National Girls & Women in Sports Day 2020
Chances are you’ve already seen the results of girls being involved in sports and physical activity without fully recognizing what you are witnessing. Case in point: Meet Melvina Lathan, former chairperson of the New York State Athletic Commission and current director of youth services for the Yonkers Police Athletic League.
Poised, confident, no-nonsense and in control, yet she is readily available with a warm hug and a smile of encouragement. A lifetime sports and dance enthusiast, Lathan is the organizer of “Girl Power” and the “PAL Girls in Sports Program,” initiated to provide sports-related opportunities to young girls who may not otherwise be exposed to the wide variety of activities through their local school system and/or neighborhood. She said she is confident that these activities might just be the pathways to higher education and scholarship.
On Feb. 6, Girls in Sports came to Yonkers’ own Gorton High School, where Lathan put together a highly specialized team to speak and share life lessons. An auditorium filled with academically motivated young ladies – dressed -to-the-nines – came to listen, learn, and be encouraged by these shared stories.
Anna Triggs opened with yoga to stimulate and create the mood, followed by emergency room Dr. Edward Lathan, YPO Lashannen Hogue (youth division), World Boxing Champion Ronica Jefferies, retired NYPD officer Sparkle Lee, U.S. Army Civil Affairs Command Sherrita Hall, and professional boxing judge Robin Taylor.
These presenters were all highly spirited and uplifting, touching on topics like social media awareness, healthy lifestyle, embracing your culture, and more. All were engaging and interactive and the audience responded in kind with laughter, applause, questions and other sounds of appreciation.
Somewhere in the midst of all this, Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard presented City Councilwoman Shanae Williams with the Woman’s Empowerment Award, and Gorton H.S. student Jasmine Ramos received the Athlete of the Year Award.
State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate majority leader, spoke with the group as only she can. She then surprised Lathan with a proclamation from the New York State Senate.
Kudos to Melvina, Yonkers PAL, Gorton High School Principal Shagurra, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Quezada, and all who helped make this day possible. This is something we could all use more of!
