District 12 City Councilman Kevin Riley teamed up once again with the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) to host the 2nd Annual Black History Month Celebration last month. The event was held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, in NYBG’s Garden Terrace room, located at 2950 Southern Boulevard, and was billed as a community fellowship brunch, a curated program which included a keynote address by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.

 

The event celebrated local community leaders who have dedicated years to creating a stronger community.

 

In a two-minute video advertising the event ahead of time, Riley said, “Thank you to the New York Botanical Garden for inviting me to kick off the Black History Month celebration, honoring Black contributors to art, culture, horticulture and science to society this year at the New York Botanical Garden.”

 

The councilman continued, “The celebration and education of Black history plays a major role in fighting negative stigmas, while fostering representation, identity and diversity. Looking at Black history in America beyond slavery and the impact of racism is necessary to shaping the future of Black success and changing climate and the systematic disparities of this country. This month and every month we celebrate Black creators, educators, engineers, doctors, leaders, mothers, fathers and all others now and those before us that paved the way.”

 

Riley concluded, “It’s also important to highlight what the New York Botanical Garden is doing in communities of color, partnering with community gardens such as Bissel and Rivers Run Community Garden which are in communities such as my own, here in District 12. These are safe spaces where Black students can engage with nature and seek ways to improve their communities through self-sustainability and environmental awareness.”

 

Honorees on the night included Shanequa Moore, CEO and founder of I‘RAISE Girls & Boys International Corporation based in the North Bronx; Sophia Reid, program director at RAIN, Eastchester; Dave Oladide, CUNY Baruch College community associate and SEEK peer mentor; Ronald J. Hartidge, parent coordinator at P.S. 153-X, and Jennifer Bernstein, CEO of the William & Lynda Steere Herbarium at NYBG.

 

During the awards presentation, Reid told the crowd, “I really love what I do with my teenagers… But again, it is an honor to be honored in a month like Black History, and like our borough president said, we’re seeing Black History right here.”

 

Accepting his award, Olajide told the audience, “I would look at mentors, other males in my community who I looked up to, and try and embody them, try and become something greater. I wanted more for myself, and I knew for a fact, no matter what, I was going to get there.”

 

The event concluded with self-guided tours of NYBG’s Orchid Show.

 

Check out our previous story on Black History Month at Tracey Towers here.