On Jan. 8, The Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus-Yonkers Chapter hosted a New Year Event at Castle Royale in Yonkers. The more than 100 attendee event, honored two members of the organization, Honorable Symra D. Brandon (40 years) who is the First African American Woman elected to the Yonkers City Council (First District) and Honorable Mae Williams (38 years) who served as the Countywide President, President of the Yonkers Chapter and is currently the Chairperson of the Bylaws Committee.
The event was organized by co-chairpersons Robin Brumfield and Ghia Clarke with the support of chapter treasurer Debra Williams. Dr. Alexandria Connally served as the Mistress of Ceremony and led the event with a combination of comedy and heartfelt storytelling of accounts that included both honorees and other present. The history of the organization was presented by the chapter founder Cheryl Brannan, as several past presidents of the chapter were in attendance including Tai Johnson, Kisha Skipper and Beryl Weaver.
Those in attendance included New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Shelley Mayer, New York State Assembly Member James Gary Pretlow, six members of the County Board of Legislators, including Majority Leader Christopher A. Johnson presented the honorees with proclamations. Also in attendance was Yonkers Mayor Michael Joseph Spano and three members of the Yonkers City Council (Merante, Pineda-Isaac and Williams), two of whom are members of the Yonkers Chapter.
Yonkers City Court Judges Doran, Scatterico-Nabor, Inlaw and Shako, as well as many other elected officials from around the County of Westchester were also in attendance. There were representatives from the offices of Congressman Jamaal Bowman, County Executive George Latimer, and Deputy County Executive Kenneth Jenkins.
Honoree Symra Brandon commented “As a former city councilperson and trailblazer it was important to lay the groundwork for African American women coming after me.” Honoree Mae Williams mirrored the sentiment adding “we have worked diligently to ensure that Black women have a seat at every table and there is still more work to do.”
The welcome speech by Countywide President Subomi Macauley included “As we begin this new year, we are honored to recognize our living legends, one being the First Black Council Woman here in the City of Yonkers and a 40-year member of our organization… We are SOLD OUT and this is wonderful”.
Yonkers Chapter President Charlotte Vinson concluded the program stating, “I am very excited about the turn-out for our honorees including Mae Williams who has been a member of our chapter for 38 years and a trailblazer throughout the county.”
Officers and members of the County-wide Executive Committee and others from each of the remaining five chapters that represent the non-partisan political organization joined the Yonkers Chapter for the celebration. The event was a great success and hopes to be the first of many.
