenecea Johnson Eanes, president of
York College, in conversation with JCAL
Executive Director Leonard Jacobs.
JCAL Talks was one of several new
initiatives launched by JCAL during
Black History Month. Th e series engages
a diverse spectrum of thought leaders
who live in, represent and originate from
Queens. During its inaugural season,
JCAL Talks featured Rhonda Binda, who
this week stepped down as deputy Queens
borough president, and Association for a
Better New York CEO Melva Miller, who
is also a former deputy at Borough Hall.
As president of York College, Eanes has
made her presence felt at the college and
in the southeast Queens community.
She devised a strategy to grow the college
as “One York,” which aims for
everyone to feel valued for their contribution
to the academic enterprise.
Eanes has accomplished several goals
including the completion of York’s
Strategic Plan and establishing three main
pillars of support: “Undergraduates Who
Th rive and Graduate,” the
“Inclusive Signature
Programs” and
a “Vibrant
Community and Campus Spirit.” She
also led fundraising eff orts that include
December 2020’s Giving Tuesday, in
which York College raised over $96,000.
“I am delighted by the invitation to be
the inaugural speaker for JCAL Talks in
person,” said Eanes, who became the seventh
president at York College when her
permanent tenure began in the summer
of 2020. “I congratulate Executive
Director Leonard Jacobs,
who, like me,
is still new to the Jamaica, Queens,
community. I am excited for the town
and gown relationship we are continuing
with this event and
look forward
to future collaborations. York and JCAL
have had a longstanding friendship that
has benefi ted our two entities and our
community. I am also doubly excited
that this will be an in-person event aft er
more than a year and a half living
in virtual reality due to the
pandemic.”
The in-person
format will
allow community
members
to be present
for insightful
and relevant
dialogue.
L e o n a r d
Jacobs was named executive director of
JCAL last month.
“York College is a touchstone for southeast
Queens. Not only is it the CUNY
school closest to us geographically, but
it is a beacon for our values,” Jacobs said.
“In a comparatively short tenure that has
coincided with the pandemic, Dr. Eanes
has confronted unprecedented challenges
with remarkable grace, and, in doing so,
she has created a template for leadership
that is both outstanding and inspiring.”
Founded in 1972, JCAL is a multidisciplinary
arts center devoted to off ering
quality visual, performing and literary
arts, and to provide accessible education
programs to encourage participation
in the arts.
“Our two institutions, York College and
JCAL, have long histories together, and
one of the many things we have in common
is a commitment to arts and culture,
and to diversity and inclusiveness
in our southeast Queens community,”
JCAL Artistic Director Courtney Ffrench
said. “Dr. Eanes is a visionary and we’re
so excited to welcome her as part of our
JCAL Talks series.”
Th e program begins at 6:30 p.m. in
the black-box theater at Jamaica Center
for Arts & Learning, located at 161-04
Jamaica Ave.
buzz
ks,ased
ucamuurns
t CAL
ring
gagders
rom
son,eens
or all.
nd
y.and
o
in
J
be
enth Coll
began
mer congratu
Jam
excited
w
ing Yo
fr
en
d
pers
and
rea
pandeT
so
al
nt
Photo courtesy of
York College
York College
President Dr.
Berenecea
Johnson Eanes
will join the
new leader of
Jamaica Center
for Arts &
Learning for its
speaker series later
this month.
Photo courtesy of New York Edge
McDonald’s honors Kadianne Gordon (left) with an award and a free breakfast “Thank You Meal” for
her students at P.S./I.S. 116Q in Jamaica.
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
