Brooklyn Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, on Thursday, March 12, honored eight exceptional women during her 10th Annual Women of Distinction Award Ceremony at Brooklyn College.
As the daughter of Haitian immigrants and representative of the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, Bichotte Hermelyn told Caribbean Life that “the community celebrated eight women who are making a positive difference in Assembly District 42 with a profound impact in myriad arenas extending across Brooklyn and New York City.”
“We’re not only celebrating Women’s History Month by honoring our past trailblazers, but also recognizing the women of today who are speaking up, inspiring others, and working hard to put our community on a better path,” said the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
The honorees were: Florencia Chang-Ageda, community leader; Sabrina Simon, tenant advocate; Julia Bove, school superintendent; Arlene Lieberman, music educator; Roisin Ford, neighborhood association leader; Nowshin Ali, entrepreneur and nonprofit founder; Wendy Ann Powell, arts project founder; and Dr. Sandra Scott, health system CEO.
The day before, on March 11, the Brooklyn Democratic Party separately honored several civic leaders in recognition of Women’s History Month.
“In celebration of Women’s History Month, we honor these New York civic leaders, including some Brooklyn legends, who paved the way for so many women to ascend to the highest offices in New York and beyond,” Bichotte Hermelyn said.
“In celebration of Women’s History Month, we honor these New York civic leaders, including some Brooklyn legends, who paved the way for so many women to ascend to the highest offices in New York and beyond,” Bichotte Hermelyn said.
Those honored were: Mary Lilly, Shirley Chisholm, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mary Anne Krupsak, Judith Kaye, Andrea Stewart Cousins, Letitia James, Kathy Hochul, Julie Menin and Crystal Peoples-Stokes.
Bichotte Hermelyn highlighted Lilly as the first woman elected to the New York State Assembly in 1919.
She noted that Lilly was among the earliest women to practice law in New York and that she received NYU’s first scholarship awarded to a woman.
Chisholm, daughter of Barbadian and Guyanese immigrants, was the first Black woman elected to Congress.
She noted that Lilly was among the earliest women to practice law in New York and that she received NYU’s first scholarship awarded to a woman.
Chisholm, daughter of Barbadian and Guyanese immigrants, was the first Black woman elected to Congress.
In 1972, Chisholm became the first Black candidate for a major-party presidential nomination and first woman to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination.
Bader Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court from 1993 to 2020.
Bader Ginsburg served on the Supreme Court from 1993 to 2020.
A Brooklyn native, Bader Ginsburg was the first Jewish woman and the second woman on the Supreme Court.
Krupsak was the first female lieutenant governor of New York State.
Krupsak was the first female lieutenant governor of New York State.
Before becoming lieutenant governor, Krupsak was elected to the State Senate in 1972, after two Assembly terms.
Kaye became the first female judge on the New York State Court of Appeals in 1983 and was the longest-serving Chief Judge.
Kaye became the first female judge on the New York State Court of Appeals in 1983 and was the longest-serving Chief Judge.
“As Chief Judge, she modernized the statewide court system and established the groundbreaking problem-solving specialized courts,” Bichotte Hermelyn said.
Stewart Cousins was the first woman to lead a party conference in the State Legislature (2012) and became Senate Majority Leader in 2019.
She has represented the 35th Senate District in Westchester County since 2007.
She has represented the 35th Senate District in Westchester County since 2007.
James became the first woman Attorney General in 2018 and the first Black woman elected to statewide office in New York.
James previously served as New York City Public Advocate and as a Brooklyn Council member.
James previously served as New York City Public Advocate and as a Brooklyn Council member.
Hochul is the first female and 57th Governor of New York State, serving since 2021.
She previously served as Erie County Clerk and as a member of Congress for New York’s 26th District.
She previously served as Erie County Clerk and as a member of Congress for New York’s 26th District.
Menin was elected Speaker of the NYC Council in 2026, becoming the first Jewish woman to hold the position.
She has also served as a Council member for District 5 and Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner.
She has also served as a Council member for District 5 and Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner.
Peoples-Stokes was appointed Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly in 2018 and has represented Buffalo’s 141st District since 2003.
