Tag Archives: councilwoman Jackie Gordon

A Post-Event Press Release: Nassau and Suffolk Offer A Giant Embrace For Youth Creative Expressionists


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  www.yourtime4liny.org              gala@yourtime4liny.org            yourtime4talkblog   

POST-EVENT RELEASE

          

Gala Album

          

Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth Scholarship & Fundraising Gala

A Giant Embrace for Youth Creative Expressionists

Lindenhurst NY. Thursday, November 20, 2014, 6:30pm.

Your Time for Creative Empowerment, Inc. presented several scholarships and awards to the winners and participants in their Creative Empowerment Arts Contest at their Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth Gala on Thursday, November 20, 2014. The youth-focused event was attended by community leaders from Nassau and Suffolk Counties, supportive family members, and friends of the Long Island high school contest participants in excess of 100 people. Grant awardees and scholarship winners were given an opportunity to share their thoughts on their own inspiration and creative process as the Creative Expressionists of the evening.       Guests at Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth Gala

“The idea of encouraging our youth to speak through their unique art forms is one whose time has come. We intend to keep this culture going as a way to effect heightened awareness among parents, and valuable community involvement in the lives of Long Island’s children as we see and hear them express themselves in healthy innovative ways.”  -Madona Cole-Lacy, Founder/CEO-

Some sentiments from high school contestants are as follows:

“Wow, Thank you so much for the scholarship, I really do appreciate it. You did an amazing job putting the event together, it was an incredible evening.

College Scholarship Winner Nailah Garard of Half Hollow Hills High School East shares her thoughts behind her creative expression 'Trapped' (3)
College Scholarship Winner Nailah Garard of Half Hollow Hills High School East shares her thoughts behind her creative expression ‘Trapped’

You have really inspired me to keep my creative juices flowing by drawing, painting or anything I can do to express myself. I enjoyed talking to the other contestants and looking at the impressive artwork they did. Again, it was such an honor to be presented with an award. If you are having another event, I would love to be there. Please stay in touch.”                                                        – Creative Empowerment Contestant –

 

“…As soon as I turn 18, I am going to look into volunteering at the Trevor Project headquarters to hopefully help make a positive impact on someone’s life and be the helping hand that they might need. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”  – Creative Empowerment Contestant-

Even though guests got to enjoy a gourmet dinner along with a powerful networking opportunity against a backdrop of art and music, the purpose of this gathering at the stately Chateau La Mer in Lindenhurst was not lost as these sentiments suggest: 

“I found the Gala interactive and electrifying for all stakeholders. The idea lays the groundwork in creativity and artistic productivity for our young millennials. Top Marks for Your Time for Creative Empowerment, Inc. for this brave new venture for youth!” –Kwame “Kumale” Fitzjohn, Host/Sr. Producer, Global African Media-  

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Samantha Uebel of  Babylon High School talks about her winning poem.

The 2014 Creative Empowerment Arts Contest winners are as follows:

Samantha Uebel – A Poem “Girl Without A Voice” (9th Grade – North Babylon High School) $500.00 to set up and run a club/support/leadership group at school.                   Ben Rhee – A Poem “Just A Click Away” (10th Grade – Syosset High School) $500.00 to set up a club/ support/leadership group at school.                                    Nailah Garard – Portrait – “Trapped” (11th grade – Half Hollow Hills High School East) $1,000.00 College Scholarship.                                                                                       Aly Brier – Short Film – “A Helping Hand” (12th grade – The Wheatley School) $1,000.00 College Scholarship.

Scholarship Winner, Julia Maher of Farmingdale High School with her creative expression, 'Slipping away from Sanity' also known as 'Paranoia'
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Julia Maher – Portrait – “Paranoia”/ “Slipping Away From Sanity” (12th grade – Farmingdale High School) $1,000.00 College Scholarship.                                                                                  Gigi Larios -Mendez – Portrait- “Too Blind To See” (Roosevelt Senior High School Graduate/ SUNY Old Westbury Freshman) $1,000.00 College Scholarship.

Other contestants with compelling creative expressions are:                                                              Tatiana Woellhof – Drawing -“You Are A Slave To Whatever Controls You” – (10th grade-Centereach High School)                                                                        Kitty Zheng-Watercolor/black sharpie pen painting-“Growing New Layers”- (12th grade-Southold Jr/Sr High)                                                      Veronica Lane – Photography – “Portray Yourself Wisely” – (12th grade – St. John The Baptist DHS)      Madison Migliaccio – Pen and Ink – “Hate Sold By The Bottle” – (12th grade – Farmingdale High School)                               Radiyyah Hussein – Oil Painting – “Freeing Peace” – (12th grade – Central Islip Senior High School)                                                                                                                                             Emily Williams – Painting and Marker -“20 Flight Rock” – (12th grade – Seaford High)Marie Saint-Cyr – Collage – “A Helping Hand”-(F.I.T Freshman /Westbury High School Graduate)                                                                                                                                                     Plans are underway for a Community Creative Empowerment Arts Exhibition, which will open with a forum co-facilitated by the contestants. 

 

Cynthia Metzger receives her handcrafted plaque (2)
Honoree Cynthia Metzger receives a handcrafted plaque

Another highlight of the evening was the acknowledgement of a special breed of community role models for 21st Century youth, who were honored. “I am thankful and excited over the valuable support and input our Honorees conveyed in their respective messages, as they in their unique ways, pointed to the importance of and the urgency for the proverbial villagers to come together and serve our youth. We now have to work as hard and as smart as ever to open the hearts of those we seek to help, as well as those who straddle the fence of warm embrace, for this simply cannot be a one-woman or man show. There is plenty of room for like-minded altruistic volunteers and supporters.” – Madona Cole-Lacy-

“Dear Madona, I appreciate and thank you & Jim ever so much. The night was wonderful and very memorable. I was especially impressed with the works that you inspired the youth to produce. I’m proud & honored to be connected to such an effort, and I can’t thank you enough for thinking of and including me as an honoree. Regards & Best wishes.” -Mel Jackson-

Honoree Patricia Francis had this to say about her role in the gala: “It was a pleasure to assist our youth in obtaining their goals. They truly need to feel and have our/adult support.”

Anahi DeCanio - ArtyZen Studios
Honoree Cynthia Costanzo Metzger and guests-Photography by Anahi DeCanio – ArtyZen Studios

 

Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth Scholarship & Fundraising Gala Honorees:   

Patricia J. Francis, Co-Organizer and recent past president -The Sisters of the Arts, Nassau/ Suffolk/Queens Chapter, The Society Incorporated, and Member of National Executive Board

Jacqueline A. Gordon, Councilwoman -Town of Babylon, Lieutenant Colonel-United States Army Reserves, Western Suffolk BOCES Guidance Counselor

Sharon Gordon, Detective, Nassau County Police Department, Child Abuse and Special Victims Unit

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Devon Harris, Motivational Speaker, Author, Philanthropist, Founder of Keep On Pushing Foundation, original Jamaican Bobsled Team member.

Mel Jackson, Executive Director, Leadership Training Institute

Cynthia Costanzo-Metzger, Associate Director of Development and Corporate Relations, Molloy College

George Siberon, Executive Director, Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association

Carrie Solages, Nassau County Legislator – District 3, Attorney at Law

Theresa Statz-Smith, Executive Director, Long Island Arts Alliance

Dr. Deborah L. Wortham, Superintendent, Roosevelt Union Free School District

The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was award-winning Video Journalist and Executive Producer of Fios1/ My Long Island TV, Waldo Cabrera. Executive Producer, Bob Spiotto, handled the coordination of the event.  2014-11-30 18.06.54 (3)

Proceeds support Your Time For Creative Empowerment’s FREE creative programs and services to Long Island’s youth and their families, and provides funds for its Creative Empowerment Awards and Scholarships.                                   

                                                            Journal Ads can still be purchased for the yearly commemorative e-journal through the website: http://www.yourtime4liny.org

To learn more about Your Time For Creative Empowerment, visit the organization’s website: http://www.yourtime4liny.org or call (516) 965-3242.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Your Time To …Embrace Long Island’s High School Students


You are invited …. We are excited!

Come see and hear Long Island’s youth present their uncensored expressions on drugs, sex, alcohol, technology and life as they know it today at the

Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth Scholarship and Fundraising Gala

at 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM on Thursday, November 20, 2014

creative countdown

Your Time To…Embrace Long Island’s Creative, Socially Conscious High School Students! `

At this year’s gala, we will feature students and their work from the following schools: Syosset High School * Roosevelt Senior High * Babylon Senior High * The Wheatley School * Farmingdale High School *Seaford High School *Central Islip Senior High School and Centereach High School so far.

Another highlight of the evening is the acknowledgement of distinguished community leaders.

All contestants get to attend at no cost to them. Discounted reservation rate is available for parents, teachers and well-wishers of contestants. Please click the link below:

http://www.yourtime4liny.org/SupportUs2014gala.html

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“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” -Helen Keller-.

 

2014 Gala Kick Off Acknowledgements


The backdrop of the most awesome digital expressions entitled Pattern and Rhythm Through the Lens  on the wall of the Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery of the elegant Art League of Long Island, was just what was needed to enhance the atmosphere on Thursday evening. Our sincere thanks to the Art League for their role in providing an ambience which lent itself to the intimacy of the evening.

Many thanks to Tim Magorrian, the Area Director of Noodles and Company, Doherty Pasta LLC,  for being there for Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. once again. It was obvious by the sentiments expressed, that our guests were impressed with dinner, and will be visiting Noodles and Company in Garden City very soon.  We had an impressive showing of our upcoming 2014 Gala handpicked honorees to whom we are ever so grateful. Neither distance nor traffic tie-ups could keep them away.  A special ‘Thank You’ goes to the  FiOS1 Push Pause inimitable video journalist, Archie Snowden, for the superb job he did at engaging our guests as he gathered valuable material that would help to tell the story of Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. Be on the look out for the video on FIOS1 Push Pause.  I give dues and credit to James A. Lacy, my other half and the Program Director of Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc., for the mammoth role he plays at supporting this initiative. Thank you is simply not enough!

The purpose was for all in attendance to be open to embracing the goals and philosophy of Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. –  to creatively empower Long Island’s youth and families through the unique incorporation of the arts into the youth and family development programs and activities we offer. The support and commitment to promote our upcoming Scholarship and Fundraising Gala, Creatively Embracing 21st Century Youth, to be held in Lindenhurst, NY at Chateau La Mer on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 6:30 pm, was not at all unexpected from this group of caring, dedicated, extraordinary role models. At the expense of some of the important components of a kick off event, I perhaps was so touched by their presence that I did, indeed, lay more emphasis than was needed at that time, on spotlighting the impact of the various roles our honorees and volunteers play with their unique contributions to the weaving of the fabric of our organization. As one who has absolute regard for the teaching and learning process, I shall take action to rectify that promptly.

I conclude by sharing how your support engenders much inspiration and motivation in me and others associated with our organization. On one occasion, I was inspired to formulate the following quote in response to the supportive role played by  one of our honorees:

“By God’s grace…the doors to all minds that get to know about our upcoming event will be swung wide open by the spirit of receptivity.

Thank you so much, Cynthia, for all that you do for us.”       

I have taken the liberty of tailoring this message specially for you, and ask that you too open your spirit of receptivity, and take action by either giving a word of  encouragement and empowerment to today’s youth by purchasing an ad in our 2014 Commemorative Journal, by purchasing a sponsorship package or tickets to attend our gala or by helping to make it a success in the best way you know how.

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Your Time For Creative Empowerment, Inc. Mission Statement 

Your Time for Creative Empowerment is a nonprofit corporation that educates and empowers children, adolescents and parents of both secular and faith-based communities in the Long Island area, through the use of art, fashion and culture as mechanisms to improve interpersonal relationships; to avoid pitfalls that are unique to life in the 21st Century; and to specifically identify and effectively develop healthy problem-solving, enhance personal development and increase cultural sensitivity.