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WE ARE COMING OUT AS WE CELEBRATE ESSIS COUNTY YOUTH THIS EVENING.
IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE SO MANY FACES OUT TO SUPPORT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
I AM COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT TE SHAMI COOPER, AND, UM, OH, THANK YOU.
AND WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY YOUTH AND ALL OF THEIR WONDERFUL ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT THEY'VE MADE HERE IN THE GREAT COUNTY OF ESSEX.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO INVITE UP, UM, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER, BRENDAN GILL.
UM, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER COOPER FOR THAT, UM, INTRODUCTION AND, UH, FOR STARTING OFF THE, THE PROGRAM FOR US TODAY AS, UH, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTY, UM, CELEBRATES YOUTH CELEBRATION.
UM, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS LINEUP OF HONOREES, UH, TODAY, UH, THAT WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE.
I KNOW THEY WILL GIVE ALL OF US, UH, HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
UH, WE CAN SURE FEEL CONFIDENT, UM, THAT NOT ONLY OUR COUNTY, BUT OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTRY, UH, IS PRODUCING A GREAT NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS.
UH, AND WE'RE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THEM WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
TODAY, OUR BOARD PRESIDENT CARLOS RIS, IS UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO BE HERE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT HE ABSOLUTELY SENDS, UH, HIS BEST WISHES.
UH, AND BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE TAKE A MINUTE, UH, JUST SO WE CAN TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UH, TO REMEMBER.
UM, SOMEONE THAT WE LOST TODAY, VERY TRAGIC NEWS.
UH, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, UH, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE NEWARK CITY COUNCIL.
UH, AND NOW, UH, UH, UH, AN ESTEEMED CONGRESSMAN, UH, DONALD PAYNE JR.
WHO PASSED AWAY, UH, SUDDENLY THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, THERE IS A LOT, UM, THAT COULD BE SAID ABOUT, UH, BOTH THE CONGRESSMAN AND HIS FAMILY SERVICE, UH, TO THIS COUNTY, UH, TO THIS STATE, AND TO THIS COUNTRY.
UH, AND I KNOW WE WILL HAVE SOME TIME TO DO THAT, FOR SURE.
BUT IF WE COULD ALL JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE RIGHT NOW, AND PLEASE KEEP THE PAIN FAMILY, UH, IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, UH, DURING THIS TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW, UM, I KNOW MANY OF MY MEMBERS, UH, COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD KNOW THIS.
HE ACTUALLY LOVED THIS EVENT,
HE LOVED THIS EVENT AND WAS AN EARLY PROPONENT OF SETTING IT UP AND ESTABLISHING IT.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CARRY ON THAT TRADITION TODAY, UH, IN HIS HONOR.
UM, SO, UM, LET'S CUT BACK TO OUR HONOREES.
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS SET OF HONOREES, UH, THAT WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM SHORTLY WHO HAVE ALL MADE, UH, EXCEPTIONAL, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR BIOS IN THE PROGRAM, AND WE'RE GONNA HEAR MORE DETAIL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UH, AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MENTION BEFORE WE WENT ANY FURTHER, IN ADDITION TO THE BOARD'S COMMENDATIONS, UH, THEY HAVE ALSO RECEIVING, UM, CERTIFICATES FROM OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, MIKEY CHERYL AND PROCLAMATIONS FROM, UH, STATE.
YEAH, WE CAN GIVE THAT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND THAT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THAT.
SO TONIGHT, UM, AS WE, AS WE CELEBRATE, LET US CONTINUE TO DREAM BIG, WORK HARD, UM, AND EXPECT MORE.
AND AT THAT, AND AT THIS TIME, UH, WE'LL BEGIN OUR PROGRAM WITH AN OPENING PRAYER.
AND I'M GONNA ASK, UH, JAYDEN AZAR BECKETT, ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG PERSON AND A LICENSED MINISTER FROM, UH, A LICENSED MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL FROM UNION BAPTIST CHURCH IN MONTCLAIR, TO PLEASE COME UP AND JOIN ME.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS AND CLOSE YOUR EYES WHILE YOU PRAY.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY, THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EVENT, AND WE INVITE YOU INTO THIS SPACE THIS AFTERNOON, THIS EVENING, TO REALLY CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND THE LEGACY OF OUR LEADERS
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IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTY, IN THIS STATE.WE THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY AND LEADERSHIP OF CONGRESSMAN PAYNE.
AND WE PRAY THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, THAT WE COME HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS MORNING, LORD, THAT THEY FULFILL THAT LEGACY AND CONTINUE TO STEP INTO THOSE SHOES AND THOSE JUST LIKE HIM, AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT THAT SAME WONDERFUL WORK.
IN, IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
AND, AND PLEASE MAKE SURE ALSO TO CHECK OUT HER BIO ON THE BACK OF THE PROGRAM.
UH, SHE, YOU ARE DOING ACTUALLY SOME REALLY IMPRESSIVE WORK, AND WE'RE, WE'RE THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ALSO INVITE OUR TALENTED PERFORMERS FOR THE EVENING, UH, ZURI AND AVIAN MCCUNE UP TO THE FRONT TO SING OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM.
PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWNS EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE AT THE WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE FIGHT, OR THE PARTS WE WATCHED WERE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG STILL THERE.
OH, SAY LAND OF THE, THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE, HEY, COME ON, LET'S GIVE IT UP.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR, THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
AND WE'RE GONNA HEAR MORE FROM THEM A LITTLE BIT, UH, LATER IN THE PROGRAM, AND WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT FOR SURE.
UM, NOW I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE TAKEN THE TIME, UH, TO JOIN, UH, WITH US.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET ME MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE, UH, FROM THE SES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
UH, SHE OPENED UP THE PROGRAM, I KNOW YOU'LL BE HEARING, UH, FROM HER LATER.
SHE HAILS FROM THE GREAT CITY OF EAST ORANGE.
I SEE, YOU KNOW, THAT EAST ORANGE IS IN THE HOUSE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAD TO MAKE SURE MONTCLAIR WAS IN THE HOUSE TOO, BUT
BUT, UH, TO, UH, COMMISSIONER HAMMI COOPER IS WITH US.
ROUND APPLAUSE, VICE PRESIDENT TOMMY COOPER, OUR FORMER, UH, PRESIDENT WHO LED THIS BOARD WITH DISTINCTION.
I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE WITH HIM UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AS WELL.
UH, FORMER COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT, UH, WAYNE RICHARDSON IS HERE WITH US, UH, TO MY, TO MY RIGHT.
UM, COULD EASILY BE ONE OF THE HONOREES ON A PROGRAM, UM,
WE'D LIKE TO GIVE HER A, A HARD TIME BRINGING BECAUSE OF HER YOUTH
BUT WE ARE, UH, SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH HER AND, UM, JUST EVERY DAY AMAZES, UH, ALL OF US AND, UM, HER POISE AND MATURITY AT A YOUNG AGE, UH, FOR SURE, BUT HONORED TO BE DOING THIS PROGRAM TODAY WITH COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE, COMMISSIONER.
UH, AND I KNOW WE ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, BEFORE COMMISSIONER CARLOS EZ, WHO'S OUR PRESIDENT, UH, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT ABSOLUTELY SENDS, UH, HIS REGARDS AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, UH, WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, I KNOW ARE WITH US, UH, IN SPIRIT.
WE HAVE A FEW OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE JUST TAKE THE TIME, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE ASSEMBLYWOMAN CARMEN MORALES
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IS IN THE HOUSE.ASSEMBLYWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, EASTON FROM THE GREAT CITY OF ORANGE IN THE HOUSE.
COUNCILWOMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THIS, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA GIVE HER SPECIAL RECOGNITION, BUT IT'S A BIG NIGHT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FAMILY ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO WE HAVE THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR, UM, UH, FOR CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL, UH, JILL HIRSCH, WHO'S HERE PAST HONOREE
UH, UM, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US, UH, I THINK, UM, OUR ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER, UH, MAYA, LORD, MY IS MAYA HERE.
THANK YOU MAYA FOR BEING HERE.
JUST SCANNING THE, OH, COUNCILMAN MONK.
COUNCILMAN MONK, ANYONE ELSE?
UM, WE ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE THE TIME.
WE'RE HONORED THAT YOU'D BE ABLE TO TAKE THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US, UH, TODAY.
AND PLEASE IF WE MISSED ANYONE, UM, JUST LET A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF KNOW, BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGED FOR BEING HERE WITH US, UH, TODAY.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, UM, I'D LIKE, UH, TO JOIN, UH, TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS TO GET US STARTED WITH OUR FIRST HONOREE COMMISSIONER PROGRAM IS YOURS.
CAN WE GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? AN INCREDIBLE LEADER, FATHER, HUSBAND, AND CERTAINLY A MENTOR OF MINE ON THIS BOARD.
SO HONORED TO SERVE WITH YOU AND ALL MY INCREDIBLE FELLOW BOARD COLLEAGUES.
CAN WE GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, Y'ALL, BECAUSE I DUNNO ABOUT Y'ALL.
WEDNESDAYS CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE A HUMP DAY.
THE HUMP BE HUMPING, RIGHT? BUT THE THING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE IS THAT WHEN WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR FUTURE AND OUR RIGHT NOW.
SO I WANT US TO GIVE A HEARTY ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COULD BE ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT THEY'RE HERE.
MAKE SOME NOISE FOR OUR YOUTH AND YOUTH.
YEAH, I WAS LISTENING TO, UH, ZURI AND AVA, AND IT WAS GIVEN CHLOE AND HOLLY, AND I WAS LIKE, I JUST WANNA SAY I KNEW THEM AND I KNOW THEM WHEN.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TALENT AND SHARING YOUR GIFTS WITH US.
TO JADEN, AN INCREDIBLE YOUNG PERSON AS WELL, WHO I JUST HAVE TO ADD, NOT ONLY IS SHE CHOOSING BETWEEN PRINCETON AND YALE, BUT SHE'S ALSO CHOOSING BETWEEN SWARTHMORE, WHICH IS MY ALMA MATER.
SO I LOVE IF YOU COULD BE ONE OF US, BUT WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO AMAZING THINGS.
THANK YOU FOR BLESSING US WITH YOUR WORDS AND TO ALL OF OUR HONOREES.
LEO ANDERS, SASHA RYAN, THE EAST ORANGE CAMPUS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM.
MY FELLOW JAGUARS, I'M FROM NEWARK, BUT I GOT FAMILY FROM EO.
SO SHOUT OUT TO EO AND NEWARK AND ALL ERS COUNTY.
BUT IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO CELEBRATE YOU AND CELEBRATE YOU WITH THOSE WHO LOVE YOU.
AGAIN, I'M A DORY MURRAY THOMAS, DISTRICT TWO COMMISSIONER RIGHT HERE FROM THE GREAT CITY OF NEWARK.
AND IT'S MY HONOR TO BRING UP OUR FIRST HONOREE, WHO I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER, AND THEN WE WILL BRING UP NONE OTHER THAN SASHA ANDREWS.
SASHA IS A SOPHOMORE AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, MAJORING IN EXERCISE SCIENCE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY WITH AN INTEREST IN NEONATAL NURSING.
AFTER GRADUATION, SHE'S APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, BUT SHE PLANS TO LEAVE A MARK ON THIS WORLD.
BUT YET IN THE MEDICAL FIELD OR IN SPEAKING TO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY, SHE WANTS TO ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER YOUNG, BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS WHO OFTEN FEEL ALONE AND MISUNDERSTOOD.
SHE FEELS A STRONG CONNECTION BECAUSE SHE WAS ONCE ONE OF THOSE LITTLE BLACK GIRLS.
SASHA HAS USED HER ROLE AS A PEER LEADER AND SHE WINS INC.
TO INSPIRE GIRLS AND TO TEACH THEM THAT THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.
HER FAITH SUSTAINS AND SUPPORTS THIS BELIEF, AND SHE ALWAYS KEEPS GOD IN FRONT OF HER TODAY 'CAUSE OF THAT FAITH AND THAT HARD WORK, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.
SHE MAINTAINS A 3.8 GPA, SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AT THE MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY.
HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN ON THE DEAN'S LIST SINCE HER SECOND SEMESTER OF FRESHMAN YEAR, IS A GRADUATE OF NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND NORTH STAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND SHE IS A HARD WORKER COMMITTED TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, WHO HAS VOLUNTEERED OVER 200 HOURS ANNUALLY THROUGH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS.
I WILL CLOSE BY SAYING SASHA IS A YOUNG WOMAN I'VE KNOWN SINCE SHE WAS ABOUT 10, 11 YEARS
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OLD, WHO CAME INTO MY ORGANIZATION.SHE WINS NONPROFIT AS SOMEONE WHO WAS RELATIVELY SHY, RELATIVELY QUIET, BUT BLOOMED AND BLOSSOMED INTO SOMEONE WHO HAS SPOKEN BEFORE.
HUNDREDS, DOZENS OF YOUNG WOMEN HERE IN NEWARK AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON HOW TO BE THEIR BEST SELF BECAUSE SASHA IS A YOUNG WOMAN WHO JUST BY VIRTUE OF BEING WHO SHE IS, INSPIRES US TO BE OUR BEST.
SO I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TALK A LOT 'CAUSE YOU ABOUT TO HEAR FROM HER YOURSELF, BUT I WANT YOU TO GIVE A HAUGHTY ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS NOT ONLY CHANGING THE GAME RIGHT NOW, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO GAIN, CHANGE IT IN THE FUTURE.
SASHA ANDREWS SPENCER, OUR FIRST TIME RACE.
OKAY, I SEE MY FAMILY, BUT I WAS HAPPY.
UM, SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
UM, FIRST I JUST WANNA THANK GOD I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR GOD.
AND I WAS ONCE, AS DORIAN SAID, THAT LITTLE GIRL WHO DIDN'T SPEAK, WHO WASN'T VOCAL AT TIMES AND EXPERIENCED BULLYING AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS LIKE FOR MYSELF.
AND SO BECAUSE OF MY FAMILY, BUT SHE WINS.
ADORE AND MISS DANA, I'M HERE TODAY.
AND EVEN JUST DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE I'M SPEAKING AND JUST BEING HONORED FOR THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING IS JUST AMAZING.
UM, I ALSO WASN'T THE BEST IN SCHOOL.
I WAS A KID THAT USED TO STRUGGLE A LOT ACTUALLY.
AND COMING INTO COLLEGE, I DIDN'T HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS OR LIKE BELIEF IN MYSELF.
BUT AS I CONTINUED TO GROW IN INTIMACY WITH THE LORD, HE STARTED TO REVEAL MY IDENTITY TO ME.
AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS MORE.
AND AS IT SAID IN MY LITTLE BIO, I FIRST WANTED TO DO PT, BUT I WAS JUST SETTING LIKE THE STANDARD.
UM, I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO NURSING AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO PURSUE IT, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE FAITH IN MYSELF.
AND LITERALLY TIME AFTER TIME, GOD JUST KEPT ENTERING MY HEAD AND HE SAID, YOU BETTER DO NURSING.
LIKE, LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND YOU JUST DON'T WANNA SETTLE FOR LESS THAN WHAT YOU KNOW YOU'RE CAPABLE OF DOING.
AND SO NOW I'M PURSUING NURSING, TAKING THE PREREQUISITES, AND IN THE FUTURE I WANNA BE A NEEDLE NEEDLE NURSE.
SO YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND LOVE ALL YOU GUYS.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THESE TYPES OF AWARDS A LOT.
EVERY MONTH WE CELEBRATE SOMETHING NEW THAT'S HAPPENING.
UH, WELL NOT NECESSARILY NEW, BUT A NEW THEME, WHETHER IT'S WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, ET CETERA.
SO MANY, IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT IS FILLED TO THE BRIM, THE MOST OF OUR CELEBRATIONS IS THE ONE TODAY CELEBRATING YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO IF YOU ARE A PARENT FRIEND, HOMEGIRL HOMEBOY WHO IS CELEBRATING A YOUNG PERSON BEING HONORED TODAY, MAKE SOME NOISE FOR YOURSELF FOR BEING A PART OF THE VILLAGE.
HEY, ANDREW SPENCER CLAN OVER THERE.
I SEE Y'ALL AS SASHA SHARED, SHE CARES ABOUT GIVING BACK TO HER COMMUNITY 'CAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GIVING BACK TO HER.
AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IN THE THEME OF, UH, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER GILL CONGRESSMAN PAYNE, WHEN I TOOK YOUNG WOMEN FROM MY ORGANIZATION, SHE WINS TO WASHINGTON, DC A FEW YEARS AGO WITH THE GIRL UP CAMPAIGN, WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO HIS OFFICE AND SAID, HEY, WE HAVE A GROUP OF INCREDIBLE YOUNG WOMEN FROM NEWARK COMING TO DC.
CAN WE COME MEET WITH YOU? THEY, HE STOPPED EVERYTHING AND MADE SPACE AND TIME FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MEET WITH HIM.
AND SO, UM, AS WE CELEBRATE INCREDIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE SASHA AND ALL THE HONOREES TODAY, WE ALSO CELEBRATE CONGRESSMAN PAYNE AND ALL OF THE LEADERS WHO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE SPACE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
OUR NEXT HONOREE IS RYAN JONES, A SENIOR AT SETON HALL PREPARATORY SCHOOL WITH A GPA OF 4.02.
MAKE SOME NOISE FOR RYAN, Y'ALL, WHO YOU'LL MEET IN JUST A MOMENT.
RYAN IS A RESIDENT OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL CHINESE HONOR SOCIETY AND HAS BEEN A PART OF THE TUTORING CLUB SINCE HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR WHERE HE TUTORS TUTOR STUDENTS IN GRADES FIVE TO SEVEN IN MATH AND GRAMMAR.
HE'S ALSO A, ALSO A JUNIOR INTERN AT BETHANY CARES FREEDOM SCHOOL, A SIX WEEK LITERARY PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON FOSTERING THE LOVE, READING, CIVIC ACTION AND SELF-BELIEF OF YOUNG
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PEOPLE WHERE I GOT TO SEE HIM FIRSTHAND DOING THAT WORK.HE VOLUNTEERS EVERY SUNDAY AT MY HOME CHURCH, BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH, AND HE IS AN INCREDIBLE MENTOR AND TEACHER TO THOSE YOUTH.
BUT WHEN HE'S NOT IN SCHOOL AND VOLUNTEERING, HE IS ALSO A CHEF AND A YOUNG BUSINESSMAN, Y'ALL, BECAUSE HE WORKS AT HIS FATHER'S RESTAURANT, WHICH I HAVE TO SAY I'M GUYANESE SO I KNOW A LOT OF GOOD CARIBBEAN FOOD, BUT WHEN I TELL YOU THESE JONESES CAN COOK, BOY THESE JONESES CAN COOK, THIS IS A GOOD RESTAURANT.
AND SO HOPETON AND SUZETTE, WHO ARE THE OWNERS OF THAT RESTAURANT, ALSO HAVE THEIR INCREDIBLE SON RYAN WORK THERE, COOK THERE, AND DO ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK TO KEEP THAT, UH, RESTAURANT FLOURISHING IN THE GREAT CITY OF IRVINGTON.
RYAN LOVES TO TAKE PICTURES AND DRAW, AND THIS SEPTEMBER HE WILL BE ATTENDING RYDER UNIVERSITY MAJORING IN ACCOUNTING.
YOU COULD CLAP IT UP FOR THAT.
MAJORING IN ACCOUNTING, MINORING IN GRAPHIC DESIGN.
AND IF, IF I'M NOT INCORRECT, HE'S LIKE A ON A NEAR, IF NOT FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR HIS MERITS AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE THINGS HE'S DONE AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER DO WE WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AND GIVE YOU THIS COMMENDATION.
SO FIRST I'M GONNA SAY A LITTLE SOMETHING IN CHINESE FIRST.
SO, SO WHAT I SAID THERE IS HELLO EVERYBODY.
MY NAME IS RYAN JONES AND I SAID I WANTED TO BE, AND I SAID, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE WITH EVERYBODY HERE WITH EXIT COUNTY NEW JERSEY.
AND ALL HONESTY, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WAS GOING TO BE HERE BECAUSE, 'CAUSE THIS COMES AS A SHOCK TO ME.
'CAUSE I NEVER EXPECTED SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO REALLY AND TRULY HAPPEN TO ME.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M VERY HAPPY FOR MY PARENTS FOR BEING HERE AND MY COUSIN IN THE BACK,
AND I AM TRULY EXCITED TO, TO BE OFF TO COLLEGE THIS FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR.
WHAT IS IT? 18TH AVENUE? MM-HMM.
SO IT'S LIKE ON THE BORDER OF NEWARK AND IRVINGTON.
YEAH, RIGHT ON THE AND IT'S GOOD, IT'S GOOD.
MAKE SOME NOISE FOR RYAN, Y'ALL.
IN A MOMENT I'M GONNA INVITE UP OUR SINGERS, ZURI AND AVA, FOR ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE.
BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE TWO INCREDIBLE YOUNG WOMEN.
NOW, WE MAY KNOW THEM UNOFFICIALLY IN OUR HEAD AS CHLOE AND HOLLY ENERGY FROM THE GREAT NEWARK ESSEX COUNTY AREA.
BUT ZURI MCCOON IS A JUNIOR AT SCIENCE PARK HIGH SCHOOL AND VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT COUNCIL.
LAST YEAR SHE AND FOUR OTHER SOPHOMORES FOUNDED THE SCHOOL'S FIRST, OR, YEAH, THE FIRST BLACK STUDENT UNION, I'LL SAY.
AS SOMEONE WHO SERVED ON THE NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WAS A PART OF THE HISTORIC ELECTION OF THELOCAL BOARD, THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.
SHE SERVED AS A PRESIDENT OF THE LEGION OF BOOM MARCHING BAND AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE GOLDEN GODDESSES DANCE LINE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE JAZZ HOUSE KIDS BIG BAND AS A VOCALIST, A VOLUNTEER FOR DELTA GEMS AND DELTA TEENS.
SHOUT OUT TO ANY DELTAS IN THE HOUSE AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF HER CHURCH AS A MEMBER OF THE CHOIR AND VIDEO TECHNICIAN.
AVA MCCOON IS A FRESHMAN AT SCIENCE PARK HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE'S A MEMBER OF HER SCHOOL'S JAZZ BAND, CONCERT CHOIR, MARCHING BAND, AND PLAYS PIANO AT JAZZ HOUSE KIDS IN MONTCLAIR AND SINGS IN HER CHURCH'S CHOIR.
SHE VOLUNTEERS AS A DELTA GEMS MEMBER AND DELTA TEEN PARTICIPATES IN THE FUTURE TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION AND LEADS HER SCHOOLS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DEBATE TEAM.
SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK FRESHMAN TO BID OR RATHER GET A BID FOR THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS AND HAS QUALIFIED TO DEBATE NATIONALLY, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE.
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ONE OF THE TOP 15 FRESHMAN SPEAKERS IN THE NATION.AND WE ARE ELATED TO HAVE THEM HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING AGAIN, ZURI AND AVA MCKOON DOWN.
HER HEART IS BROKEN AND HER LIFE IS SO AM HE A DREAMS ARE.
AND BECAUSE HE STANDS, HIS DREAMS DIE.
I COME TO YOU AND SAY, I HEAR ME, I PRAY.
WHAT ABOUT THE SO MANY, THE AND WHO, AND IF HE CANNOT WHERE SUCH A FOOLISH GIRL AND YET STILL SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER.
AND IF YOU'LL JUST REMINISCE YOUR DAYS, YOUR DAYS UP BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHERE YOU'VE BEEN.
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LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME.JUST TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCE, UH, FROM ZER AND AVA.
AND WE'RE HONORED AGAIN TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US.
UM, INTO, UH, OUR HONOREES THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM.
JUST BEFORE WE BRING UP, UH, OUR NEXT HONOREE, OUR NEXT COUPLE OF HONOREES, JUST WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO SAY THAT, UM, THIS EVENT, AND IT'S BEEN, IT WAS MENTIONED BY MY, BY MY COLLEAGUE, UM, THAT THIS EVENT, UH, IS ONE OF OUR BEST ATTENDED EVENTS.
SO WE WANNA REALLY THANK ALL THE FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS, UH, AND TEACHERS AND MENTORS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT, UH, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO QUESTION RIGHT NOW THAT, UH, WE SEEM TO HEAR SOMETIMES MORE OF THE NEGATIVITY THAN THE POSITIVITY BILL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND, UM, AND I'M HERE TO SAY TO ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE TODAY, WE SEE YOU
AND NOT ONLY DO WE SEE YOU, WE SUPPORT YOU.
WE KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH
ALL OF US, BUT PARTICULARLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE GOING THROUGH A PANDEMIC
AND WE'RE HERE FOR YOU AND WE SUPPORT YOU AND WE LOVE YOU.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU.
WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU BECAUSE, UM, UH, OUR, OUR GENERATIONS
SO, UH, AND WE HAVE CONFIDENCE, UH, THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RIGHT THOSE WRONGS AND LEAD US INTO THAT PROMISED LAND.
SO THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO WITH THAT, UM, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP OUR NEXT HONOREE.
SO, UH, AS NOTED BEFORE, UM, COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS, UH, ORIGINALLY SPONSORED, UH, THE ACCOMMODATION BUT WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE.
UH, SO WE'LL, WE'LL GET HIM LATER FOR THAT.
UH, WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, LEO, BUT, UM, I WAS HONORED THAT HE ASKED ME TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION, UH, TO YOU TONIGHT WITH YOUR, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR FAMILY.
AND IF YOU WOULD, WOULDN'T MIND, I'M GONNA READ A FEW EXCERPTS FROM IT.
UM, LEO IS CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL.
LAST YEAR HE FOUNDED THE AUTUMN LEAVES FOUNDATION, WHICH STRIVES TO CREATE A MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THOSE STRUGGLING WITH EATING DISORDERS.
RECENTLY LEO WAS ABLE TO BRING HIS OWN EXPERIENCES TO HELP LEAD THE FIRST EVER MONTH LONG EATING DISORDER AWARENESS SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN FOR BOTH THE BLOOMFIELD AND ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
THIS INCLUDED CREATING VARIOUS GRAPHICS, PROVIDING IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND COUNSEL TO SPEAKERS, AND SHARING HIS OWN STORY THROUGH A PERSONAL INTERVIEW.
THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE, HE HOPES THAT THE STIGMAS AROUND EATING DISORDERS ARE REDUCED IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND ESSEX COUNTY CAN BECOME A SAFER AND MORE WELCOMING, WELCOMING PLACE FOR THOSE AFFECTED OUTSIDE OF THIS WORK.
LEO LIKES TO MAINTAIN AN ENGAGED ROLE IN HIS COMMUNITY.
HE IS FOUNDED A CLUB AT SCHOOL.
HE'S AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE JEWISH STUDENT UNION BOARD.
HE PLAYS TWO SCHOOL SPORTS AND HE IS THE CHAIR OF THE MENTAL WELLNESS COMMITTEE WITHIN A SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITY AT, AT HIS HIGH SCHOOL.
HE IS ALSO A SONG LEADER AT HIS TEMPLE.
AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, HE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
SO LEO, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, CONGRATULATES YOU AND COMMENDS YOU FOR BEING AN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MAN AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, MY NEIGHBOR, YOU'RE A PRETTY GOOD NEIGHBOR AS WELL,
UH, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU, UH,
[00:35:01]
UH, TONIGHT WITH A BOARD'S COMMENDATION AND CERTIFICATES, NOT ONLY FROM THE BOARD, BUT CERTIFICATES FROM A PERSON YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF, CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY SHERRILL ANDAND WE ALSO HAVE A PROCLAMATION, UH, TO YOU, FOR YOU FROM YOU TONIGHT FROM THE BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, UH, AND COUNCILWOMAN JENNY MONDELL AS WELL, UH, FOR YOU TONIGHT.
BUT AGAIN, UM, TO YOU LEO, AND CONGRATULATIONS, UH, I KNOW YOUR PARENTS, JILL AND JOHN ARE HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THERE.
YOU WANNA DO A PIC? I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
DID YOU WANT TO CALL? OH, WE, OKAY.
UH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GILL FOR THAT WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, UM, FOR THE AWARD.
UM, I DO NOT WANT TO THANK THEM FOR PUTTING ME RIGHT AFTER ZURI AND AVA'S PERFORMANCE.
THIS IS NOT A GREAT SPEECH AND I AM NOT GONNA SING, EVEN THOUGH I'M A SONG LEADER.
UM, BUT IT'S AN HONOR TO BE RECOGNIZED BY SUCH INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE, INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK MAYA LORD FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE ESSEX AND BLOOMFIELD HEALTH DEPARTMENTS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
CONGRATS, UH, CONGRATS AGAIN, LEO.
AND, UM, SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, MAYA BEFORE SHE, BEFORE SHE BEFORE MAYA LEAVES.
UM, I THINK WE WANNA GIVE MAYA A SPECIAL ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
MAYA LED THE, UM, ESSEX COUNTY, UM, RESPONSE, UH, TO COVID.
AND, UM, ALTHOUGH WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, OF COURSE, UH, I KNOW MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS INTERSECTED WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
AND THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IF, UH, WITHOUT MAYA'S LEADERSHIP, UM, UH, WE WOULD'VE BEEN IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, NOT ONLY WOULD'VE BEEN IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, UH, SAVE THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES THAT WE DID SAVE THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS IN THAT DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS.
SO, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOU, MAYA, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU, EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID.
SO IT'S NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE, UH, OUR SECOND HONOREE OF THE PROGRAM.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING ANDERS JENKINS UP TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE COMMENDATION.
ANDERS JENKINS IS A JUNIOR AT MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL AND HAS BEEN ON THE MONTCLAIR VARSITY HIKE H HOCKEY TEAM SINCE HIS FRESHMAN YEAR.
HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF HIS IS THEY SAY AAA, IS IT? DOUBLE, TRIPLE, OKAY.
AAA AVALANCHE HOCKEY CLUB TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS WITH BOTH YOUTH HOCKEY ORGANIZATIONS AND HOCKEY.
FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, HE WILL JOIN THE JERSEY HITMAN, AAA, AAA HOCKEY CLUB IN THE UPCOMING SEASON.
IN ADDITION TO HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A PLAYER, HE'S ALSO A YOUTH HOCKEY REFEREE WHERE HE HAS EARNED PRAISE FOR HIS KNOWLEDGE, CONTROL AND SOUND JUDGMENT.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY COULD USE YOU IN THE NHL RIGHT NOW.
PO PETITIONING THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR TO MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE RINK AS A VALUABLE PUBLIC ASSET.
I'LL GIVE THAT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, ACTUALLY, BOTH ON AND OFF THE ICE.
IN HIS CAPACITY AS A PLAYER AND AS A REFEREE, HE HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR FAIRNESS AND CIVILITY IN THE SPORT.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, HE HAS EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THERAPY AND COUNSELING.
AND BEFORE I BRING HIM UP FOR A FEW REMARKS, I BELIEVE HE WAS ALSO, UM, THE PLAYER OF THE WEEK, UM, IN JANUARY, UH, THROUGH IT, THROUGH A VOTE.
SO I WANNA PUT ALL THE POLITICIANS ON NOTICE.
HE CLEARED THE FIELD BY LIKE 1500 VOTES,
SO I DUNNO WHAT KIND OF MACHINE YOU HAD WORKING THERE, BUT WATCH OUT
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY OUR HONOR TO RECOGNIZE YOU TO BE HERE, UH, WITH YOUR FAMILY, UH, TONIGHT AND, UH, TO SEE ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND ARE YET TO
[00:40:01]
ACCOMPLISH.I WANNA THANK EVERYONE HERE AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
EVER SINCE I WAS YOUNG, I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THE SPORT OF HOCKEY AND I ALWAYS LOVED ICE SKATING.
SO NOW BEING ABLE TO MAKE THAT WHAT I DO NOW HAS REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE AROUND.
I LOVE BEING AROUND THE SPORT.
I LOVE BEING AROUND THE PEOPLE THAT I MADE, UH, THE FRIENDS I MADE THERE AS LONG WAY AND IT'S JUST BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND I'VE WORKED WITH AND EVERYONE THAT I HOPE TO BE WORKING WITH SOON.
THANK LIKE, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, UH, COMMISSIONER COOPER FOR OUR FINAL, UM, HONOREE TONIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, BOTH AGAIN TO LEONA ANDERS.
I HAVE A, I HAVE A 15-YEAR-OLD, I HAVE A FRESHMAN ALSO AT, UH, KAR HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU SEE HIM AROUND TOWN, HE'S NOT ON TRACK TO BE A PART OF THIS CEREMONY,
SO, SO IF YOU SEE HIM, HIM AROUND TOWN,
UM,
UM, COMMISSIONER COOPER, I JUST ALSO WANTED TO SAY, UH, TO THE EAST ORANGE, UM, UH, BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, ONE OF MY SON DID PLAY ON THE FRESHMAN TEAM IN MONTCLAIR, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE VARSITY TEAM PLAY A FEW TIMES.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON ANOTHER, ON ANOTHER GREAT SEASON.
UH, YOU REPRESENTED, UH, THE CITY, UH, THAT YOU COME FROM IN OUR COUNTY, UH, WITH GREAT DISTINCTION IN CLASS AND, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT AS WELL.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRINGING UP OUR LAST HONOREES FOR THE EVENING.
SO JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE EAST ORANGE CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM.
THE JAGUARS, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
EVERYBODY COULD COME UP, NOT JUST THE COACH, THE PLAYERS WHO PLAYED AND DEDICATED ALL THEIR TIME.
SO I'M GONNA BRAG ON THE COACH AND THE ATHLETES FOR A MINUTE, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
UM, THE 2023 TO 2024 EAST ORANGE CAMPUS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM HAD A STELLAR SEASON.
THEY HAD A LOT OF OBSTACLES AND BARRIERS THAT THEY OVERCAME TO FINISH WITH A RECORD OF 23 AND SIX, EVERYONE IMPROVED TO HELP THEM GET TO THAT NUMBER THAT THEY ACHIEVED THIS YEAR.
THE BASKETBALL TEAM BOAST A OVERALL RECORD OF 97 WINS AND 45 LOSSES OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS.
CLENCHING THE SEC LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2020 AND SECURING A FINALIST POSITION AND THE NEW JERSEY GROUP FOUR FOR 2024.
SO LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT.
AND THE SUPER DUPER COACH, ALL OF HIS GREAT RECOGNITION THAT HE JUSTLY DESERVES.
HE WAS THE SUPER ESSEX CONFERENCE, AMERICAN DIVISION COACH OF THE YEAR FOR 2022 TO 2023, AND FOR 2023 TO 2024.
SO TWO YEARS IN A ROW, HE WAS THE COACH OF THE YEAR.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT.
AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR 2023 TO 2024, HE IS THE NEW JERSEY BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION COACH OF THE YEAR.
AND ALTHOUGH THE COACH DID REALLY GREAT AND THE TEAM DID REALLY GREAT, I WANNA TAKE
[00:45:01]
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT EQUALLY WAS RECOGNIZED.IF YOU EVER PLAYED A SPORT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A WHOLE LOT OF TIME AND DEDICATION.
SO I WANNA THANK THE PARENTS AND THESE YOUNG KIDS FOR STICKING WITH IT.
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN DOING WITH THEIR TIME, BUT THEY STAYED THE COURSE AND HAD A GREAT SEASON THIS YEAR.
SO, FIRST UP, PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I BUTCHER YOUR NAME.
MY NAME IS TMI COOPER AND PEOPLE ALWAYS MESS IT UP.
SO I'M COMMISERATING WITH YOU IN CASE I MESS UP YOUR NAME.
SO THE FIRST PERSON UP I WANNA RECOGNIZE IS KYRIE BARKLEY, WHO'S A SENIOR.
FIRST CARLEY, CARLE ADAMS. JAMES ROBERTS.
AND JAMES WAS A FRESHMAN, SO THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HE WAS A FRESHMAN PLAYING.
HE IS A FRESHMAN THIS YEAR PLAYING.
UM, LET'S SEE, THE SECOND TEAM, GAVIN JONES, DEMAR DYER.
AND THEY BOTH GOT AN HONORABLE MENTION FOR BEING SENIORS THIS YEAR.
BOTH KYRIE BARKLEY AND EUGENE BASS WAS SELECTED TO THE NJ BCAS ALL ESSEX COUNTY TEAM.
AND KYRIE BARKLEY WAS SELECTED AS THE SECOND TEAM ALLSTATE, UM, BY NEW NEW JERSEY CONFERENCE.
SO LET'S GIVE THEM ALL AROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY WERE SO EXTRAORDINARY.
AND, UM, I WANNA GIVE YOU A COMBINATION, COMBINATION COMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD AS WELL AS FROM CONGRESSWOMAN MIKEY CHERYL, AND STATE SENATOR RUIZ.
UM, AND I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE COMMENDATIONS, I THINK SO WE'LL PASS THEM AROUND.
BUT LET'S PASS THIS OVER TO THE COACH SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE AND THEN HAVE THE COACH, UM, MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
UH, JUST A COUPLE WORDS FROM ME, UH, SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY WE ARE HUMBLE AND, UH, VERY HONORED TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION.
SO WE APPRECIATE THE ESSEX COUNTY, UH, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, ALL PARENTS AND FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE THAT SUPPORTED THESE GREAT YOUNG MEN.
UH, BECAUSE ALL THE RECORDS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HEARD ARE TRUE, BUT THEY ARE TRULY GREAT YOUNG MEN OFF THE COURT AS WELL, AND I'M MOSTLY PROUD OF THAT.
UM, SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE OTHER HONOREES AND THE YOUTH HERE.
UH, WE ARE INSPIRED BY YOU AS WELL.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THIS.
UM, SHE HASN'T, SHE HASN'T BEEN OUT, UH, DUE TO COVID, BUT TODAY IS ALSO HER BIRTHDAY.
SO I WANT TO GIVE A VERY SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY MA.
UM, SO ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE EAST ORANGE, UH, BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM, MY COACHES AND STAFF AND MY PRINCIPAL ALSO, MS. WHITAKER AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE HERE AS WELL AS LONG AS WELL AS STAFF.
UH, WE THANK YOU AND, AND WE ARE TRULY HONORED.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR HONOREES THIS EVENING.
I WANNA JO, JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN SAYING, UM, I AGREE THAT THIS YOUTH EVENT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS BECAUSE HERE WE GET TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE AND SEE THE FUTURE
[00:50:01]
THAT WE HAVE.YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY RUNNING JOKES IS ALWAYS WE HAVE TO POUR IN TO YOUNG PEOPLE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO SUPPORT THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY GOT EVERYTHING RIGHT, BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA NEED THEM TO MAKE SURE OUR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS ARE PROCESSED THE CORRECT WAY, RIGHT? SO, AND LOOKING AT ALL OF YOU HONOREES THIS EVENING GIVES ME A WHOLE LOT OF HOPE, A WHOLE LOT OF PROMISE, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE FUTURE AND YOU GUYS ARE EXTRAORDINARY.
THERE'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU COULD BE DOING WITH ALL THAT STOCK STUFF AND THOSE OTHER THINGS AROUND.
YEAH, I'M SAYING STUFF BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IT AS WELL AS Y'ALL DO.
YOU KNOW, GROWING UP FOR US, OUR PARENTS WOULD CALL IT THE TOOL OF THE DEVIL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE COME TO LEARN AND OVERCOME SOME OF THESE THINGS.
IT'S SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU GUYS COULD BE DOING AND KNOWING AND LEARNING ABOUT YOUR BIOS AND ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU'VE MADE, I AM SO, SO PROUD OF YOU.
JUST REMEMBER THAT THE BOARD HERE, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS IN ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO, BECAUSE WE KNOW SOME OF YOU SITTING IN THESE SEATS TODAY, IT'S GONNA BE US TOMORROW.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA BE IN OUR SEATS IN THE FUTURE.
WE SUPPORT YOU, WE LOVE YOU, AND I WANNA THANK THE PARENTS FOR SUPPORTING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR THE PARENTS.
YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BALANCE OUT ALL THE MOVING PARTS.
SO HATS OFF TO THE PARENTS AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING US AND, AND DOING THIS YOUNG PEOPLE'S PROGRAM WHERE WE RECOGNIZE ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO.
I ALSO WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO COUNCILWOMAN EASTON.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME GET THE TEAM HERE.
WHENEVER I CALL ON YOU, YOU ARE ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE.
ANYTHING FOR THE TEAM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN EASTON DON'T PLAY WHEN IT COME TO THE BABIES.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO CALL BACK UP THE GREAT, UM, MINISTER JAYDEN TO COME AND, UM, BLESS THE FOOD AND GIVE US A CLOSING PRAYER, UM, TO ALL THE HONOREES.
UM, WE WANNA TAKE PICTURES WITH YOU FORMALLY AND YOUR FAMILY COULD COME UP AND TAKE PICTURES AS WELL BEFORE, BEFORE WE END THE PROGRAM TONIGHT.
SO, UM, PAT, UM, PAT, PLEASE COME UP.
DID I, I FEEL LIKE I'M FORGETTING SOMETHING.
SEE, I WAS FORGETTING SOMETHING.
WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FOOD HERE, REFRESHMENTS.
SO AFTER WE SAY A BLESSING, THE UM, PUBLIC WHO'VE COME CAN GO AND HAVE FOOD IN THE NEXT ROOM OVER.
I WANNA THANK THE STAFF AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR HELPING US PUT THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL LET YOU SAY CLOSING BREATH.
UH, CLOSE YOUR HEAD, CLOSE, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND BOW YOUR HEADS PLEASE.
LORD, I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TALENT AND ALL THE VISION AND ALL THE DEDICATION IN THIS ROOM FOR MY PEERS AND FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
LORD, I PRAY THAT AS THE COMMISSIONER SAID, THAT WE ARE THE FUTURE LORD.
AND THAT THE PEOPLE STANDING IN THIS ROOM FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AFTER AND TO ADMIRE THAT ONE DAY WE WILL BE IN THESE SEATS AND IN THESE ROOMS AND IN THEIR SHOES TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THEIR WORK.
LORD, WE PRAY OVER THE FOOD THAT IS HERE FOR THE RECEPTION, LORD, THAT WE USE IT FOR THE NOURISHMENT OF OUR BODIES.
SO IF YOU JUST EXIT LEFT OUT THE BACK, YOU CAN GO DOWN THE HALL AND COME TO THE REFRESHMENTS, ALL THE HONOREES.
PLEASE COME UP WITH YOUR PROCLAMATION SO THAT WE CAN TAKE SOME PICTURES.
[00:55:01]
WELL DONE, VIV.YOU GOT THE PRESENTS, THE BALLOONS, AND THE RAPTOR CAKE.