By: Gloria Smith, Associate Editor for World Liberty TV

Women’s History Awards Cocktail Reception, “Celebrating Exceptional Women Leaders”

Thursday, March 31^st 2022, at General Society Library 20 West 44th Street, From 5-30pm-7-30pm .

Special Remarks were by Kathryn Garcia – NYS Director of Operations, Co- Host was Jayne Tillman Irving – Legendary CBS News Reporter.

2022 Honorees were: Kathryn Garcia: NYS Director of Operations, Kathryn Garcia, the former sanitation commissioner in New York City and the runner-up in the Democratic mayoral primary this June, is joining Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new administration.

Garcia will become the director of state operations, a key management job in the governor’s office with a broad portfolio, overseeing everything from disaster and storm response to the day-to-day management of the state.

Betsy Bober Polivy : Manhattan Sideways streets of Manhattan’s original grid and documenting her journey through her website Manhattan Sideways (sideways.nyc). She has watched cherished shops struggle with rising rent prices and, most recently, suffer at the hands of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Karen Allford, Vice President  – United Federation of Teachers; is the UFT vice president for elementary schools.

A champion of early childhood education, Karen brings her considerable expertise to ensuring equity and access for, and providing a level playing field in the policies governing, the nearly 500,000 public school children in New York City’s elementary schools.

As an educator, Karen strongly believes in professional development for school staff, and as a labor leader, in building capacity among members. Under her leadership, the UFT elementary school division has sponsored and hosted numerous educational initiatives throughout the city for teachers and students.

Yolanda Robinson: NY Comptroller’s Office. Yolanda Robinson, Westchester County Regional Director of the office of the New York State Comptroller, will also be present to see if attendees have any money waiting for them in New York State’s Unclaimed Funds Account.

Adrienne Adams: NYC Council Speaker Adrienne  Adams is the Speaker of the New York City Council. Elected in January 2022 by her colleagues, she leads the most diverse and the first women-majority Council in New York City history as the first-ever African American Speaker. Elected to the City Council in November 2017, she is also the first woman to represent District 28, which encompasses the Queens neighborhoods of Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, and South Ozone Park.

During her first term, Speaker Adams secured a record level of funding for her district, which had endured years of disparity and disinvestment, including investments in schools, parks, libraries, housing, and sanitation services. As a member of the Budget Negotiating Team, she championed funding for cultural institutions, health care, digital access, child and adult literacy, community-based food pantries, small business assistance, as well as Fair Futures, an initiative providing mentorship and services for foster care youth.

Lisa Leguillou: Associate Director of Wicked, Lisa Leguillou, director of the Korean “Wicked,” has helmed many international productions of the show. She expressed a mixed reaction to Korea’s unique “double-cast” system, which allows two or more actors to alternate in principal roles.

“I have never done this before, except for the recently-opened Mexican production, which has double green girls,” she said. “But you are going to see two wonderful casts, completely different but equally interesting. I just try to be as efficient as possible and give good directorial notes to everyone.”

Diana Williams; Comrie Enterprises LLC, Our services guarantee social, environmental, and cultural solutions. We build strong working partnerships. We mine experienced and talented professionals in many disciplines for our clients. We close the unpredictable gap by incorporating a calculated approach.

Carolyn Maloney: US Congresswoman, First elected to Congress in 1992, Carolyn B. Maloney is a recognized progressive national leader with extensive accomplishments on financial services, national security, the economy, and women’s issues. She is currently Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and former Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, the first woman to hold both of these positions.

Maloney has authored and passed more than 74 measures, either as stand-alone bills or as measures incorporated into larger legislation packages. Twelve of these bills were signed into law at formal (and rare) Presidential Signing Ceremonies.

Rep. Maloney’s career has been a series of firsts. She is the first woman to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District; the first woman to represent New York City’s 7th Council manic district (where she was the first woman to give birth while in office); and was the first woman to Chair the Joint Economic Committee, a House and Senate panel that examines and addresses the nation’s most pressing economic issues.

Only 18 women in history have chaired Congressional committees. Maloney is the author of Rumors of our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: Why Women’s Lives Aren’t Getting any Easier and how we can Make Real Progress for Ourselves and Our Daughters, which has been used as a textbook in women’s studies courses.

Previous Honorees included: Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Senator, Kathy Hochul, Lt. Governor of NY,Deborah Hughes, Susan B. Anthony Museum, Kerry Kennedy, President RFK Human Rights, Colonel Stephanie Dawson, NY Army National Guard, Victoria Schneps, Schneps Communications, Cheryl Wills, Author & NY 1 News Anchor, Letitia James, NYS Attorney General, Heather Thomson, Founder of Yummie, Joanne Fernandez, ENTERGY, Lisa Tuozzolo, Silver Shield Foundation, Elaine Powell, U.S. Small Business Administration,Tonya Thomas, Gold Star Wife & Employee NYC Dept. of Veteran Services, Shirley Kessel, Miles for Migraine and Patti Kenner, Campus Coach.

Close to 150 people were in attendance enjoying Food and wine sponsored by Tudor City Steakhouse, Kellari Tervana and Hour Glass and Bistro Bar.

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