* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:06] UH, MY NAME IS NATALIE BARRY ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, BC HISTORICAL SOCIETY. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO THE CULMINATION OF PHASE TWO OF THE CLARK CONDEMORATION PROJECT. TODAY, WE'LL BE UNVEILING INTERPRETIVE PANELS HONORING TWO OF OUR VILLAGES MOST NOTABLY FORMER RESIDENTS, DR. BABY AND KENNETH CLARK. THESE PANELS, TWO IN FRONT OF YOU HERE ON AVENUE, AND ONE AT THE TOP OF BOULEVARD, UH, IS LOCATED ON THE TWO ENDS OF DR. BABY AND KENNETH PARKWAY. THESE OUTDOOR PANELS HAVE BEEN PLACED ACROSS FROM OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPLEX AND NEAR HILLSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH WE THINK IS APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE CLARK'S TIRELESS AD- ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. OUR JOURNEY TO GET TO THIS POINT HAS TAKEN MORE TIME AND EFFORT THAN WE EXPECTED. WE'VE HAD SOME SETBACKS. OUR FIRST CONTRACTOR PASSED AWAY AND OUR COSTS INCREASED UNEXPECTEDLY, BUT WE'RE HERE NOW AND ARE HAPPY THE PROJECT IS FINALLY COMPLETED. LET ME LAY OUT FOR YOU THE PROGRAM FOR THIS AFTERNOON. IT'LL BE SHORT AND TO THE POINT, I HOPE. I'M ASKING OUR SPEAKERS TO KEEP THEIR SPEECHES TO FIVE MINUTES OR LESS. WE'LL START WITH THREE OF MY COLLEAGUES, JEN ITO, EDDIE CRAWFORD, AND CAITLIN CHANG, WHO WILL PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND ON HOW THIS PROJECT CAME TO BE PLUS A SHORT SYNOPSIS OF PHASE ONE. OUR THREE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ARE ALL EDUCATORS. OUR FIRST GUEST SPEAKER WILL BE DR. THELMA DAI, WHO WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHSIDE CENTER FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT FOR MANY YEARS. THEN OUR SUPERINTENDENT DR. BILL WILL COME UP, SHARE A FEW WORDS AND INTRODUCE OUR NE- NEXT GUEST SPEAKER, DR. LESTER YOUNG JR. CHANCELLOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF REGENTS. AFTER THAT, I'LL TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO MANY PEOPLE AND THE ENTITIES THAT MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CLARK FAMILY PRESENT TODAY, NATALIE THOMPSON, GRANDDAUGHTER OF DR. CLARK, AND HER DAUGHTER PAIGE. WE'VE ASKED NATALIE TO SAY THREE WORDS ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER, PAIGE HARRIS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. WE'LL END WITH NATALIE AND PAIGE UNVEILING THE TWO PANELS. SINCE WE'RE A BIG GROUP AND THE SPACE IS VERY TIGHT, I'LL HAVE FOLKS PULL UP TO VIEW THE PANELS ONE OR TWO ROWS AT A TIME. SO LET'S GET STARTED. I'M HAPPY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO JEN ITO, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE. HI EVERYONE. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? OKAY. UM, I'M JENNIFER ITO. THANK YOU FOR COMING. IT'S NICE TO SEE MANY FAMILIAR FACES TODAY. UM, WE'RE OFTEN ASKED HOW WE GOT STARTED. SO I USUALLY TELL PEOPLE IT STARTED WITH THREE FRIENDS, EDDIE CRAWFORD, CAITLIN CHANG, AND MYSELF. I'LL BEGIN WITH EDDIE. SINCE HE'S EDDIE, HE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE DAHL STUDY, THE CLARKS, AND THAT THE CLARKS LIVED IN OUR VILLAGE. CAITLIN HAPPENED BY CHANCE TO DO A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE DOLL TEST FOR A LOCAL PARENT GROUP AND LATER WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THE CLARKS LIVED IN HASTINGS FOR A LONG TIME. FOR ME, HAVING GROWN UP IN CANADA, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CLARKS OR BROWN V. BOARD UNTIL I MOVED HERE. I REMEMBER BEING CURIOUS WHEN I LEARNED THAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HAD VISITED THE CLARKS IN HASTINGS. THAT SEEMS SIGNIFICANT. I THEN READ ABOUT THEIR DOLL STUDIES AND ITS ROLE IN BROWN V. BOARD. THE MOMENT I FULLY REALIZED JUST HOW SIGNIFICANT THE CLARKS WERE WAS WHEN I WAS APPLYING FOR US CITIZENSHIP. THE STUDY MATERIALS INCLUDED A FEDERAL PUBLICATION FOR NEW CITIZENS CALLED THE US CITIZENS ALMANAC. IT CONTAINED INFORMATION THAT ALL NEW AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW, THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AND KEY SUPREME COURT CASES THAT HAVE SHAPED THIS COUNTRY. IN THAT SHORT LIST WAS BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION. I REMEMBER BEING AWESTRUCK. THE CASE WAS REALLY A BIG DEAL, SO THE CLARKS WERE ALSO A REALLY BIG DEAL. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. TOWARDS THE END OF THIS BOOK, IN A SECTION TITLED PROMINENT FOREIGN BORN AMERICANS, I FOUND KENNETH B. CLARK. HE WAS BORN IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE AND BECAME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IN 1931. [00:05:02] HE WAS SO INFLUENTIAL THAT THE GOVERNMENT CHOSE HIM AMONG A HANDFUL OF OTHERS TO INCLUDE IN THIS BOOK. I WANTED TO BRING IT AND I FORGOT IT. OF COURSE, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND SHARED THIS WITH EDDIE AND CAITLIN, AND WE LAMENTED THAT THE CLARKS WERE NOT BETTER KNOWN IN OUR VILLAGE. THE HASTINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE HASTINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT, OF COURSE, WERE VERY AWARE OF THE CLARKS AND WHAT THEY DID. BUT IN PUBLIC SPACES, ASIDE FROM A SMALL PLAQUE IN THE STAIRWELL OF THE CLARK'S HOME AND THE KENNETH B. CLARK ACADEMY UP THE STREET IN DOBBS FERRY, NOT IN HASTINGS, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CLARKS HAVING LIVED HERE AND OF THEIR IMPACT ON THIS COUNTRY. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, HOWEVER, YOU CAN EASILY FIND INFORMATION ABOUT KENNETH CLARK AND THE DAHL TEST. THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE SMITHSONIAN AND OTHER MAJOR INSTITUTIONS. WE QUICKLY NOTICED THOUGH THAT MAMIE CLARK WAS SELDOM MENTIONED, EVEN THOUGH THE DOLL TEST AROSE FROM HER MASTER'S THESIS, AND SHE AND KENNETH CLARK HAD BEEN EQUAL PARTNERS CONDUCTING THE DAHL STUDY. WE KEPT SAYING TO EACH OTHER, "SOMEONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO ELEVATE BOTH THE CLARKS AND HASTINGS. IF YOU LIVED HERE, IT SHOULD JUST BE PART OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE. SOMEONE SHOULD REALLY DO SOMETHING." WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT SOMEONE WOULD BE US, BUT AFTER A FEW TIMELY NUDGES, A NOTABLE ONE FROM LINDA JONES OF THE LORRAINE HANSBERRY COALITION. WE REALIZED THAT THAT SOMEONE COULD BE AND PERHAPS SHOULD BE THE THREE OF US. THAT'S HOW THIS PROJECT WAS BORN. NOW I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO MY WONDERFUL COLLEAGUE AND DEAR FRIEND, EDDIE CRAWFORD, WHO WILL SHARE WITH YOU THE STEPS WE TOOK TO MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S GREAT TO BE STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND TO REALIZE THAT WE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IT'S FINALLY COME TO VOLITION. YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY HOW YOU MAY BE WORKING ON A PROJECT AND NOT KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE INVESTIGATING AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH. THE FIRST TIME I MET JEN ITO, I JUST ASSUMED THAT SHE WAS A BORN CITIZEN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. SHE WAS FROM CANADA. AND AS I FOUND OUT AS WE WERE INVESTIGATING THE LIFE OF DR. JEN CLARK, HE WASN'T BORN IN AMERICA EITHER. NOW WE LIVE IN A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND WANT TO MAKE A STAND FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OF US, JEN ITO, WHO BECAME A NATURALIZED CITIZEN, AND DR. CLARK DID THAT, SETTING GREAT EXAMPLES. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I'M GOING A LITTLE BIT OFF SCRIPT, BUT I'M GONNA DO IT IN FIVE MINUTES. NUMBER 47 WHO HAS DEPORTED SEVEN OUT OF 10 CITIZENS WHO ARE LEGAL HERE IN THE UNITED STATES TRYING TO MAKE A MARK FOR THEIR LIVES, FOR ALL OF US. CONGRESSWOMAN. I WON'T GET INTO THE POLITICAL ASPECTS OF WHAT THAT MEANS FOR ALL OF US, BUT JUST ONE WORD. WHY I'M UP HERE. SO BACK IN THE FALL, I TRIED TO PUT IT IN A CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. BACK IN THE FALL OF 2022, JEN ITO, CAITLIN BANK AND MYSELF SPOKE TO THEN MAYOR NICKY NAME [00:10:01] DOCTORS MAMIE AND KENNETH PARKWAY. SHE WAS IN FAVOR OF THE IDEA. IN JANUARY OF 2023, WE PRESENTED OUR PROPOSAL BEFORE TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MASONS EMPHASIZING THE CLARK'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS BLACK PSYCHOLOGISTS AND THEIR FAMOUS INFLUENTIAL EXHIBITS IN THE GROUNDBREAKING 1954 US SUPREME COURT DECISION TO OUTLAW RACIALLY SEGREGATED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OUR NATION. WE THOUGH THAT THIS RECOGNITION WAS LONG OVERDUE, MAYOR HASTINGS. IN THE FALL OF FEBRUARY 2023, MAYOR NIKKI ARMAGAS THEN MAYOR NIKKI ALMAKAS IN THE VILLAGE OF TRUSTEES ADOPTED THE STREET SIGNED PROPOSAL AND FUNDED THE PROJECT AND INSTALLATION OF DOCTORS OF MAMIE AND KENNETH. THAT SAME YEAR, SAME YEAR, EARLY SPRING OF 2023, WE PRESENTED OUR PROPOSAL TO THE HASTINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. UPON THE CV, THEIR APPROVAL, THE THREE OF US BECAME A SUBCOMMITTEE OF HASTINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY SINCE THEY WERE ALREADY AN ENTITY AND WERE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. THE GOAL OF PHASE ONE WAS TO RAISE IMMEDIATE AWARENESS OF THE CLARKS IN THE SHORT TERM AND GENERATE INTEREST AS WE APPROACHED, AT THAT TIME, THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN BOARD. THE GOAL OF PHASE TWO WAS TO INSTALL PERMANENT INTERPRETIVE PANELS THAT YOU WILL ALL SEE HERE TODAY AFTER THE UNVEILING. SO AS I STAND HERE TODAY, LET IT BE SAID THAT THE CLARK'S STORY IS FOR ALL TO KNOW, TO LEARN AND TO LIVE BY. NO PERSON, I REPEAT, NO PERSON, HE, SHE, CITIZEN OR NON-CITIZEN, LEGAL OR NON-LEGAL POLITICIAN OR PRESIDENT CAN ERASE, EXPUNGE, CROSS OUT OR TEAR DOWN THE HISTORY AND THE LEGACY OF DOCTORS MAMIE AND KENNETH CLARK. SO LET'S CONTINUE. THANK YOU. LET'S CONTINUE TO PASS THEIR STORY INTO HISTORY AND THEIR HISTORY INTO OUR LIVES, INTO THE LIVES OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO TURN, TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE. SHE WILL RECAP MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF PHASE ONE. HELLO EVERYONE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH. IT IS SO NICE TO SEE YOU ALL. IT REALLY IS. UM, MY NAME IS CAITLIN CHANG, AND AS EDDIE NOTED, ONCE THE CLARK TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED AS A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING. PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT RECEIVED INCREDIBLE SUPPORT TO THE VILLAGE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE SUMMER OF 2023 KICKED OFF WITH A WONDERFUL FILM AND BOOK DISCUSSION SERIES ORGANIZED BY MIKE MCCOY, UM, A HASTINGS LIBRARY, WHICH FOCUSED ON CIVIL RIGHTS HEROES WHO WERE CONNECTED TO THE PARKS. IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR, A NUMBER OF EVENTS OCCURRED TO FURTHER EDUCATE AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC WITH THE PARK COMMEMORATION PROJECT. ONE EVENT WAS THE BROWN V. BOARD PUBLIC WEBINAR HOSTED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND ORGANIZED BY DR. MELISSA SAMANSKY IN THE HASTINGS SCHOOLS. PARK ACADEMY AND HILLSIDE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS CREATED ART THAT WAS DISPLAYED AT THE CULINATING CEREMONY. AN ABBREVIATED EXHIBIT ABOUT THE PARKS WAS ALSO INSTALLED INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL LOBBY. LATER THAT MONTH, MINNIE G BROWN TRICKY OF THE LITTLE ROCK MINE WAS INVITED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. [00:15:02] SHE SPOKE AT ALL THREE SCHOOLS USING A QUESTION AND ANSWER FORMAT. I'M GONNA GO OFF SCRIPT FOR ONE SECOND. JUST A SECOND. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IF ANY OF YOU ARE FEELING IN NEED OF COURAGE, LIKE YOU HAVE SOMETHING HARD TO DO AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED THAT OOMPH TO DO IT, GO AND WATCH THOSE VIDEOS. THEY'RE AVAILABLE ON THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEBSITE. BACK TO THE SCRIPT. OKAY. PHASE ONE CULMINATED LATER THAT FALL WITH THE STREET SIGN CUL-NATING CEREMONY AT THE HASTINGS COMMUNITY CENTER ATTENDED BY MANY MEMBERS OF THE EXTENDED PARK FAMILY AND OVER 150 COMMUNITY MEMBERS. A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY LEADERS AT THE COUNTY AND EVEN STATE LEVEL SPOKE. WE ARE HONORED THAT TWO OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS AT THAT EVENT HAVE RETURNED TO SPEAK TODAY. DR. LESTER YOUNG JR. FROM THE NEW YORK STATE NORTH ALLEGIANCE AND DR. THELMA DAI FROM THE NORTHSIDE CENTER. I'VE ALREADY NOTED THIS, BUT I'LL NOTE IT AGAIN. WE WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE RECORDINGS OF THE THREE MINI JEAN BROWN TRICKY TALKS AND THE RECORDING OF THE TWEET SIGN CULMATING CEREMONY ARE AVAILABLE ON THE HASTINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEBSITE. SOON AFTER THE CEREMONY, THE YEAR-LONG CLARK LEGACY EXHIBIT OPENED AT THE HASTINGS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, COINCIDING WITH THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN. THAT EXHIBIT LATER TRAVELED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITES WITHIN THE COUNTY. IN 2024, THE CLARKS WERE FURTHER HONORED BY WESTCHESTER COUNTY WITH A POSTHUMOUS TRAILBLAZER AWARD AT AN EVENT HOSTED BY THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ADVISORY BOARD. AND NOW, IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DR. THELMA DAI, WHO AS NATALIE MENTIONED, IS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTHSIDE CENTER FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT. DR. DAI HERE AS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF NORTHSIDE, MS. PAULA MAGNUS. THE NORTHSIDE CENTER WAS FOUNDED BY THE CLARKS IN 1946, BASED ON A NEED NAVY PARK SOLD FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN OF HARLEM. DR. NAVY PARK WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NORTHSIDE FOR 33 YEARS. PLEASE WELCOME DR. THELMA DAI TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE AND, UM, I LOVE HEARING ALL OF THE KNOWLEDGE BASE THAT BECAUSE I, I CAN LIKE GET RID OF HALF OF MY SPEECH BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW IT SO WELL. SO IF YOU SEE ME STOPPING AND MY PANIC ATTACK, I MAY DO THAT BECAUSE I'M LEARNING FROM YOU. IT IS AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE. AND SO I'M GONNA START OFF SCRIPT BECAUSE I KEPT HEARING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DID THIS AND IT TOOK A WHILE AND WE THOUGH IT WOULD HAPPEN SOONER. SO I DECIDED TO SAY, UM, THAT IN THE WORDS OF THE GREAT NBA PLAYER, JALEN BRUNSON, WHO SAID, "WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE. WE GOT IT DONE. WE'RE GONNA DO IT. YOU GOT IT DONE. CONGRATULATIONS." SO I WAS ACTUALLY INVITED... I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL THE CLARKS ARE, BUT I WAS INVITED TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DR. MAMIE AND I'M HONORED TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ALL KNOW IT WAS HER MASTER'S THESIS THAT GOT THIS ALL GOING AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WOMEN ARE HONORED AND RECOGNIZED FOR ALL THEY DO. UM, SO I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH, UM, FIXING THE MIC. I'LL DO IT THIS WAY. MAMIE CLARK SAID, "I'VE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN CHILDREN. ALWAYS FROM THE TIME WHEN I WAS VERY SMALL, I ALWAYS THOUGH I WANTED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN AND PSYCHOLOGY SEEMED LIKE A GOOD FIELD." WELL, THAT PATH AND THAT MOVEMENT INTO PSYCHOLOGY IS WHAT LED US TO THE LEGENDARY HISTORY OF MAMIE AND THE CLARKS AND THE BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION. WE KNOW THAT DR. MAMIE CLARK ATTENDED HOWARD UNIVERSITY. SHE COMPLETED HER UNDERGRADUATE BA IN PSYCHOLOGY [00:20:01] IN 1938. SHE GRADUATED FROM HOWARD. SHE WENT ON TO COMPLETE HER MASTER'S DEGREE ALSO AT HOWARD. AND IT WAS AT HOWARD WHILE WORKING PART-TIME WITH CHARLES HOUSTON, A WELL-KNOWN NAACP CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY. AND HE WAS WORKING ON ISSUES OF SEGREGATION, AND MAMIE WAS ALSO WORKING PART-TIME AT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN NURSERY SCHOOL THAT SHE BEGAN FORMULATING THE BASIS FOR THE LEGENDARY DOLL STUDY. HER MASTER'S THESIS WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSCIOUSNESS OF SELF AND NEGRO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. IT WAS FOUNDATIONAL TO LAY THE DOLL STUDIES. SHE FOUND THAT THREE-YEAR-OLDS HAD A CONCEPT OF RACE THAT AT THAT YOUNG... AND THEY ALSO HAD A CONCEPT THAT RACE WAS NOT... BEING BLACK WAS NOT GREAT BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS SURROUNDING THEM. SO WE KNOW THAT THE BLACK, THE BROWN, UH, THE BLACK WHITE DOLL STUDIES, AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL KNOW IT, YOU COULD PROBABLY TEACH IT TO ME AGAIN, UH, WERE PIVOTAL TO ENDING SEGREGATION PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO DR. MAMIE, AS YOU KNOW, MET DR. KENNETH CLARK AT HOWARD. SO I LIKE TO SAY HE NOT ONLY HELPED MOVE DR. MAMIE FROM, UH, WANTING TO MAJOR IN PHYSICS AND MATH TO PSYCHOLOGY, HE MARRIED HER TO MAKE SURE SHE DID GREAT. BUT SHE, SHE ALWAYS WANTED PSYCHOLOGY, SHE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT. AND HE BECAME A THOUGHT PARTNER IN FURTHERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOLL STUDIES. THEY HAD A LIFELONG PARTNERSHIP THAT REVERBERATED WITH THE BROWN STUDIES, UH, BLACK WHITE DOLL STUDIES THAT REVERBERATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND IT LED TO CHANGES IN THE EDUCATION OF BLACK CHILDREN AND IN RACE RELATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY. IT MADE FOR THE MAKING THE BEGINNING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE FOCUSED CENTERING ON EQUALITY THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THAT WE CANNOT MINIMIZE WHAT THAT DID. AS YOU ALSO PROBABLY KNOW, DR. MAMIE HAD OTHER WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENTS AND SHE WAS THE SECOND BLACK PERSON TO ATTEND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AND SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE... COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY WITHIN A PHD IN PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM. AND SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE TO GRADUATE WITH A PHD FROM COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. AND DURING THAT TIME, NONE OF THIS WAS EASY. SO THE OTHER PASSION OF DR. MAMIE'S, HER PASSION WAS ALWAYS CHILDREN. UM, AND I CALL HER DR. MAMIE BECAUSE WHEN I GOT TO NORTHSIDE, DR. MAMIE CLARK, DR. MAMIE FITZCLARK HAD PASSED AWAY. BUT WHEN I GOT THERE, UM, THREE YEARS AFTER SHE PASSED AWAY, EVERYBODY REFERRED TO HER AS DR. MAMIE, THE CHILDREN, THE FAMILIES, HER COLLEAGUES, AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN DR. MAMIE TO ME, EVEN THOUGH I NEVER MET HER. I DID HAVE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH AND MEETING DR. KENNETH CLARK, BUT DR. MAMIE HAS MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. I WORKED IN NORTHSIDE FOR 37 YEARS. I WAS THE CEO FOR 30, AND IT WAS THE MOST PLEASURABLE TIME IN MY LIFE BECAUSE OF WHAT NORTHSIDE STOOD FOR, WHAT DR. MAMIE DID, AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING. THEY ALL LOVED HER. I DID... I HAVE YET TO RUN INTO SOMEONE WHO SAID, UH, "WELL, SHE'S OKAY." SHE WAS A PHENOMENAL LEADER. UM, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO... AND I MEANT TO BRING THAT QUOTE, BUT I DID HAVE... ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR HER WAS HER SECRETARY. SHE SAID, "WHEN DR. MAMIE LEAVES HERE, I'M LEAVING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN COME BEHIND HER." AND SHE'S RIGHT. SHE'S RIGHT. I, I EVEN HAVE TO ADMIT THAT. SO YOU KNOW DR. NORTHSIDE WAS FOUNDED WITH A $900 LOAN FROM MAMIE'S FATHER, DR. MAMIE'S FATHER, AND, UM, WHAT A VISIONARY. HE WAS A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT HER WHEN SHE WAS AT HOWARD BECAUSE SHE MET DR. KENNETH CLARK AND HE DIDN'T WANT HIS BRILLIANT DAUGHTER SIDETRACKED IN ANY WAY. THEIRS WAS [00:25:01] A HISTORY THAT WAS MEANT TO BE, AND IT CHANGED NOT ONLY THE AMERICA, BUT IT CHANGED THE WORLD. SO I, I DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO USE A PEN, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, NORTHSIDE WAS DR. MAMIE'S THIRD CHILD. NOW, WITHOUT A DOUBT, SHE LOVED KATE AND HILTON, HER CHILDREN, AND HER GRANDCHILDREN, BUT SHE ALSO NURTURED AND GREW NORTHSIDE. IT WAS A PASSION. AND BECAUSE SHE LOVED ALL CHILDREN, IT WASN'T JUST HER CHILDREN, IT WAS ALL CHILDREN. SO SHE ENSURED THE GROWTH OF NORTHSIDE. THROUGHOUT NORTHSIDE, I USED TO HEAR... AND I WAS HIRED BY KATE CLARK, HER DAUGHTER, UM, TO BE THE CHIEF PSYCHOLOGIST. AND ULTIMATELY, I COULDN'T FIND MY WAY OUT OF NORTHSIDE, SO I STAYED, AND I STAYED, AND I STAYED, AND SO I GOT TO BE THE CEO, AND THAT WAS THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF MY LIFE, RIGHT? I MEAN, I LIKE MY KIDS TOO. AND MY HUSBAND. SO, BUT MAMIE USED TO ASK, "WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?" AND I HOPE YOU WILL VISIT NORTHSIDE, BECAUSE IN THE WALLS OF NORTHSIDE, THERE'S PICTURES OF DR. MAMIE, BUT IT IS HER QUOTE, "WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?" SO THAT NONE OF US COULD EVER FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN. UM, SO I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE NEW PRESIDENT AND LEADER OF NORTHSIDE. SHE'S OUR NEWEST LEADER. WE LOVE HER. SO SHE'S GOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF, OF MAMIE'S THIRD CHILD, OKAY, NORTHSIDE. AND SHE IS KEEPING IT GLOWING AND GROWING. SO THANK YOU. I THINK I GOT ADDED TO THE PROGRAM, IT SOUNDS LIKE. 'CAUSE THAT'S A BOSS THAT STILL WALKS ME AROUND. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK DR. DAI FOR HER LEADERSHIP. UH, I COME FROM AN ACCOUNTING BACKGROUND, AND BACK WORKING ALONGSIDE DR. DAI FOR OVER 30 YEARS, TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT SOCIAL SERVICES, BECAUSE I KNEW NUMBERS, RIGHT? BUT SHE TAUGHT ME THE PRACTICE, THE WISDOM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE TAUGHT THE HEART BEHIND THE WORK. I CANNOT THANK YOU, DR. DAI, ENOUGH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW, LIKE YOU SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHOSE PUTS IT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FULFILL THE NAME PARTS AND STUFF. BUT I DO WANNA SAY GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU, AND I COME WITH THE THEME OF GROWING UP SEEING THE LEGACY AND THE FUTURE OF NORTHSIDE CENTER FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT FOUNDED BY DR. MAMIE AND KENNETH CLARK 80 YEARS AGO. TODAY, I WANNA GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO NORTHSIDE CENTER, WHERE WE COME FROM, WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING, AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED. AS I SAID, I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. I KNOW I LOOK REALLY YOUNG, BUT 31 YEARS AT NORTHSIDE AS A STAFF ACCOUNTANT. AT THAT TIME, THE BUDGET WAS $2 MILLION. WE HAD 60 EMPLOYEES. WE HAD ONE LOCATION, AND WE SERVED ABOUT 900 FAMILIES AND CHILDREN ANNUALLY. TODAY, WE HAVE A $33 MILLION BUDGET, 300 EMPLOYEES IN FOUR BUILDINGS ACROSS HARLEM, THE BRONX, AND BROOKLYN, AND PROGRAMS IN 22 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY. WE NOW SERVE 2,500 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR. AND ONE IMPORTANT NOTE I WANNA GIVE BEFORE DR. DYE LEFT NORTHSIDE, SHE SAYS, "AND YOU KNOW WHAT? BEFORE I LEAVE OUT THE DOOR, YOU MUST OWN THE BUILDING." MM-HMM. SO WE OWN ONE OF THE FOUR LOCATIONS, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 108TH AND PARK AVENUE, WHICH IS NORTHSIDE'S HEADQUARTERS. AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR NOT-FOR-PROFITS, AGAIN, COMING FROM FINANCE BACKGROUND, YOU GOTTA OWN THE PROPERTY SO YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE COST. I HAVE WITNESSED NORTHSIDE TO EVOLVE INTO FIVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, [00:30:01] THE TRANSITION STAGE OF GROWTH, ALWAYS RESPONDING TO THE CHANGE OF NEED OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THROUGH IT ALL, ONE THING HAS REMAINED CONSTANT THAT THE, DR. CLARKS MADE SURE, STAYED CONSTANT WITH THE FOUNDATION OF NORTHSIDE. THAT FOUNDATION WAS BUILT BY THE CL - DR. CLARKS ON THREE SIMPLE, SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL PRINCIPLES, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PURE LOVE. AND THEIR MOTTO I WOULD SAY IS LIKE, "DO RIGHT BY OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES." THAT WAS THEIR MOTTO. SO RECENTLY I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING TO KATE CLARK HARRIS, THE DAUGHTER. I WENT TO FLORIDA, HAVE A LITTLE INTERVIEW THERE WITH HER BECAUSE THAT'S HISTORY ON WHEELS FOR SURE. SHE SHARED MANY, MANY STORIES ABOUT NORTHSIDE, BUT ONE THAT TRULY STAYED WITH ME WAS THE ONE SHE TALKED ABOUT WHEN THE FIRST FACILITY WAS OPEN. SHE SAID IT WAS LOCATED, YOU GO DOWN THESE DINGY, DINGY STAIRWELLS TO THE BASEMENT. BUT WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR, THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS, THE PICTURES THAT WERE ON THE WALLS, THE TOYS THAT WAS THERE FOR THE CHILDREN, IT WAS LIKE YOU WERE IN SOME OTHER PLACE. BUT WHAT THAT SAID, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING PROFOUND ABOUT CHILDREN, AND JUST DECORATING THE VENUE, THAT THE FAMILIES DESERVE BEAUTY, DIGNITY, AND QUALITY, EVEN WHEN THE SURROUNDING AREAS DIDN'T SUGGEST THAT. THAT PRINCIPLE STILL GUIDES NORTHSIDE TODAY. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT. WHEN OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES WALK THROUGH THE DOORS, WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THE BEAUTY BELONGS TO THEM, THE QUALITY BELONGS TO THEM, AND THEY DESERVE IT, AND THEY MATTER. TODAY, NORTHSIDE BRINGS THAT COMMITMENT TO LIFE THROUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING 22 SCHOOL-BASED CLINICS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY, HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS AND PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS, CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH, EMPOWERMENT SERVICES FOR YOUTH, THERAPEUTIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING. WE ALSO REACH FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES. OUR, OUR WORKERS GO INTO THE HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE HELPING THEM TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES THEY FACE, GIVING THEM STRENGTH, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND CREATING BRIGHTER FUTURES. OUR OUTCOME REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK THAT THE CLARKS ESTABLISHED. WITH PROGRESS, SUCCESS, RAGING IN ALL OUR PROGRAMS, THE RATING OF IMPROVEMENT IS FROM 90 TO 95% IN EACH OF OUR PROGRAMS. I SAY THAT'S QUALITY, DOING SOME GOOD WORK. WHAT MAKES NORTHSIDE UNIQUE IS THE INTERSECTION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION, TYING THE TWO TOGETHER, WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO APPROPRIATE ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL. YOU GOTTA GET THEM WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG IN THE SCHOOL. WE UNDERSTAND WHEN CHILDREN RECEIVE THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THEY NEED, THEY ARE BETTER POSITIONED TO LEARN, GROW, AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS. AND THAT BRINGS ME TO OUR FUTURE. WE, NORTHSIDE, FOUNDED BY CROSS, WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THOUGHTFULLY, GUIDED BY THE NEEDS OF EACH CHILD AND FAMILY. OUR VISION IS NOT JUST TO SIMPLY GET BIGGER, BUT TO CONTINUE IMPROVING LIVES AND SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO LEARN FROM AS WE DELIVER QUALITY, PROGRAMMATIC, SPECIFIC FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES WITH PURE LOVE. BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP KNOWING THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL, THEY ARE VALUABLE, AND THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL. GROWING UP, SEEING, IT'S NOT A LUXURY, IT'S A NECESSITY. SO THAT'S WHERE NORTHSIDE'S FUTURE IS. AND JUST SO I CAN LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW WE'RE JUST BUSY DOING ALL KINDS OF THINGS, I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO COME TO NORTHSIDE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. COME VISIT US, COME SEE US. OH, YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I MEAN, I'M A PICTURE TAKER AND I LIKE TO SHOW WHAT WE DO BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOOD STUFF. YOU CAN FOLLOW [00:35:01] US ON NORTHSIDECENTER.ORG ORG, BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING A SPECIAL EVENT AT THE YALE CLUB ON NOVEMBER 17TH AND WE'RE FEATURING MISTY COPELAND AND A PANEL DISCUSSION ON GROWING UP SEEN. I HAVE SOME FLYERS WITH ME, YOU CAN GET MY BUSINESS CARD, YOU CAN OKAY? SURELY COME OUT. BUT PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE IS, WHAT THEY'VE ESTABLISHED AND HOW IT'S STILL IMPACTFUL IN THIS WORLD TODAY? FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. YOU'LL SEE EXACTLY THAT. BUT AGAIN, COME ON OUT, NOVEMBER 17TH. AND I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE EVEN SO FAR AHEAD OF TIME. WE HAVE AN ANNUAL GALA THAT HAPPENED AS WELL IN MAY. SO YOU CAN PUT THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR. IF YOU WATCH THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU KNOW THE EXACT DATE AS WELL. SO I WANNA SAY TO YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SUPPORT, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS HONOR FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF DR. MAMIE AND KENNETH CLARK. MAY WE NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY BROUGHT TO US ALL, TO OUR CHILDREN, TO OUR FAMILIES. THAT STRONG FOUNDATION. MAY WE CONTINUE THEIR MISSION THROUGH FAMILY, COMMUNITY, PURE LOVE, AND ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD WE SERVE GROWS UP SCENE. YOU CAN BE SURE NORTHSIDE'S GONNA CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND WE CONTINUE TO STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF DR. MAMIE AND KENNETH CLARK. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE DR. BILL MCPHERSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS HERE IN HASTINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JUST FOLLOWING EVERYBODY ELSE HERE. I'M GONNA GO BACK TO A THEME WHEN WE WERE LAST HERE IN YOUR FAMILY WAS YOUR, YOUR, YOUR MOM WAS HERE. CONNECTIONS AND PROSPERITIES. CONNECTIONS AND PROSPERITIES. AT THE HEART OF THE WORK OF DOCTORS MAMIE AND KENNETH CLARK IS THAT CONCEPT OF CONNECTIONS AND I WOULD SAY CONNECTIONS ACROSS BARRIERS. IT'S ACROSS BARRIERS OF LEARNING, OF GROWTH, OF LIVING TOGETHER AND TRULY BUILDING COMMUNITY. I THINK THEIR DECISION TO LIVE IN HASTINGS SPEAKS TO THEIR DESIRE TO GO TO NEW PLACES AND BUILD THOSE CONNECTIONS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO STUDIED THE WORK, AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO STUDY THE WORK DEEPLY, WE SAW THAT. FOR THOSE WHO KNEW THE CLARKS, WE SAW THOSE CONNECTIONS. IT'S AN IDEA THAT RESONATES POWERFULLY, POWERFULLY TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE. UM, THERE'S A PERSONAL CONNECTION. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT I SAID THAT OUR PARENTS CONNECTED. OUR PARENTS CONNECTED. MY MOTHER, RIGHT OUT OF MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE, WESTERN MASS, GOES TO NEW YORK CITY TO WORK IN AN OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN THE SAME BUILDING WHERE YOUR GRANDFATHER, YOUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS WORKING. MY DAD VISITING HERE SAW THE DISPLAY AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE. WE'VE HAD A DISPLAY NOW FOR ABOUT LIKE 10 YEARS HONORING. MY DAD WALKS IN AND SAYS, "BILL, LET ME TELL YOU A STORY. YOUR MOM SAT AT THE FEET OF DR. CLARK." SO THIS WHITE WOMAN OUT OF WESTERN MASS THEN MOVED TO CHICAGO. MY DAD ABOUT EIGHT YEARS LATER GETS ON A BUS TO GO TO SELMA, GOES TO SELMA TO MARCH FOR JOHN LEWIS. AND THE STORY GOES FORWARD, BUT THAT'S A DEEP CONNECTION, CONNECTIONS ACROSS BORDERS. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE VILLAGE AND THE DISTRICT. THE NAMES HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, SO I'M GOING FIRST NAME. SO EDDIE, THE RUNNER, KATELYN, THE ORGANIZER, JENNIFER, THE ENERGIZER, BUNNY, NATALIE, JUST HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER, BRINGING HISTORY. GREG, JANICE AND MELISSA, THAT'S TOWN GOWN BROUGHT TOGETHER. CONNECTIONS THAT ARE HERE EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOMS AND NOW WITH A PERMANENT MEMORIAL AT THE, RIGHT AT THE FOOTSTEPS OF THIS GREAT HILL. SO NOW IT'S MY JOB, MY ONLY JOB, IS TO BUILD ANOTHER CONNECTION, IS TO INTRODUCE YOU TO DR. LESTER YOUNG. NOW AS A SUPERINTENDENT SOME YEARS AGO, DR. YOUNG CAME AND SPOKE TO US. HE INSPIRED US, HE CHALLENGED US AS SUPERINTENDENTS. SO IT'S A GREAT, GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO DRAW THIS CONNECTION. DR. KLENETH, KENNETH CLARK WAS NOMINATED TO THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF REGENTS AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO JOIN THAT INSTITUTION, AND HE SERVED IN THAT ROLE FOR 20 YEARS. IN 2021, AFTER ALREADY BEING A REGENT, DR. LESTER YOUNG WAS ELECTED CHANCELLOR, BECOMING THE FIRST [00:40:01] AFRICAN AMERICAN CHANCELLOR IN THE BOARD'S HISTORY, LEADING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GOVERNING BODIES IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION IN THE STATION. SO YOU TELL ME YOU MIGHT RETIRE, PLEASE DON'T. BECAUSE YOUR HALF DECADE AS CHANCELLOR, WE NEED IT. WE NEED MORE. SO WITH THAT, I BRING FORWARD DR. LESTER YOUNG, AND I HOPE YOU GET THIS THEME OF CONNECTIONS AND IT CONTINUES. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, UH, SUPERINTENDENT FOR THAT, UH, GENEROUS INTRODUCTION. IT IS A REAL HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU. LET ME SEE IF I CAN MAKE THIS WORK. ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE TRICK IS NOT TO TOUCH ME. UH, AND, AND I SHOULD ADD, THERE ARE 17 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, REPRESENTING 13 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS AND FOUR OF US REPRESENT AT LARGE DISTRICTS. AND, UH, I PLEASE TO SAY THAT I'M JOINED, UH, IT'S NO LONGER AFTERNOON. I'M JOINED BY OUR REGION THAT REPRESENTS THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF QUEENS, THE VICE CHANCELLOR CHAMPION. UH, JUST INDULGE ME FOR A MOMENT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND, AND ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR GETTING US HERE. YOU KNOW, I WORK WITH AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, UH, IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR OVER 50 YEARS. AND I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MANY PLANNING TEAMS AND BE ASSURED NOT EVERY PLANNING TEAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET THEIR PROJECT TO FINISH IT. IN FACT, YOU KNOW, I, I GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF MUSICIANS AND, AND OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE I'VE PICKED UP, UH, SOME MUSICIAN SPEAKING IF IT WILL. AND I TYPICALLY REFER TO SOME PEOPLE AS FINISH LINE OR THEY'RE NOT FINISHING. AND, AND JUST LET ME SALUTE THE PLANNING TEAM HERE FOR BEING THE EPITOME OF FINISH LINE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THE, THE OTHER POINT THAT I REMAIN IS, IS I'M SURE MOST OF YOU FEEL THIS WAY, YOU MAY NOT EXPRESS IT THE SAME WAY, BUT WE'RE IN A VERY INTERESTING MOMENT IN AMERICA. UH, SOME HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS AN INCREDIBLE MORAL MOMENT BECAUSE WHAT WE DO IN THIS MOMENT WILL DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NEXT GENERATION. IN MY ROLE AS CHANCE, WHAT I RECOGNIZE THAT IN ADDITION TO IT BEING AN INCREDIBLE MORAL MOMENT, IT IS ALSO A LEADERSHIP MOMENT AND IT REALLY IS A MOMENT THAT BEGS AND CRIES OUT FOR REAL LEADERSHIP. AND SO IF YOU COULD JUST ALLOW ME TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE TRUE LEADERS OF NEW YORK STATE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT EDUCATION, AND THAT IS THE LEADER OF NEW YORK STATE SENATE, SENATOR ANDREA. UH, TODAY, WE GATHER TO HONOR MORE THAN A DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR. WE HONOR A MAN WHOSE WORK CHANGED THE COURSE OF AMERICAN EDUCATION AND CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE US TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND HUMANE SOCIETY. THIS OCCASION IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE THE SEAT I NOW OCCUPY ON THE BOARD OF REGENTS WAS NOT ONLY ORIGINALLY HELD BY DR. KENNETH CLARK, IT WAS ESTABLISHED 40. AND SO FOR ME, UM, THIS IS A LEGACY AND IT FORCES ME TO THINK REGULARLY ABOUT WHAT AM I DOING EACH AND EVERY DAY TO [00:45:01] ENSURE THAT I GIVE UP TO THE LEGACY OF DR. KENNETH CLARK. IN FACT, EVERY TIME I ENTER THE REGION, I'M REMINDED THAT I WALK A PATH CLEARED BY SOMEONE WHO CAME BEFORE AND THAT HIS COURAGE, HIS INTELLECT AND COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN HELPED MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SERVE AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHANCELLOR. SO WHAT MADE DR. CLARK'S WORK SO POWERFUL? IT IS THAT HE HELPED AMERICA CONFRONT A TRUTH MANY HAD CHOSEN NOT TO SEE. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT INEQUALITY AFFECTS MORE THAN ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY. IT ALSO SHAPES HOW YOUNG PEOPLE SEE THEMSELVES, WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN BECOME AND WHETHER THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THEY BELONG. THROUGH HIS GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH, DOCTORS MAMIE CLARK AND KENNETH CLARK DEMONSTRATED THE PROFOUND HARM THAT SEGREGATION CAUSED. AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED THE IMPACT ON BROWN VERSUS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, BUT THE WAY I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT, HIS RESEARCH HELPED DISMANTLE ONE OF THE MOST DAMAGING SYSTEMS OF EXCLUSION IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. SO TODAY, WHEN MANY SPEAK ABOUT EQUITY, BELONGING, INCLUSION AND STUDENT WELLBEING, LONG BEFORE THESE TERMS BECAME PART OF THE EDUCATION VOCABULARY, KENNETH CLARK HELPED US UNDERSTAND WHY THESE WORDS MATTER. AT ITS CORE, HIS LIFE'S WORK AFFIRMED EVERY YOUNG PERSON'S HUMANITY, DIGNITY, AND POTENTIAL. THAT MESSAGE REMAINS URGENT TODAY. ACROSS OUR STATE, ACROSS THE NATION, WE CONTINUE TO ASK HOW WE CAN CREATE SCHOOLS WHERE EVERY YOUNG PERSON KNOWS THEY BELONG, BELIEVES THEY CAN SUCCEED, AND HAS A GENUINE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THAT IS THE UNFINISHED WORK BEFORE EACH OF THEM. SO AS WE UNVEIL THE PANELS, LET US REMEMBER THAT DR. KENNETH CLARK DID MORE THAN STUDY PROPERLY. HE CHALLENGED INSTITUTIONS TO ACT, LEADERS TO BE COURAGEOUS, AND EDUCATORS TO SEE EVERY YOUNG PERSON THROUGH THE LENS OF POSSIBILITY RATHER THAN LIMITATIONS. SO LET US HONOR HIS LEGACY, NOT ONLY WITH OUR WORD, BUT WITH OUR ACTIONS. LET US ENSURE THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE. IF KENNETH CLARK TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT IS THIS. WHEN WE ELEVATE THE SELF-WORTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE, WE EXPAND THE POSSIBILITIES OF A LIFE. AND WHEN WE EXPAND THE POSSIBILITY OF A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE, WE MOVE CLOSER TO THE PROMISE OF JUSTICE THAT LIES AT THE HEART OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. SO MAY WE BE WORTHY OF HIS LEGACY AND MAY WE CONTINUE HIS WORK. AND BEFORE I TAKE MY SEAT AND SAY THANK YOU, ISN'T THIS A GREAT DAY ON HASTINGS AND THE HUDSON? YES IT IS. OKAY. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GUEST SPEAKERS AND FAMILIES. UH, THIS IS THE PART WHERE I PRETEND THAT I'M AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS AND I'M THANKING EVERYBODY. SO, UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO THANK FOR THIS PHASE OF OUR PROJECT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BREVITY OF MY THANKS, THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP TO THE EXTENT OF OUR GRATITUDE. THE SUPPORT OUR GROUP RECEIVED IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY ALL OF US. WHEN I MENTION YOUR TEAM, WOULD YOU STAND UP TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROJECT BEGAN [00:50:01] WITH A GENEROUS INITIAL GRANT FROM THE ELLIOT FAMILY, UM, IN MEMORY OF BOB ELLIOT. DURING HIS TIME AT, AT THE ACCOUNTING FIRM, KPMG, BOB ELLIOT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THEIR PHD PROJECT WHOSE AIM WAS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTING AND IN THE CLASSROOM. THE ELLIOT FAMILY FELT BOB'S EFFORTS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER AND THE CLARK PROJECT'S GOALS WERE A GOOD FIT AND THEIR SUPPORT JUMPSTARTED OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. THE ELLIOT HERE TODAY WITH SOME MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY. COULD YOU GUYS STAND UP PLEASE? AS SOON AS HE HEARD FUNDING THAT WE NEEDED FUNDING FOR PHASE TWO, DAVID AND MORA STEPPED UP AND WE THANK HIM AND WESTCHESTER COUNTY FOR THEIR EARLY SUPPORT. UM, THE TEAM WENT IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN OUR VILLAGE AND WE RECEIVED A WARM RECEPTION AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THEM. THE VILLAGE ALSO GAVE US PERMISSION TO PLACE ONE PANEL UP AT THE TOP OF MOUNT HOPE ON A STRIP OF THEIR PROPERTY. THANK YOU, FORMER MAYOR ARMAKOST AND CURRENT MAYOR TOM DRAKE AND TRUSTEES. ADDITIONAL GENEROUS FUNDING FOR PHASE TWO WAS PROVIDED BY THE DEXTER BALDWIN MEDICAL FOUNDATION FOR WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL. SEVERAL CONTACTS WITHIN NEW YORK STATE HAVE INDICATED STRONG SUPPORT AND WE'RE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT A GRANT WILL BE COMING OUR WAY SOON. THANK YOU, ASSEMBLYWOMAN MARY JANE SHIMSKY. WE'VE HEARD FROM CHANCELLOR LESTER YOUNG AND FROM, UH, FROM THE BOARD OF REGENTS. WE, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF HIS SUPPORT AND THAT OF, UM, VICE CHAIR, CHANCELLOR CHIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR INITIATIVE ALSO RECEIVED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM SYLVIA LINA AND A GRANT FROM THE HASTINGS EDUCATION FOUNDATION. WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT THESE LOCAL ENTITIES SAW THE BENEFIT THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD HAVE ON OUR STUDENT BODY. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS HERE, UH, MARIE, MARY ANGIE VASALLO AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HEP. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO THANK SEVERAL PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS. WE HAVE A COLLABORATOR AND FRIEND, GREG SMITH, UH, CHAIR OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT. GREG SAW THE VALUE IN HONORING THE CLARKS EARLY ON AND DID ALLIANCE SHARE OF WORK IN BRINGING MINNIE JEAN BROWNTRICKY, UH, TO, AS A SPEAKER TO OUR DISTRICT. HE ALSO WROTE THE HEF APPLICATION, WHICH LED TO A GRANT THAT HELPED CLOSE THE, A FUNDING GAP FOR US. GREG, COULD YOU STAND PLEASE? OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DR. BILL MCCURSY AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAVE BEEN BEHIND OUR EFFORTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THEY IMMEDIATELY GAVE US PERMISSION TO PLACE TWO PANELS ON THE EDGE OF THE BIRTH ESTATE. UH, THE PROJECT, AND BILL, YOU USED THE TERM, I HAD NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE, THE TOWN AND GOWN KIND OF CONCEPT. IT'S A CO- COLLABORATION WHERE VILLAGE ENTITIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WORK HAND IN HAND TO MAKE SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPEN. THANKS ALSO TO DR. MELISSA SYMANSKY, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, DR. JANICE MATEO TOLEDO, DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY AND BELONGING FOR THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT. COULD ALL OF YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND ANY BOARD OF ED MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE? THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT MADE TODAY'S UNVEILING EVENT POSSIBLE. WARM THANKS TO MAUREEN CARAVALLO. UH, TREASURER AND HER TEAM DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES AND HIS STAFF, THEY RECEIVED AND STORED THE PANELS FOR US AND DID ALL THE WORK HARDENING OFF THIS PARKING LOT, SETTING UP THE SPACE. THEY EVEN PROVIDED REFRESHMENTS FOR US. UH, THEY'VE ALSO BEEN HELPFUL IN WATERING THE PLANTS WE'VE INSTALLED AROUND THE PANELS DURING THIS INITIAL PHASE OF PLANTING. MAUREEN, COULD YOU STAND PLEASE? OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN THE VILLAGE PROVIDED CRUCIAL ASSISTANCE. VILLAGE MANAGER MARY BETH MURPHY HELPED WITH NECESSARY PERMITS, WHICH WORKED QUITE A HEADACHE, BY THE WAY, AND ARRANGEMENTS. [00:55:01] AND MIKE GUNTHER AND HIS CREW PROVIDED A DETOUR DURING CONSTRUCTION AND HELPED INSTALL THE PANELS. A THANK YOU TO THE HASTY POLICE FOR THEIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TODAY AND TO RAPH SARAXIAN FOR VIDEOTAPING THIS EVENT AS HE DOES ALL OUR EVENTS. UH, THANK YOU TO ERIC RUBIN AND ANNA SCHWARTZ. UM, WHILE THE, THE FIRST PANEL GEARED TOWARDS YOUNGER STUDENTS IS TECHNICALLY ON VILLAGE PROPERTY, THE RUBENS WILL NOW BE LIVING WITH A CLARK PANEL IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE. THEY'VE BEEN ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROJECT FROM THE GET GO AND HAVE GENEROUSLY ALLOW- ALLOWED US TO USE THEIR WATER SUPPLY TO WATER OUR PLANTS UP THERE. WE, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR FABULOUS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, SUSAN JANCHILL, WHO I SAW EARLIER. HI SUSAN. UM, SHE HEARD HER COMPANY ASPECT 120 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. SUSAN WORKED ON THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S SISTER PROJECT REVOLUTIONARY WALK, AND WE WERE PLEASED TO CONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP. UM, WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR TALENTED AND VERY PATIENT GRAPHIC DESIGNER, LAURA SMITH. UM, SHE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN BOTH PROJECTS. WE THANK HER FOR CHEERFULLY HANDLING OUR MANY, MANY EDITS. AND THANKS TO ANDY TAMOLO OF MAPLE LEAF ASSOCIATES WHO STEPPED IN WHEN WE NEEDED TO FIND A NEW CONTRACTOR QUICKLY AND DID A WONDERFUL JOB THIS SITE. THROUGH, THROUGH ALL OF THIS, KATE CLARK HARRIS AND HER DAUGHTER NATALIE THOMPSON HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING TO ASSIST US AND ANSWER OUR MANY QUESTIONS. MANY THANKS TO YOU FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT. NOW, NATALIE THOMPSON WILL SAY A FEW WORDS. HELLO EVERYBODY. HELLO. UM, IT IS GREAT TO BE HOME. I GREW UP HERE AND I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED TO SAY THAT MY GRADUATING CLASS OF 86 JUST HAD THEIR 40TH REUNION. UM, MY MOTHER WAS IN CLASS OF 58 RIGHT HERE AT HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL. UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU, UH, WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I AM THE ELDEST GRANDDAUGHTER OF KENNETH AND MAMIE CLARK. MY DAUGHTER PAIGE, PAIGE MAMIE IS ALSO HERE WITH ME. UM, MY MOTHER WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. SHE WANTED TO EXTEND HER THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE NAME OF HER PARENTS. UM, SHE'S JUST SO HUSTLED BY THE EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE THEM. WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS FIRST MOVED TO HASTINGS, UM, MY GRANDFATHER WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT AT ALL. HE WANTED TO STAY IN THE CITY AND MY GRANDMOTHER INSISTED THAT THE CHILDREN, MY MOTHER AND, UH, HILTON AND HER BROTHER NEEDED THE SPACE TO EXPLORE AND GROW AND THRIVE. AND HASTINGS WAS THAT PERFECT COMMUNITY FOR THEM. IT TURNED OUT NOT ONLY TO BE THE PERFECT COMMUNITY FOR MY GRANDPARENTS, BUT ALSO FOR MY PARENTS BECAUSE THEY STAYED HERE LONG AFTER MY MOTHER GREW UP AND, AND WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE AND THEN CAME BACK. THE WORK THAT MY GRANDPARENTS FOUGHT SO HARD FOR, ENSURING THAT CHILDREN FELT SEEN, THANK YOU PAULA FOR THAT, UM, AND HAD ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT COULD BUILD THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND THRIVE WAS EVIDENT IN THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE. UM, THEY HOSTED SO MANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SOME OF WHOM WERE QUITE DISTINGUISHED RIGHT HERE IN HASTINGS AT 17 PINECREST DRIVE. UM, I WALKED SO MANY TIMES TO MY HOUSE ON HIGH STREET TO THEIR HOUSE, AND IT WAS JUST SO WONDERFUL TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH THEM, TO HAVE THEM BE SO CLOSE AND TO LEARN AND GROW FROM THEM. AND I THINK I MENTIONED WHEN WE WERE HERE THE LAST TIME THAT WE USED TO PLAY WITH THOSE FAMOUS DOLLS IN THEIR HOUSE. THEY WERE IN A DRAWER AND WE WOULD GO AND WE JUST THOUGH THEY WERE OUR DOLLS TO PLAY WITH. WE HAD NO IDEA THE SIGNIFICANCE THAT THOSE DOLLS HAD. UM, BUT THIS TRULY IS AN HONOR AND HAS COME FULL CIRCLE FROM WHEN THEY WERE HERE. IT'S HUMBLING. AND I TRULY WANT [01:00:01] TO THANK EDDIE AND JEN AND CAITLIN AND NATALIE FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE IN TURNING A SIMPLE IDEA INTO A LANDMARK, HISTORICAL LANDMARK THAT MY ENTIRE FAMILY IS TRULY SO PROUD OF. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO ASK NATALIE AND PAIGE TO HEAD ON DOWN TO THE TUCSONS AND THEY'RE GOING TO UNVEIL. AND BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A SMALL SPACE, UM, YOU GUYS GO AHEAD, YOU CAN JUST UNVEIL IT. UM, THE FIRST TWO ROWS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO FOLLOW THEM AND TAKE A LOOK. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, FOR OUTDOOR, FOR, UM, OUTSIDE VISITORS OR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE, TAKE YOUR TIME. BUT, UH, HASTINGS RESIDENTS, YOU CAN COME BACK. THESE WILL BE HERE. SO, YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE. YES. AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE A MAP OF... GO AHEAD. THERE'S A MAP THAT MY SON TOLD ME HAS. UM, YOU CAN LEAVE THEM ON THE TABLE, I GUESS. YES. WHERE IT SHOWS WHERE THE OTHER SIGN IS UP BY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WAITING TO SEE THE SIGNS, WE HAVE THE WATERS AND THEN SOME. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.