Central Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, March 1, 2004

EBONY SOCIETY SHOWCASES EXCELLENCE

Last Friday evening, a crowd of nearly 150 people filled Arsenal Gallery seats, stood on weary feet, and spilled into the stairwell. Why all the excitement? On February 26, the Ebony Society celebrated the 2004 Light of the World Ceremony, and the line-up of awardees and participants was a beautiful thing to see.

The Ebony Society honored nine African Americans for their outstanding achievements at Parks & Recreation and in their communities: Peter Jones, Stephen Gomez, Orlando Sanders, Robert Hogan, Darnay Harris, Tracy Tanner, Monifa Edmondson, Shanna Davis, and Leona Clardy. The Ebony Society’s Black History Committee selected the recipients, who were given plaques and serenaded by the voices of Jackie Rowe-Adams and Gordan Frances and the poetry of Kareema B.

In 1985, a group led by Walter Adams, currently Director of Health and Safety, founded the Ebony Society with the purpose of uniting Parks & Recreation’s African American community, increasing African American visibility, and recognizing those who make outstanding contributions to Parks & Recreation and their communities. Soon thereafter, the Society was chartered as a non-profit, and in 1986, the Society held its first dance at Marina del Rey in the Bronx, an event that has since become a Parks & Recreation tradition. Elizabeth Jiggetts, a retired Outreach Coordinator, began organizing Black History Month events at Parks & Recreation a few years later, creating the Light of the World: an exhibit honoring the creativity of the Black community and an awards ceremony recognizing Parks & Recreation and community-wide accomplishments. The Ebony Society’s member dues sponsor all events.

The Society derives its name from the ebony tree, indigenous to Africa and known for the unusual strength of its wood, and the Society continues to live up to its name. Since 1985, the Ebony Society has quadrupled its membership, now nearly 100 members strong, and it has become an integral part of the Parks & Recreation community. Walter Adams remarked the day following, “Last night was one of my proudest moments. The number of people who attended, especially the number of youth, is proof that we have succeeded in touching so many people.” Nearly 30 Teens at Parks participants from J. Hood Wright Recreation Center attended, one of the largest youth turnouts in Society history.

Parkie Honored by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

Congratulations to David Martin on his Outstanding Public Service Award! David, Capital Team Leader for Brooklyn , was one of only six City employees recognized for their achievements at a reception hosted by Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion. David began at Parks & Recreation in 1984 as an Assistant Architect. In 1993, David was awarded the Ebony Society’s Light of the World Award, followed by the Chiefs Award in 1996. He graduated from New York City’s Leadership Institute in 1995 and has been an EEO Counselor since 1996.

David is a pillar of his community. He is a member of the Allen AME Zion Church in Queens, and for the past four years he has served as President of the New York City Chapter of Concerned Black Men, a nationwide volunteer organization dedicated to mentoring youth. David volunteers countless hours of his personal time to help school children at Ralph Bunche School in Harlem, making himself available for such activities as tutoring and bringing students on educational trips. Last year, he was appointed National Chairman of the Concerned Black Men’s Back to School Initiative.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"And the spring comes slowly up this way."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge
(1772-1834)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center