REMARKS
Council Member Williams presents resolutions for Youth Empowerment Month and Casey Benjamin Day
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Council Member Nantasha M. Williams presents two resolutions to the committee: Resolution 193 to designate October as Youth Empowerment Month, and Resolution 508 to establish Casey Benjamin Day on October 10th in New York City. She explains the significance of both resolutions and their potential impact on the community.
- Williams emphasizes the importance of youth empowerment and recognizing young people's contributions to schools and communities.
- She highlights the musical legacy of Casey Benjamin, a talented multi-instrumentalist from South Jamaica, Queens, who passed away in March.
- Williams acknowledges key supporters, including Lynette Townsley for Youth Empowerment Month and Thiel Cross for Casey Benjamin Day.
Nantasha M. Williams
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Thank you so much, Terrence.
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Yes.
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Congrats.
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And the Liberty team.
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Amazing.
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Good morning, Chair and esteemed colleagues, I'm honored to be here today as we consider 2 resolutions that are deeply meaningful, both for our city and for our communities that we represent.
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The 1st resolution 193 designate October as youth empowerment month, This resolution will provide an annual opportunity to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate the many contributions of our young people the many contributions that our young people make to our schools, communities, and our city at large.
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Youth empowerment is about more than simply recognizing the achievements of our young people.
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It's about giving them the tools, the platforms, and then encouragement they need to thrive.
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I want to especially thank my constituent, Lynette Townsley, who has been running the NAACP youth division for a while for her remarkable leadership in organizing community support for this resolution.
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Lynette is a tireless advocate for youth empowerment, and her dedication has helped bring this recognition to the forefront.
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As we establish youth empowerment mode, it is our hope that this celebration will become a vibrant city wide initiative.
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Imagine a month filled with college fairs, art installations, days of community service, documentary screenings, and performances all designed to showcase the incredible talents and contributions of our youth.
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Next, I'd like to turn my attention to Resolution 508, which will establish Casey Benjamin Day in New York City.
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Casey Benjamin was a talented artist who grew up in South Jamaica Queens, and his impact on the world of music was profound.
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He was a multi instrumentalist, a saxophoneist, vocadarius, keyboardist, producer, and songwriter who became a key member of the Grammy winning Robert Glassberg experiment.
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But beyond his musical accomplishments, Casey was a beacon of creativity, resilience, and inspiration for so many.
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He picked up the saxophone at just eight years old and honed his craft at LaGuardia High School.
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A school that has fostered some of the greatest talent in our city.
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His sudden passing this past March at the age of forty five was a devastating loss to both the music world and our community.
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By designating October 10th as KC Benjamin Day, we are not only honoring his memory, but also celebrating his lifelong contributions to music and to the cultural fabric of our city.
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I want to acknowledge Thiel Cross and the family of Casey Benjamin for their continued advocacy of his legacy.
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Closing, I want to thank the members of this committee and the chair for considering these 2 resolutions, youth empowerment month and KC Benjamin Day, both represent the values that define our city.
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Creativity, resilience, and the belief in the potential of every every New Yorker young and old.
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Together, we can ensure that these legacies of empowerment and inspiration continue to shape New York City for generations to come.
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And thank you so much, Regina.
