Citizens' Awards Honorees
The Third Annual Citizens Awards to honor formerly incarcerated people who have made significant contributions to society was held on Friday October 30, 2009 at the historic Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Center.
The event drew over 300 people including State Senators Bill Perkins and Velmanette Montgomery, City Council representative Robert Jackson as well as many other leaders working on behalf of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated in the state of New York.
The event’s keynote speaker was George Alexander, the former chairman of the state board of parole, whose inspiring speech thanked the awardees and others who have worked on behalf of the formerly incarcerated, while calling attention to the failures and possibilities of the justice system. (full text available here)
It was a spectacular event. View slide show.
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The nights honorees were: (click on names for full bios)
Glen E. Martin Advocate of the Year Award: Russelle (Rusti) Miller-Hill
Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil Award for Spiritual Leadership: Imam Salhuddin Muhammad
Vivian Denise Nixon Award for Leadership in Education: Gregory John Perreira
Citizens’ Social Action Award: Felipe Vargas
William Eric Waters’ Bridge Builder Award: Jose Vasquez
Edwin (Eddie) Ellis Lifetime Acheievement Award: Larry White
“You have established a legacy for generations to come. Thank you for showing everyone that when we fall down it is possible for one to get back up.” -George Alexander
- Former Commissioner Alexander, Citizens’ Mikail DeVeaux and Commissioner Evans
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- Larry White and Eddie Ellis
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- Citizens’ DeVeaux, Larry White and Eddie Ellis
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- Eric Waters, Gregory Piera and Mika’il DeVeaux
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- Mika’il DeVeaux, Jose Vasquez, Vivian D. Nixon and Citizens’ President, Wanda Best-DeVeaux
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- Guest enjoying the program
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- David Miller, Former NYSDOCS Superintendent
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- Co-founder, Mika’il DeVeaux
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- Felipe Vargas, Awardee
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- Mika’il DeVeaux, Russelle Miller-Hill and Wanda Best-DeVeaux
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- Imam Umar Abdul Jalil, Imam Saluddin Muhammad and Mika’il DeVeaux
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- Imam Saluddin Muhammad
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- George Perira
