AAMW 2024 Gala Journal by bwgcny

ATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2024

NIGHT NIGHT || GLEN ISLAND HARBOUR CLUB GLEN ISLAND HARBOUR CLUB

VISIONARY SPONSOR

THE TULLER FAMILY

3 - AAMW

4 - AAMW

AAMW OFFICERS

PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL COUNSEL

John Tuller

TREASURER

Wiley Harrison

Reverend Dr. Hugh Marriott

C. Douglas Dixon, Esq.

Eon S. Nichols, Esq.

ASST. TREASURER CORPORATE SECRETARY

Thomas Grayman

Miguel Constable

ASST. SECRETARY

Bernard Thombs

AAMW MEMBERS

Devon Barber

Mayo Bartlett, Esq

Wayne Bass

Gordon Bell

Rashad Bilal

S. Hassan Bilal

David Boykin

Edwin Bowman, Jr.

Luvaghn Brown

Fred Campbell

Mack Carter

ao Lawrence Cunningham

Cyprian II

Andre Early

Eric Eller

Anthony Epps

Jeff Faulkner

Leroy Frazer, Jr.

Evan Inlaw

Herbert L. Jamison

Leroy Jones

Tim Lewis

George Malone

Charles McFarlane

Kevin Moore

Kwame Ndzibah

Aundre Oldacre

Kenneth Plummer

Rev Dr Stephen Pogue

Sylvester Price, III

Olney Reynolds

Kofi Sansculotte

Joseph Scriber

James Robinson

Avery Smith

Rev. Gregory Robeson Smith

Douglas E. Thornton, II

Hon. Bruce Tolbert

Damian Travier

William Wagstaf, III

Rev. William Walker

Samuel Washington, Jr.

Robert Watson

Daymon Yizar

A Message From John Tuller

AAMW’s President

Welcometothe31stAAMWVisionaryAwardsGala!

Thisevening,wecelebrateextraordinaryindividualsandorganizations visionarieswhose groundbreakingachievementshaveshatteredceilingsintheirrespectivefieldsandigniteda sparkofinspirationinallofusthroughtheirremarkablecontributions.

Tonight, we also celebrate the extraordinary Herbert Jamison, one of our three founders, whose37yearsoftirelessservicehavedrivenAAMW'ssuccess.

In this spirit of celebration, we also honor the incredible dedication of the African AmericanMenofWestchester(AAMW).Thispassionategroupof49volunteershascome together to develop transformative programs that address pressing community issues, weavingavibrantandinterconnectedtapestryinWestchesterCounty.

For 37 years, our mission has remained steadfast. AAMW is committed to fostering collaborative action that enhances our communities. Our diverse initiatives have tackled vital areas, including Economics, Education, Social Justice, and Health and Wellness, significantly improving the quality of life for all community members and making a tangibleimpactonmanylives.

The honorees we recognize tonight are not just leaders but beacons of inspiration. Their ons align perfectly with AAMW's core focus areas and have considerably hem. We sincerely thank them for their essential contributions and unwavering nt,ensuringtheyfeeltrulyvaluedfortheirtirelessefforts.

utoalloursupportersforyourrelentlessdedicationtoAAMW.Yoursupport rough your time, resources, or advocacy is invaluable. Together, we "Make A "andfostermeaningfulchangethatresonatesthroughoutourcommunities.

,PresidentAAMW

A Message from the Gala Chairs

N II, CBR, SRES

ommittee Co-Chair

OLNEY REYNO

Gala Committee Co-Chair

Honorees, Sponsors, Advertisers and All of Tonight’s Guests

On behalf of AAMW, we are delighted to welcome you to our 2024 Visionary Gala at the beautiful Glen Island Harbour Club. As committee chairmen we are thrilled with the generous level of support that we have received. This evening we honor five stellar visionary leaders who have partnered with AAMW in making a difference in the Westchester County Community and we look forward to celebrating tonight with you.

Since our inception in 1987, AAMW has strived to offer programs to address needs in the areas of economic opportunity, community empowerment, criminal justice, social justice, health, environmental awareness and education, Your presence at this event will help provide funds for these programs which are often free to the public.

We would like to thank fellow AAMW members; Tom Grayman, John Tuller, Bernie Thombs, Fred Campbell, Reverend Dr Gregory Smith, Eric Eller, Wiley Harrison, Doug Dixon and Anthony Epps for their time, expertise and resources to make this event a success.

We also appreciate the contributions of our support staff; for graphic design and communications-Gloria Cunningham of The Ambitious Soul, for event planningAndrea Reed of AVR Event Planning and for social media-Marvin Velasquez of Multimedia USA.

HOUR & SILENT AUCTION

Entertainment by Jasper Cain and the Rhythm Collective

INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS

DJ Danny Washington

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

Olney Reynolds, Co-Chairman Gala Committee

Cyprian II, Co-Chairman Gala Committee

INTRODUCTION OF MASTER OF CEREMONY

Wale Aliyu - Award Winning TV Anchor

GREETINGS

John Tuller, President AAMW

RECOGNITION OF MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS

Olney Reynolds

MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF TOM CLA

INVOCATION & BLESSING

Reverend William Walker Dinner

2024 HONOREE PRESENTATIONS

Herbert T. Jamison

James H Bason

The Honorable Ben Boykin II

United Way of Westchester and Putnam

White Plains Hospital Dance

DJ Danny Washington

PAGE 8 - AAMW

ster of emonies

LE ALIYU

WARD WINNING WARD WINNING JJOURNALIST OURNALIST

popular demand, Wale Aliyu is serving as AAMW’s MC for the third straight Gala.

scaster for WNBC TV at the time of his first Gala By the second Gala, ster in Boston. Currently Mr. Aliyu is a news anchorman in San Diego.

career in the same city he grew up in, Columbia, Missouri. He wrote and eral news outlets there from radio and tv to digital platforms. Wale Laude with a Convergence/Broadcast Journalism degree from the ssouri.

he move to Boston, Wale worked as a reporter for WNBC in New York e, he was on the frontlines of breaking news including two helicopter t Trump Tower, multiple New Year's Eve celebrations and a run of ages that turned up throughout the city. He also brought viewers ge of the trial of Mexican drug kingpin, "El Chapo."

C, Wale spent six years working in Ohio reporting for Cleveland's Dayton's WKEF-TV and WRGT-TV. He helped lead the station's tragic shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice. He also reported from the n National Convention. One of Wale's most memorable moments in eporting live following the Cavaliers 2016 World Championship win, 52-year championship drought

eling, playing basketball, writing, performing poetry, and loves to

HERB JAM

RETIRED IBM PROFESSIONAL CO-FOUNDER OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN OF WESTCHESTER

Herb Jamison is a co-founder of the African American Men of Westchester. He has bee member of the Membership committee, the Retreat committee, the Gala committee and Martin Luther King Celebration committee.

Herb was born in Orangeburg, SC on November 23, 1937 and in 1942 his family relocate White Plains, New York where he attended White Plains High School and excelled in sports playing football, basketball and running track. After graduating in 1956, he continued playing basketball at Oswego State College In 1965 he married the love of his life, Elaine Chapman They have been married for 59 years.

In 1967, he began his career at IBM where he worked for his entire career and later retired. He co-owned “H and B Deli” on Lake Street in White Plains during the early 70’s with his cousin (who was more like a brother), William “Bill” Brown, Jr. He also worked with Bill Lockett’s Jazz and Soul for over 33 years coordinating many successful trips to Jazz Festivals in the Catskills.

Family values and principles, as handed down from his parents Clarence and Lorraine Jamison are vital to Herb He had three brothers, John, Clarence Jr and Charlie, and two sisters; Wilheldine (the oldest) and Rose (the “baby” and the only White Plains, New Yorker). Herb and Rose are the only remaining siblings He and his siblings did not just “grow up”, they were “raised”. His philosophy is still that “times change but right and wrong don’t”. He adheres to this principle to this day

Herb has been a member of Mount Hope African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church for over 75 years. The Rev. Gregory R. Smith is his Pastor. Since 2013 he has been President of the Usher Board and was given the “Man of the Year” award by Mount Hope two years ago.

To God be the glory for the life that Herb has lived and the good things that he has done.

MES H. BASON

RESIDENT AND CEO OF UND FINANCIAL SERVICES

James H. Bason sets and refines the broad strategic direction for TruFund Financial Services as he leads a highly collaborative team and provides tactical oversight for all aspects of our programs, staffing, operations, monitoring and reporting of social impact outcomes.

James H. Bason is an experienced financial executive with a history of providing comprehensive lending management expertise. Prior to joining TruFund Financial, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Carver Bancorp, a nationally recognized community banking organization where he served in various executive roles during his nine-year tenure. During this time, he successfully drove organizational growth to build the loan portfolio from $250 million to $675 million and developed and implemented policies and procedures to enhance financial controls and to improve lending and loan servicing operations.

Previously, Mr Bason served in positions of increasing responsibility at The Bank of New York, formerly as Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending and Community Development. Prior to that, Mr. Bason was the Community Reinvestment Act Officer at Barclays Bank in New York.

He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Banking Diploma in Finance from the American Institute of Banking. He recently completed a Citi/Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)-sponsored leadership training program for Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) executives at Wharton University. He completed his Formal Bank Credit Training Program at the Bank of New York.

HONORABLE BENJAMIN BOYKIN II

FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF LEGISLATORS

The Honorable Ben Boykin II, MBA, CPA was re-e County Board of Legislators in November 2023 for D all of Scarsdale and West Harrison) In September 2024 State Associations of Counties (NYSAC) for the one-ye lead the association during its centennial anniversary which will include celebrations at the 2025 Legislative Conference in Albany and the Fall Seminar in Niagara Falls. NYSAC is the only association representing the interest of New York’s 62 counties at the state and federal levels Ben was honored in January 2018 and 2020 to be elected Chairman of the Board of Legislators (BOL) by his peers. During his tenure as Board Chairman, Boykin led the Board through transformative years, passing more progressive legislation than ever before. He oversaw the Board’s 50th anniversary celebrations and successfully navigated the BOL through the COVID19 pandemic, one of the most severe health crises in over a century. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Economic Development Committee where he works to provide a better quality of life for all Westchester County residents. He was a member of the White Plains Common Council for fourteen years, from 2000 – 2013, and elected Council President three times

Prior to the Common Council, he served seven years as a member of the White Plains School Board. In addition to his Board service, Boykin has had a distinguished career in financial executive roles with Fortune 500 companies and has been a prominent figure in education and notfor-profit organizations His extensive contributions have earned him numerous awards, including leadership awards from the AFL-CIO Labor Council and Northeast STEM Academy, the Ted Benjamin Award for community service from the White Plains Democratic Party, the Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Omega Citizen of the Year Award from Beta Alpha Alpha Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and the Harold Fitzpatrick Community Service Award from the African American Men of Westchester.

Ben is a Phi Beta Kappa accounting graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his MBA with honors from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. Ben has been a CPA for 50 years and is currently President of Ben Boykin & Associates, a financial consulting firm. He is married to Carsandra Boykin and they have two daughters, LaSandra Boykin and Dr. Nicole Boykin. PAGE 12 - AAMW

UNITED WAY OF WESTCHESTER AND PUTNAM

PROMOTING COMMUNITY IMPACT AND SUPPORT

United Way of Westchester and Putnam (UWWP) has been has been mobilizing strategic partnerships and leveraging resources to help foster equitable communities since 1962 by focusing on education, financial stability, and health initiatives. They aim to support the 40% of households in Westchester and Putnam living in poverty or paycheck to paycheck, often faced with tough choices like paying rent or childcare.

With a dedicated team of 35 professionals, 50 temporary staff, and 30 Board members collaborating with volunteers and donors, UWWP achieves its mission in three key ways:

1. Investment: In 2023, UWWP administered over $550K in grants and provided more than $5 4 million in essential goods to those in need.

2. Direct Services: They offer the 211 Helpline, which had over 660K interactions, food distribution programs resulting in nearly half a million pounds of fresh produce donated, and educational initiatives like the free bilingual Afterschool Program serving 400 children and families in Ossining, Greenburgh, and Tarrytown;.

3. Collaboration: UWWP organizes events like the Nonprofit Leadership Summit, participates in data-gathering surveys, and leads initiatives aimed at promoting equity and social justice

Last year, UWWP collaborated with almost 360 partners and invested over $24 3 million in the community. They’ve made a significant impact on individuals like Wanda, a senior receiving bedding during cancer treatment, and Kazi, a disabled veteran getting weekly food parcels

Together, UWWP provides help for today, hope for tomorrow, and resources for a better future for our community.

WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL

EXCEPTIONAL CARE, EVERY DAY

White Plains Hospital is a leading provider of high-quality healthcare to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. White Plains Hospital’s awardwinning physicians and healthcare professionals provide compassionate routine and specialty care close to home for patients at the Hospital and its more than three dozen outpatient care locations throughout the region.

The Hospital has achieved recognition at the national level for delivering the highest level of care, earning a 5-Star quality rating three years in a row from the Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) White Plains Hospital is the only hospital in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, as well as in the Hudson Valley, to earn the top rating for three consecutive years.

White Plains Hospital’s rich history of caring for its community dates back to its founding in 1893 and has always extended beyond its walls Studies show that social determinants, such as housing, food insecurity, job security, and social and environmental factors impact approximately 80% of health outcomes. To help address these social determinants of health, the Hospital has partnered regularly with organizations and businesses to provide health education, innovative programs, and essential health screenings

In 2018, the Hospital created the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) to positively impact the overall health of our community. Guided by four pillars – Nutrition & Access to Food, Mental & Emotional Health, Chronic Disease Prevention & Screening, and Economic Stability – the HCI is made up of municipal, community and private partners working together to create programs that address these pillars and strengthen our community.

On November 16, 2024, White Plains Hospital will hold its annual Youth Summit in partnership with the national organization Black Men in White Coats at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown for the third year. The Youth Summit aims to help ensure that students of all backgrounds have access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to pursue a career in medicine. Through these and other like-minded efforts, White Plains Hospital not only nurtures the next generation of healthcare professionals, but also empowers individuals with the tools they need to take better care of themselves and their families to lead longer, healthier lives.

LEGACY SPONSOR

The Bilal Group would like to congratulate all of the distinguished honorees of the 2024 AAMW Visionary Awards Gala. You are making a tremendous difference! Plan your life as if you are going to live a thousand years, but live each day as if it is your last.

In MLoving emory

NOV 16, 1943 - MAY 14, 2024

The African American Men of Westchester, Inc (AAMW) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1987 by twenty-three (23) Westchester County residents to capitalize on the vast talent of the African American community.

The membership is made up of men who have distinguished themselves in the fields of finance, government, business operations and management, education, law, engineering, real estate, technology and a wealth of other civic and community activities.

THE MISSION

AAMW is committed to developing and encouraging collaborative action to strengthen the economic, social and educational foundation of our communities.

THE VALUES & GUIDING PRINCIPLES

AAMW believes that:

Through the bonds of brotherhood and fellowship, the spirit of collective work and responsibility, and a strong commitment to community - we can make a difference in the lives of those we serve. The reinforcement of family values, the education and development of our youth, preserving the richness and diversity of our cultural heritage, and building the capacity of our communities to achieve their vision and goals are all essential to fulfilling our mission. Partnering with those organizations and individuals who share in our vision, values, and goals leads to the greatest success.

THE MEMBERS

AAMW represents a cross section of occupations, political parties, religious, social, and civic affiliations. Our members:

Bring a variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences; Understand and can focus attention on the issues; Have access to resources that can address the critical needs that face African American communities in Westchester.

ACTIVITIES

AAMW’s community-based activities:

Focus attention on the social, economic, and educational issues that impact the people of Westchester; Provide leadership, support, and shared solutions;

Ensure that every community conscious African American man has an opportunity and a vehicle to make a difference.