New York J 1453: Commending Shaun D. Francois I upon the occasion of being named a 2019 Hall of Fame Honoree by Making the Impossible Possible, Inc. on May 26, 2019

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J01453 Summary:

BILL NOJ01453 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Go to top J01453 Actions:

BILL NOJ01453 

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01/16/2026REFERRED TO FINANCE

01/21/2026REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

01/21/2026ADOPTED

Go to topJ01453 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ01453 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ01453 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 1453

BY: Senator PARKER

 HONORING Marsha Massiah upon the occasion of her
 designation as recipient of the Educational &
 Community Empowerment Award by Young, Gifted, &
 Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc.

 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals whose visionary leadership, dedication to education,
and commitment to cultural empowerment have strengthened communities,
fostered generational learning, and elevated the voices of historically
underrepresented populations; and

 WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Marsha Massiah, Founder and Executive Director of the Brooklyn Caribbean
Literary Festival (BCLF), upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the Educational & Community Empowerment Award by Young,
Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc., on Wednesday, February 25,
2026; and

 WHEREAS, Founded in 2006 by Carl Gray, Young, Gifted, & Black
Entrepreneurial Awards, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
recognizing distinguished individuals of color across the Americas, the
Caribbean, and Africa, celebrating "Unsung Heroes and Heroines" whose
leadership, resilience, and service have made a lasting impact across
healthcare, business, arts, and community development; and

 WHEREAS, Since its founding, the BCLF has become the only literary
festival in the United States dedicated exclusively to Caribbean
literature and indigenous storytelling, celebrating luminaries such as
Jamaica Kincaid, Lorna Goodison, and Dr. Elizabeth Nunez, and advancing
the visibility and sustainability of Caribbean literary voices; and

 WHEREAS, Born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago, Marsha Massiah draws
inspiration from her homeland to build bridges for Caribbean stories,
advocating for writers to be recognized as the original storytellers and
cultural architects of their narratives while ensuring their
intellectual and economic viability; and

 WHEREAS, Under her leadership, the BCLF has become a dynamic
platform for the diaspora, connecting literature with music, art,
folklore, fiction, rhythm, spoken word, and oral traditions, fostering
dialogues that celebrate Caribbean heritage and identity while
democratizing access to storytelling across generations; and

 WHEREAS, Marsha Massiah has conceptualized signature initiatives
including the Caribbean Fiction Collection at the Center for Fiction,
the Cocoa Pod podcast, and the BCLF Short Fiction Story Competition,
providing emerging writers with mentorship, exposure, and pathways to
develop their craft; and

 WHEREAS, In addition to her literary and cultural contributions,
Marsha Massiah leads The Idea Room Corp, a socially conscious
communications hub that helps creatives bring their ideas to life, while

collaborating with esteemed thinkers, artists, and educators to
strengthen Caribbean-American cultural expression and community
engagement; and

 WHEREAS, With a professional background in instructional design,
project management, and creative content production, along with an
Honours degree in Caribbean History from the University of the West
Indies and graduate certificates from New York University, Marsha
Massiah exemplifies the values of scholarship, mentorship, and visionary
leadership; and

 WHEREAS, Through her tireless work, Marsha Massiah has empowered
writers, educators, and cultural practitioners, preserved Caribbean
storytelling traditions, and inspired new generations to embrace the
pride, creativity, and resilience of their heritage; now, therefore, be
it

 RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Marsha Massiah upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of the Educational & Community Empowerment Award, and to commend her
extraordinary contributions to literature, me