March/April 2020 Issue
March 02, 2020

NYSUT celebrates Black History Month

Source: NYSUT United
black history month celebration
Caption: Clockwise from right: NYSUT Secretary-Treasurer Philippe Abraham, right, presents a Lifetime Achievement Award to Terry Melvin, secretary-treasurer of the New York State AFL-CIO; from left, attendees from the United Sisters of New York youth mentoring group, Wanda Yarbor, Jacquie Vantull, two mentees and Troy TA member Tenika Wilcox; dancers from Art in Motion Dance Academy perform. Photos by El-Wise Noisette.

NYSUT celebrated Black History Month with a program honoring African ancestry: the past, present and future.

The event, co-sponsored by the Capital District Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the state Public Employees Federation, featured local youth and honored several area activists. Speakers included NYSUT President Andy Pallotta, PEF Vice President Sharon DeSilva and CBTU President Shana Davis. Albany-area physician Dr. Charles Adomfeh elaborated on the event’s theme: Year of Return.

Kewsi Burgess, an English teacher and member of the Albany Public School Teachers Association, received the Rising Star Award; Schenectady Federation of Teachers member Oriana Miles received the Unsung Heroine Award; and Albany High School student Zelalam Kebade received a $500 scholarship.

You can check out photos from the event on Flickr and Twitter.

Black History Month Celebration