Page 18 PRESS of Southeast Queens Dec. 13-19, 2013
Profile
CB12 Chair Has Found Her True Calling BY NATALIA KOZIKOWSKA Today, Hollis native Adrienne Adams is wrapping up her first year as chairwoman of Community Board 12. But before she found her true calling as a public servant and community leader, she was testing the waters in a number of different fields. Upon graduating from Bayside High School, Adams attended York College for about a year-and-a-half. Although she ultimately decided to “leave the nest” and continue her education at Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga., it was there she developed a passion for psychology. “I wanted to teach psychology to college freshmen because I had a wonderful role model at York College – Dr. Jacqueline Ray,” Adams said. “She was a wonderful role model for me and I loved psychology, so my intention when I graduated was to go on and teach psychology.” But, as fate would have it, Adams’ life took her in a completely different direction, and instead of going into teaching like she had initially hoped, she became a flight attendant. “I was doing that for about five years. Talk about a treacherous, treacherous commute. I would have a 4 a.m. check-in so I would be on the road to get to the airport around 2 or 3 a.m.,” she said. “It was quite a challenge but I enjoyed it a lot and I think that’s where I developed my love for speaking – I did the announcements as a flight attendant.”
Adrienne Adams
Adams went on to pursue a number of other careers after she left Newark Airport. Using her college studies as a foundation, Adams worked with small children in early childhood education and also taught childcare providers “the art of teaching children.” She also tried her hand in corporate America, working for the leading global investment firm Goldman Sachs. Her experience there, she said, really helped her realize her true calling in life. “I had an epiphany four or five years ago. Goldman Sachs was my last corporate experience and it was there I had the epiphany,” she said. “I realized it was time for me to start giving back even more to my community and give at least 90 percent of my time.” Her passion for community ser-
vice, she said, truly began at Spelman College when she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha back in 1983. “Sorority and fraternity work is all about community service. Part of what we do is help our community, so I built the foundation of my community service work through my sorority and I remain active in my sorority to this day,” she said. While at an Alpha Kappa Alpha chapter meeting, Adams discovered that one of her sorority sisters, Adjoa Gzifa, was serving as CB12’s chairperson. Gzifa encouraged Adams to come to a board meeting. “I went and I absolutely fell in love with it – that initial point of governance to the community,” she said. In 2009, under the leadership of the late Councilman Thomas White, she became a member, and since then, a majority of her time is spent in public service, with CB12 as her primary platform. “I try to do what I can do as a public servant,” Adams said. “The need is so great, but the pay off is knowing you can help somebody who needs help.” It was not long before Adams held her first chair position on the community board. Gzifa, knowing of Adams’ education background, appointed her as the chair of the education committee. “She saw something in me that I didn’t see myself,” Adams said. “She saw my love for education and I jumped into local education feet first.” Adams admits that when she first
joined the community board, she had absolutely no intention of becoming chair. But her tremendous success as education chair and her popular committee reports began to catch the attention of residents who urged Adams to run for the position. “I got a lot of encouragement by folks that believed in me – and not necessarily folks in Community Board 12, but people outside of Community Board 12,” she said. “I was quite taken back by that.” And much to her surprise, Adams was selected as CB12’s new chairperson by an overwhelming margin last December. “I love this position. I didn’t know how much I would enjoy it quite frankly. It’s all a learning experience for me, whether I am doing the teaching or whether I am the student, and in this seat, I get to do both,” she said. Although Adams is not entirely too sure what the future will have in store for her, she did admit that running for an elected office is not out of the question. “To be perfectly honest, I have been approached on numerous occasions. I don’t have what I would consider to be the heart and guts of ‘politician,’” she said. “I’m not going to rule it out. I’m going to say that it’s something that may potentially have wings and take flight in the future.” Reach Reporter Natalia Kozikowska at (718)357-7400 Ext. 123 or nkozikowska@queenspress.com or @nkozikowska.
People The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Simmons is the granddaughter of Sarah Simmons of St. Albans.
Kalah Simmons
Air Force Reserve Airman Kalah Simmons graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
The New York Army National Guard has announced the promotion of members in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership. They include: Norma Vegapacheco of Jamaica, serving with the 187th Signal Company, is promoted to specialist. Carla Jackson of Springfield Gardens, serving with the 719th Transportation Company, is promoted to sergeant. Sheldon Scarlett of Jamaica, serv-
ing with the Company A, 1-69th Infantry, is promoted to specialist. Joseph Husbands of St. Albans, serving with the Company B, 101st Signal Battalion, is promoted to private. Nicholas Vassell of Jamaica and serving with the Company B, 1-69th Infantry, is promoted to private first class. Anthony Vieira of Jamaica, serving with the Company F (Forward Support Company Infantry), 427th Brigade Support Battalion, is promoted to specialist. Newtown Literary reminds children and youth interested in writing that there is still time to enter the Queens Young Authors & Poets contest. The contest welcomes prose and poetry submissions from students in grades 3-12 until Dec. 20.
For information and submission requirements, visit www.newtownliterary.org/qyap or email contest@ newtownliterary.org. St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children in Bayside has unveiled the Season of Possibilities campaign to celebrate and support the young children of St. Mary’s. Through the end of the year, supporters will participate in a range of fundraising to show their commitment to providing care to New York’s Children. For information, visit www.stmaryskidsday.org or call (718) 2818529. The Queens Library branch in Hollis will close at the end of business on Dec. 13 for approximately one week to upgrade to RFID-powered self service check-in and check-out.