One Brooklyn
May 18, 2014
BROOKLYN, NY, May 18, 2014: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams commemorated Haitian Flag Day, a holiday celebrated annually on May 18th across Haiti and the Haitian diaspora in recognition of the creation of their flag. Today, he is co-hosting a celebration with New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Council Member Dr. Mathieu Eugene at Erasmus Hall High School in Flatbush, beginning at 5:00 PM; this is the second such event he has been part of this weekend, having co-hosted festivities held at Brooklyn Borough Hall on Friday with Council Member Jumaane D. Williams. Brooklyn is home to the largest Haitian population in New York City, which itself is the largest outpost of Haitians outside of Haiti.
“Our borough, city, state and nation owe a tremendous debt to the contributions of our Haitian brothers and sisters, and today we honor their achievements,” said Borough President Adams. “The Haitian flag has flown for over 200 years as a symbol of cultural pride and of national resilience. As we celebrate here in Brooklyn, we also must recommit, in a robust way, to providing the needed relief and support to those in Haiti still struggling four years after the earthquake that devastated their nation. A stronger Haiti will lead to an even stronger Brooklyn.”
As part of Friday’s celebration, Borough President Adams joined in the honoring of Gama Droiville, a 13-year-old Flatbush choirboy who was hit in the eye by a stray bullet a month ago and has since captured the attention of New Yorkers for his spirit and the forgiveness he has shown his assailant. Borough President Adams offered Droiville a summer internship, to be paid for out of his pocket, in the hope that he could have a positive impact on young people across Brooklyn.
“Gama embodies hope and the best in the human condition, a true treasure of the Haitian community and our greater Brooklyn family,” said Borough President Adams. “I would enjoy the opportunity to provide him with a paid internship this summer here at Borough Hall, to work with me personally, so we can learn from each other and he can inspire more of our youth.”
Borough President Adams also presented citations this weekend to a range of Haitian leaders in Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Swirl founder Jean Alerte, CBS News producer Patricia Beauvais, Feet of Rhythm founder Nadia Dieudonne, “The Wire” actor Jamie Hector, Haitian-American Community Coalition, Inc. deputy executive director Fuljens Henry, 1199SEIU administrative organizer Dr. Patricia Marthone, MD and community organizer Melissa Severe.
PHOTOS
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams joins Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (center-left), Representative Yvette D. Clarke (far left), News 12 Brooklyn anchor Alisha Laventure (right) and District Leader Rodneyse Bichotte (far right) in honoring Gama Droiville (center), a 13-year-old Flatbush choirboy who was hit in the eye by a stray bullet a month ago, at a celebration he co-hosted at Brooklyn Borough Hall commemorating Haitian Flag Day; they are joined by members of Droiville’s family.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams joins Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (center-right), Representative Yvette D. Clarke (far left) and News 12 Brooklyn anchor Alisha Laventure (far right) in honoring “The Wire” actor Jamie Hector at a celebration he co-hosted at Brooklyn Borough Hall commemorating Haitian Flag Day.
Photo Credit: Stefan Ringel/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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