REMARKS
Council Member Avilés discusses street co-namings in her district
0:32:02
·
122 sec
Council Member Alexa Avilés presents three street co-namings in her district, honoring individuals and an organization for their contributions to the community. She provides background on each honoree and explains the significance of their work.
- Donna Maxil: Founder of the 17th Street Cancer Crusade, honored for her community service and fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society.
- Don Lee: Recognized for his advocacy against anti-Asian hate and his leadership at Homecrest Community Services.
- St. Phillip's Episcopal Church: Acknowledged for four generations of community service, including food drives, holiday meals, and drug recovery programs.
Alexa Avilés
0:32:02
Today, we are voting on 3 street co namings in my district.
0:32:05
The first is for Donna Maxwell, who was born and raised in Brooklyn on 17th Street and raised her family there as well.
0:32:12
Over the years, her name became synonymous with 17th Street.
0:32:16
Donna, having been impacted by cancer, founded the 17th Street Cancer Crusade.
0:32:22
This annual event which Donna planned and cooked for each year raised significant money for the American Cancer Society through a large street fair that came to be an annual community event that all looked forward to.
0:32:35
Donna put her heart into all her efforts and becoming a paraprofessional at her alma mater of PS 124 and later the president of the 72nd precinct council was deeply beloved and respected by her family and community.
0:32:52
And in fact, I'd like to lift up miss Annette Hendrickson, who we also recently lost, whose last words to me were to make sure that we honored Donna.
0:33:01
We are also voting on a renaming for Don Lee, who was a tireless advocate in fighting against anti Asian hate and working towards justice for victims of hate crimes.
0:33:12
Underlying his professional and activist endeavors was his leadership at Homecrest Community Services, a nonprofit organization serving immigrant seniors, their families in South Brooklyn.
0:33:23
Taking over from its founders, he served as the organization's board chair for over 20 years.
0:33:28
I am so proud to see 70th Street and 15th Avenue be named after the great Don Lee.
0:33:34
And finally, we are voting on renaming for Saint Philip's Episcopal Church at the corner of 80th Street and 11th Avenue.
0:33:42
4 generations, Saint Philip's has been a has been vital to the community, providing food drives, holiday meals, safe space, drug recovery programs, and more to at least 3 generations of Brooklynites.
0:33:56
We are glad to have them in our district and look forward to their contributions being memorialized through this renaming.
0:34:03
Thank you.
