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Volume 40 Number 1January 2010

Continued on page 7

1965 Welfare Strike 45 Years Ago This MonthForty-fve years ago this month, on January 4, 1965, thousands o our Union

members went out on strike to win one o the frst and most comprehensive

collective bargaining agreements or municipal workers in the country. In the

course o the 20-day strike in which our brothers and sisters aced dismissals,sub-reezing temperatures and the wrath o the City administration and the press,

10 Union leaders were jailed on January 21 or deying an injunction against the

walkout. The strike ended in victory on February 1, 1965.

Hold the Dates

Local 371s Annual Black History

Celebration February 5, 2010

Local 371s Social Work Month

Celebration March 12, 2010 P t A

Local 371 members

make the Holidays extra

special or many New Yorkamilies every year.

See story and photos on Pages 45

Santa Came to Town

When Youre United Everything Works Better

Local 371s annual Delegate Train-ing took place at District Council 37

Headquarters this year, welcoming morethan 170 delegates on January 9. Despitethe bitter cold, Delegates rom nearly everyNew York City agency participated, manyattending or the frst time.

This month also marked the 45th Anni-versary o the 1965 Welare Strike. Presentat the Delegate Training were Sybil Alex-ander and Dempsey Phillips, two memberswho participated in the historic strike andcontinue to serve the Union as a Delegaterepresenting members in the Human

Resource Administration/Adult ProtectiveServices and Associate Director o the Local371 Grievances Department, respectively.

When youre united everything worksbetter, said President Faye Moore in herwelcoming remarks. When managementsees us willing to put our bodies on the line,this is what its all about.

Upon being introduced, the ofcers out-lined the role o each department. ExecutiveVice President Yolanda Pumarejo explainedhow each body within the Union is orga-nized and emphasized the importance o theagency chapters in the Unions unctioning.

Training Delegates to Serve the Membership

Andrea Walters, Associate Secretary-Treasurer, represented Secretary-TreasurerJoe Nazario and detailed where membersdues are allocated and who makes decisionsover Union expenses.

Vice President o Political Action andLegislation Michelle Akyempong stressedmembers need to keep their contact in-ormation at the Union up to date or thephone-banking process the Political Ac-tion Committee conducts ater the Unionendorses candidates. She also urged everyDelegate to spread the word about the 2010Census because its tally appropriates undingor each government district.

Union Delegate Iris Bracy-Cooke asks aquestion at one o the training sessions

as other Delegates look on. B C t l


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January 2010 | The Unionist 3

January

18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Anocial City holiday

19 aLuMni association Meeting: 2 p.m.Union Oce, 12th Floor

20 DeLegate asseMbLy: 6:30 p.m. AdvanceRealty, 235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan

25 bLacK history coMMittee Meeting:6:30 p.m. Union Oce, 12th Floor

26 PoLiticaL action coMMittee Meeting:6:30 p.m. Union Oce, 12th Floor

27 civiLians in Law enforceMentchaPter Meeting: 6:30 p.m. UnionOce, 12th Floor

February

1 bLacK history coMMittee Meeting:6:30 p.m. Union Oce, 12th Floor

3 executive boarD Meeting: 6:30 p.m.Union Oce, 12th Floor

5 bLacK history ceLebration: 5:30 p.m.DC 37 125 Barclay Street in Manhattan

12 LincoLns birthDay A foating holiday

(see calendar on page 6 or details)15 PresiDents Day An ocial City holiday

16 aLuMni association Meeting:2:00 p.m. Union Oce, 12th Floor

17 DeLegate asseMbLy: 6:30 p.m. AdvanceRealty, 235 West 23rd Street in Manhattan

23 PoLiticaL action coMMittee Meeting:6:30 p.m. Union Oce, 12th Floor

24 civiLians in Law enforceMentchaPter Meeting: 6:30 p.m. UnionOce, 12th Floor

CALENDAR

Published monthly except or a combined issue in July/August and a Supplement in January by the SocialService Employees Union Local 371, District Council 37,

AFSCME, AFL-CIO. Subscription Price $2.00 annually.Periodical postage paid at New York, N.Y.

POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: TheUnionist, SSEU Local 371 , 817 Broadway, N.Y., N.Y. 10003.

USPS# 348990 (212) 677-3900ISSN# 0041-7092

PresidentFaye Moore

Executive Vice PresidentYolanda Pumarejo

Secretary-TreasurerJoe Nazario

V.P. Negotiations & ResearchAnthony Wells

V.P. Organization & EducationBeverly Mallory Brown

V.P. Grievances & Legal ServicesLloyd Permaul

V.P. Legislation & Political ActionMichelle Akyempong

V.P. Publicity & Community RelationsMichelle Conklin

TrusteesMichael Ballesteros

Yolanda DeJesusMelva Scarborough

EditorMartin Fishgold

Director of CommunicationsLinda Schleicher

Editorial Associate

Jessica Ramosv .371.

Dr. Boyce Watkins, the Peoples Scholar,to Speak at Black History Celebration

Dr. Boyce Watkins, the peoples scholarwho specialies in fnance, education andBlack social commentary, will highlight

the Unions Annual Black History Celebration

program on Friday night, February 5 at DistrictCouncil 37. The theme o this years event isThe Challenge o Change.

Following dinner, which begins at 5:30 p.m.,President Faye Moore will make the welcom-ing remarks. The event is being coordinated byMoore and VP Beverly Mallory Brown. Thisis one o our best programs yet, said Moore.Come early and celebrate our rich culturalhistory with the Union.

Watkins Has Spoken to Millions

Keynote speaker Watkins is an international

authority on fnance and investing. Hes maderegular appearances on CNN, CNBC, MSN-BC, ABC News, and BET. Hes written or and

been quoted inThe New YorkTimes, TheWashington

Post, Black En-terprise Maga-zine and more.Besides fnance, heis also committedto social justiceand has been anoutspoken critic o racial and social inequality.His ourth book, What I George Bush Were aBlack Man? is a riveting social commentary.

Changes to CLW Title Series

Specic inormation regarding the recent reclassication oworkers in the Community Liaison Worker title series rom

competitive to non-competitive status will be published in theFebruary Unionist. In the meantime, members may call theUnions Negotiations section or Grievance section at 212-677-3900 or inormation.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2010-

2011 academic year for the Committee of Concerned

Social Workers Scholarship and the Sol Gorelick

Scholarship. The one-time grants$2,500 this

year have been awarded to more than 75 mem-

bers through the years. In order to be eligible for the

scholarships, persons must be Union members ingood standing and have completed at least six credits

as a matriculated student in a graduate program lead-

ing to a Masters degree in Social Work.

An application packet must be requested in writing

from Yolanda Pumarejo, chair, Committee of Con-

cerned Social Workers, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broad-

way, New York, New York 10003. The deadline for

submitting completed applications is April 30, 2010.Winners will be announced on or about July 3, 2010.

CCSW Scholarship Deadline is April 30, 2010

Union to Celebrate Social Work Month in MarchLocal 371s 25th Annual Celebration o Social Work Month will take place on Friday, March 12 at DC 37 withan evening o music, ood, speakers, and recognition o the Unions social workers.

This event honors those Union members who have graduated rom social work school in the past year,said Executive Vice President Yolanda Pumarejo, the coordinator o the event and chairperson o the UnionsCommittee o Concerned Social Workers. We expect to have a great time this year, as always. All Local 371members, amily and riends are invited to attend the celebration, which will begin with a ree buet dinnerrom 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The program will ollow, and is expected to end by 9:00 p.m.

Attention Recent SSEU Local 371 Graduates:

Please fll out the coupon below i you have graduated rom social work school in the last year, June 2009,August 2009, or will graduate in January 2010, so that your name can be listed in the commemorative journal ad.

Hundreds o Union members who received their MSWs have been honored at this event over the years.

Please return to Yolanda Pumarejo, CCSW, SSEU Local 371, 817 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

I received my MSW in q June 2009 q August 2009 q January 2010

SCHOOL ____________________________________________________________ DATE OF GRADUATION ______________________

NAME ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS __________________________________________________________________________________ APT. ___________________

CITY ______________________________________________ STATE _______________________________ zIP _____________________

WORK TEL. ________________________________________________ HOME TEL. ___________________________________________

S.S. # ___________________________________________ CIVIL SERVICE TITLE ______________________________________________

JOB FUNCTION ______________________________________________________________________________________________________


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sana came o

Local 371 members make the Holidays extra special for many New York fami-

lies every year. This year was no different. Together, they pooled their time and

energy, and at many locations even their money, to make sure their clients and

children had a wonderful time with food, toys, and plenty of Holiday cheer!

The Holidays Persevere at

Staten Island ACSIt almost didnt happen.Cutbacks in agency undingmeant ewer contributions tothe childrens holiday party thisyear, but the workers elt thatChristmas without a party orthe children was like peanutbutter without jelly, says RobertSalemi, Supervisor II at StatenIsland ACS. They just gotogether. Salemi coordinated

a un-lled holiday party, withmuch help coming rom theCaseworkers, collecting $500among themselves or theholiday estivities. Donationsrom SSEU Local 371 and toysrom Holy Child Church, theRichard Gardner MemorialFoundation, and Toys or Tots,among others, also helpedput together a wonderulevent. A clown and a magicianentertained the children oStaten Island ACS at BrightonHeights Reormed Church onDecember 18. The children alsodanced to the tunes o a localdeejay, were visited by SantaClaus, Steve Taub (Photo #6),and ate cotton candy (Photo #5).Another happy child is picturedin Photo #7. Some o theworkers who helped organizethe aair were: Deborah Pride,Samantha Velez, Rob Timmons,

Natalia Rosado, Lania Carter-

Johnson, Carla Cornick, Nancy

Fine, Jeanette Jack, ChristinaPope, Heather Richardson,Celeste Rivera, Alane Ruchman,Lawrence Scott, MelissaSugarman, Magdalena Leszcoand Wadeeah Sweatte.

Many Happy Families atBrownsville HASA

December 18 was also the dayworkers at Brownsville HASAchose to celebrate the holidays

with clients and their children.Local 371 members PatriciaVega, Brenda Bennett, SherylCalderon, Trin Leatham,Cassandra Young, and JuliaDouglas worked together tocoordinate an aternoon oood and toys. Donations romthe Union and $5 they hadcollected rom each worker atHASA made the event possible.The children were overjoyedwith their gits (Photo #13, 14and 15) and a very special visitrom Santa Claus, also knownas Brownsville HASAs very ownWalter Fields. They sang alongto Christmas music and had amerry time.

Through Tough Times,Queens HASA Pulls Together

Only a ew days ater the bliz-zard, with snow still piled upon the streets, Queens HASA

hosted their holiday party on

December 22. To make theparty a reality, the workers beganholding brunches and rafeundraisers nearly six months inadvance! All their hard work paid

o. They served ood or theirclients and children (Photo #9).The children also received toysrom Santa Claus, CaseworkerMichael Detman. Sta memberswho helped coordinate the partyinclude: Jelena Grim, YvonneKatallage, Jill Peters, DerrickCarr, Howard Sosis, MargaretMcKenzie, Carol Maynard, AidaCrespo, Tammy Hardy, BelindaLewis, Gail Grandsoult, JocelynRamirez, Merline Sanon, RaaelMedina and Didtrich Carr; manypictured with Local 371 Orga-nizer Joe Locust in Photo #8.

Amsterdam HASA has Plentyof Holiday Cheer

The workers at AmsterdamHASA set out to help theirclients in most need this year.One o the organizers o theholiday party, Abby Campbell,says, Some o our clients are

totally dependent on us. With

this in mind, preparations or theparty started at the beginningo December when a box wasset up to collect toy donationsrom HASA workers themselves.Donations rom the agency andthe Union allowed or ood,more toys and git certicates tobe purchased. On December 22,ood was served to approximately25 happy amilies. Families

invited to join in holiday cheer

WorkErS BrING HoLIdAY JoY

To CLIENTS ANd CHILdrEN

1

11

12

Photos4&5:P

atArnow.Photos:#8,9JessicaRamos


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possible. Some o the workersare pictured with toys and theirclients children in Photo #12.

Feliz Navidad! From BronxHASA

The children at Bronx HASAhad sparkling smiles as theycelebrated the Holidays withgreat warmth rom the workers.

Alice Adeyeye, a Caseworker,welcomed the clients andtheir children to their annualholiday party on ChristmasEve, December 24. MoniqueLewis, Sonia Bryant, SholaOshole, Rosanna Rodriguez,and Yvette Theus prepared toysto be distributed to the children(Photo #3). Santa Claushimsel, Caseworker AngelFrete, had help rom ellowCaseworker Yvette Theusgetting dressed (Photo #4)and then distributed the gitsto the children. Sonia Bryant,Supervisor I, helped serve theood to the amilies and said,We really made an eort toserve a healthy meal. We madesure to include all the oodgroups or balanced nutrition.

The children sang along toChristmas carols throughoutthe celebration. One little girl

even got up rom her seat to

towngive her own rendition o JoseFelicianos Feliz Navidad! The

workers at Bronx HASA alsoheld a clothing drive, allowingneighbors to deposit usedclothing in bins outside thecenter or others to pick up.

Children Enjoy the Holidaysat Greenwood HASA

Twas the aternoon beoreChristmas and many childrenlined up to receive the toys andclothes Greenwood HASA

workers bought or them. Thechildren were allowed to choosetwo gits, all careully categorizedby age. Alison Thomas, PatriciaCliord, Tiany Porter, andHazel Gowasack, pictured inPhoto #1, assisted the childrenand received their glowingsmiles in return. They makeall the hard work worthwhile,said Alison Thomas, aCaseworker. Thomas headedthe party committee, which alsocoordinated the ood and icecream served or all the amilies.Sharon White (Photo #2) helpedserve child ater child bowlulso ice cream and cookies. Allthe amilies agreed: GreenwoodHASA was the perect start to a

wonderul Christmas!

Jessica Ramos

were those with unemployedparents, with 3 or morechildren, and/or children doingexceptional work in school.We really elt those childrenshould be rewarded or theireort and hard work, assuredCampbell. The children enjoyedchoosing their gits (Photo #10)and had a great opportunity tocelebrate the Holidays with theiramilies (Photo #11) with lotso love rom the workers. Local371 members who contributedto party planning were: AbbyCampbell, Adela Cruz, LivithaDeSouza, Ade Mola, and AllanHoare. Warrnia Rumph andEileen Honan worked extra hardto fnd resources and go the extra

mile to make the holiday party

2 3 4

5

6

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Photos by Pat Arnow and Jessica Ramos


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6 The Unionist | January 2010

Assistant to the President John Tal-butt and Executive Secretary KarenDavis-Phoenix have both recently

retired rom Union service.

TalBuTT, who retired on January 9,

worked or the Union rom 1970 to 1972and then rom 1988 to thepresent. He became a Cityworker in 1961 and worked as aCaseworker and Supervisor I atthe St. Nicholas Welare Cen-ter, the Kingsbridge WelareCenter and the Non-ResidentsWelare Center. He was activein the 1965 Welare Strike andin the 1967 Strike or improvedworking conditions and con-

tract enorcement. While with the Union,Talbutt dealt primarily with workers servingthe homeless population.

Among the highlights o Talbutts careerare the ollowing: The best work action weever held was the one we organized at theNon-Residents Welare Center which suc-ceeded in getting the City to hire hundredso Caseworkers to bring the caseload down.It was truly a rank-and-le action in which311 out o 312 workers stopped work im-mediately at 3:00 p.m. and remained solidor seven days until we reached a landmark

LEGAL HOLIDAYS 2010

THE CITY OF NEW YORK

New Years Day Friday, January 1, 2010

Martin Luther Kings Birthday Monday, January 18, 2010

Lincolns Birthday* Friday, February 12, 2010

Washingtons Birthday Monday, February 15, 2010

Memorial Day Monday, May 31, 2010

Independence Day Monday, July 5, 2010

Labor Day Monday, September 6, 2010

Columbus Day Monday, October 11, 2010

Election Day Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Veterans Day Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 25, 2010

Christmas Day Friday, December 24, 2010

New Years Day** Friday, December 31, 2010

*In lieu Linclns Bithay, emplyees subject t the hliay

pvisins the Citywie Ageement the Leave regulatins

Management Emplyees eceive ne fating hliay t be

use uing calena yea 2010, pviing that the emplyee

was in active pay status pi t Febuay 12, 2010.

** New Yeas day calena yea 2011 will be bseve n

Fiay, decembe 31, 2010.

Base n the 2002 MEA with the exceptins Unins that

pte ut this pvisin, civilian emplyees newly hie n

ate July 1, 2004 ae nt eligible the Flating Hliay.

MELVIN ALSTON, a lngtime Lcal 371 membe

an activist was ne 10 City emplyees t e-

ceive a pestigius Public Sevice Awa m the

Hune Yea Assciatin wking tielessly

ut the sptlight. The awas, which ttale

$22,000 in cash, ae pesente annually by the

ganizatin which is mae up cmpanies that

have been in business ve 100 yeas.

Alstn, a Cmmunity Cinat in the Aminis-

tatin Chilens Sevices, was awae $1,000 his wk invlving cmmunity ganizatins in

ste cae an

chil suppt, an

his uning

Halem Men

Stan Up, a gup

that suppts men

aising chilen.

The Hune

Yea Assciatin

was une in 1927 an has given ut me than$1.5 millin since it began its awa pgam.

Union Member Melvin Alston Wins Prestigious Award

hiring agreement. The election o Stan-ley Hill in 1970 as president o Local 371was another truly rank-and-le action. Hewas the rst president to serve a ull termwith the merged union, and he was therst Black president. The workers identi-

ed their interests with the interests o theclients being served and theyrecognized that the unionmovement was as an impor-tant actor in infuencing theentire culture. Most o theunions at that time were ocus-ing on the bread and butterisssues, and we understood theneed or unions to be involvedin broader social movements.In the late 1970s, I saw our

union receding into the back-ground o the general unionmovement and losing itsspecial militant connection tosocial issues. Then along cameCharles Ensley to revitalizeour local and reconnect to itsmilitant, socially conscioustradition. Theres a really tal-ented group o people now whoare working or the Union. Every one othem has that understanding o how ourwork connects to the broader social issues

in the society at large. Ive truly enjoyedworking with them.

Talbutt expects to continue his lielongpolitical activism in retirement. He livesin Elmsord with his wie Andrea, and hehas two children, a son in Elmsord and adaughter in Providence, Rhode Island, andtwo grandchildren.

Davis-PhoENix, executive secretaryto President Faye Moore, retired romthe Union on December 31, ater 32years o service. Phoenix was rst hiredunder President Joe Sperling and workedor VP o Grievances and Legal ServicesGeorge Clark and VP o Organization NatWilliams. She also worked or PresidentCharles Ensley rom 1983 to 2008.

She looks back on her years working orthe Union with ond memories. I met a loto interesting people, I learned a lot, and I

enjoyed mysel. Rev. Al Sharp-ton, Senator Charles Schumerand lots o other prominentNew Yorkers crossed my path.My co-workers were especiallynice to be around.

And what about her plansor retirement? My mainplan is to help care or myaging mother. Id also like to

travel a little and just take it easy.Local 371 wishes Karen and John a long

and happy retirement!

Two Longtime Union Employees Retire

Congratulations

F the past u seasns, Aubey Z. Nis, sn

Lcal 371s Assciate diect oganizatin

Aubey Nis, has been the quateback Cental

Cnnecticut State Univesitys champinship tball

team. In his u yeas at the helm the team, N-

is eane the 2005 Ntheast Cneence oensive

rkie the Yea awa, an CCSU has wn tw

cneence champinships. Nis ene his cham-

pinship seasn this decembe, thwing ve 200

yas in the annual Giin Classic game. Althugh

they lst the Giin game t Butle Univesity,

CCSU ene thei egula seasn with a 7-1 ec.

In all humility, I can say as a athe, he has mves

that I int have when I was his age, sai Nis.

With his natual talents cuple with the suppt

his immeiate amily an iens at Lcal 371, it is

me than bvius that Aubey Z. Nis has a bight

utue ahea him.

John TalbuttJessicaRamos

JessicaRamos

Karen Davis-Phoenix


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When Youre United Everything Works Better

Union ofcers (clockwise 1-7) are: President Faye Moore, VP Lloyd

Permaul, Executive VP Yolanda Pumarejo, and VPs Anthony Wells, BeverlyMallory-Brown, Michelle Conklin, and Michelle Akyempong. Associate

Secretary-Treasurer Andrea Walters (8); Delegate Maria Jimenez (9);Assembled Delegates (10); Delegate Saundra Galloway (11); Delegate

Arleen Gill (12); Delegate Joseph DiGirolomo speaking (13); Organizers

(l-r) Amador Suarez, Adrienne Miller and Jose Vlez hand out Delegatepackets (14); Delegate Estella Nuez (15); and Delegate Eric Seroy (16).

VP o Publicity Michelle Conklin saidshe loves this event because, this is theheart o this Union. Conklin encouragedDelegates and members at their location towrite letters to the editor oThe union-

istand sign up or E-news on the Unionwebsite, www.sseu371.org, to receive thelatest inormation.

Research and Negotiations, Grievancesand Legal Services, and Organization andEducation were the three departments tohost each o the inormation sessions. VPo Research and Negotiations AnthonyWells and his team, Glenda Lee, RoseLovaglio-Miller and Sladiee Cole, listedthe seven dierent contracts Local 371 ne-gotiates with the City and explained many

o the important clauses in them.VP o Grievancesand LegalServices

Lloyd Permaul led his department indescribing how the section enorces theUnions contracts. Grievance representativesDempsey Phillips, Peta Gaye-Jamieson,Reuben Adeshuko, Robert Jordan, and Pat-rick Verone each took turns explaining how

the Delegates can tell between a grievanceand a gripe, how to fle a grievance using theappropriate orms, and how time and leaveor workers is determined.

Each location whose workers are rep-resented by the Union have an organizerassigned to guide Delegates through thesystem. Local 371s organizers, AubreyNorris, Ronald Moore, Jose Velez, AmadorSuarez, Joe Locust, Magda Santos, AdrienneMiller and Lisa Turner, each made presen-tations highlighting a City workers rights.

Union members have Weingarten Rights,allowing a worker to have union represen-tation at an interview. In these situations,Delegates can provide counsel, interrupt ameeting i intimidation is being used, andmeet privately with the worker in question.Another tool Delegates are encouragedto use at job locations is calling or a labor

management meeting when necessary.VP o Organization and Education Bev-erly Mallory-Brown and her team coordi-nated the high-energy Delegate Training.

Jessica Ramos

Continued from page 1

Bruce

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8 The Unionist | January 2010

Social Service Employees Union

Local 371

817 Broadway

New York, N.Y. 10003

WANTED- Top cash paid or your old jazz,

soul, R&B and gospel albums. Call Howard

at (212) 873-4016.

HRA CHESS CLUB will meet on Tuesday

evenings at 6:30 p.m. at McDonalds 355 8th

Avenue at West 26th Street in Manhattan. For

more inormation, call Henry Brooks ( 347)

499-0223 or (212) 971-2000.

FOR SALE- Large ceiling xture, clown col-

lection, dolly, luggage, dishes, pots, glass-

ware, git items, tie rack, never worn size

small ladies clothing including dark brown

Borghese aux ur jacket, boots and shoes

size 8, large American fags, books, new

cordless telephone with clock radio, electri-

cians meters, lots more. Call 718-430-1769

and leave a message.

SWAP- Caseworker at HRA/UAP 180 Water

Street would like to swap with Caseworker

at West 34th Street or 400 8th Avenue in

Manhattan. I interested, please call (212)

331-3164. (11)

SWAP- Hospital Care Investigator at Coney

Island Hospital would like to swap with

Hospital Care Investigator at Kings County

Hospital. I interested, please call (718) 616-

4093. (12)

FOR SALE- Large, dark silver rerigerator

dispenses water and makes ice. Heavy-duty

GE washer and dryer used or ew months, in

excellent condition. I interested please call

(646) 373-4055 or (212) 848-6536. (12)

SWAP- JOS worker at HRA/FIA 132 West

125th Street in Manhattan would like to swap

with JOS worker at Linden, Dekalb, or Euclid

Job Centers in Brooklyn. I interested, please

call (646) 280-5062. (1)

FOR SALE- New, never been used Maytag

washer, dryer and dishwasher. Good price. I

interested, please call (347) 272-9280. (1)

buLLeTIn bOarD

MeMbers

Condolences are extended to Miriam Ramos-

Ortiz, Legal Trustee of Local 371 and AJOS

II at Crotona Job Center #46, on the death

of her sister, Margaret Ramos-Velasquez on

December 15. Condolences may be sent to

Miriam Ramos-Ortiz, 140 Parkchester Road

#6G, Bronx, NY 10462.

Get well wishes are extended to Richard

De Ariaz, Union Delegate and Supervisor I at

HASA. Get well wishes may be sent to Richard

De Ariaz c/o HASA, 400 8th Avenue, New York,

NY 10001.

Congratulations are extended to Carmen

Johnson, Community Associate at Department

of Homeless Services Vacancy Control, on her

retirement after 25 years of service.

Periodicals Postage

Paid at New York, NYCondolences

M

arlene Marshall must have known

her only daughter would somedaybe a star. Shakira was born 25 yearsago in New York City and was named aterthe Guyanese model and actress ShakiraBaksh (who later married Michael Caine).Today, Shakira Marshall is making herBroadway debut in the ensemble o thenew musicalFela!

Marlene herselhails rom Guyana,arriving in Brook-lyn in 1968 andcurrently a proud

Cambria Heights,Queens resident. She has 26 years o Cityservice, and previously worked in the CASAprogram in HRA. For the last eight years,shes worked at Adult Protective Services asa Supervisor II and a location-based trainer.Her dedication to her work and her clientscomplimented her husbands, a Commanderin the U.S. Army, in providing their chil-dren with the opportunity to develop theircreativity in dance and the arts. Shakiras twobrothers, Malik and Sidique, are also trained

in dance but have pursued other endeavors.Shakira says her mission in lie is to shareher light with the world through all ormso art and she exhibited her passion roman early age. Shakira began her career at theage o three and a hal when Marlene placedher in piano, ballet, tap, jazz and acrobat-ics classes. While her exceptional learningcapabilities earned her continuous spots inadvanced classes, her stunning stage pres-ence earned her the nickname Sunshineby the time she was attending high schoolat St. Johns Preparatory School in Astoria,

Members Daughter on Broadway

Queens. Once shesteps oot on stage,everything justlights up! Marlene

exclaims proudly.Marlene says she

loved to dance whenshe was younger,but never pursued itproessionally. Shesproud Shakira has,though, with much

ocus and devotion. While attendingthe State University o New York at

Purchase, in pursuit o a degree inMedia, Society and the Arts, Shakira contin-ued to train in New York Cityat Dance Studio A, Perec-tion Dance Center, the EdgeSchool o the Arts and Alvin

Ailey on weekends.She has not stopped. Upon

earning her degree in 2006,Shakira has complimentedher proessional work withQueenz Finest Dance Com-

pany, perorming in the UnitedStates and internationally, most notably orthe Danish royal amily. Beore starring inFela!s ensemble, she perormed at the ApolloTheater and was cast or the o-Broadwayshow Scandalous People: A Sizzling Jazzical.She has also perormed on stage and in musicvideos with artists such as Machel Montano,Sean Paul, Elephant Man, Eve, N*E*R*D,and many others.

Shakira plans to release her frst albumsoon, with songs o her own inspiration.

Jessica Ramos

ShakiraMarshall

MarleneMarshall

Get Well

Congratulations

january unionist

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