LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Sam Pinn, Jr. upon the occasion of
his designation as recipient of the Legacy Award by the Fort Greene
Senior Citizens Council, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individ-
uals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its
citizenry; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. Sam Pinn,
Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Legacy
Award by the Fort Greene Senior Citizens Council, Inc., to be celebrated
on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Sam Pinn, a life long resident of Central Brooklyn, has
been the Chairman of Fort Greene Council, Inc. since its inception in
May of 1973; under his leadership, the Council has grown from a single
senior center to its current sponsorship of 18 comprehensive senior
centers; the Council also has added an extensive Meals-On-Wheels Program
for the disabled elderly, as well as two day care centers that include
group, family and after school services for children between the ages of
two and 12 years; and
WHEREAS, Sam Pinn is also the creator and Executive Producer of Jazz
966, the Council's highly successful citywide jazz program, which was
inaugurated in November of 1990; to further promote and advocate for the
elderly, he was the host and producer of a weekly radio show formerly
aired on WNYE, 91.5FM, "The Grand Ones"; the program focused on local
and national issues impacting the elderly, and featured discussions and
interviews with seniors, gerontologists, as well as other professionals
in housing, social security, health care, recreation and education; and
WHEREAS, For 16 years, Dr. Pinn was Chairman of Independent Brooklyn
CORE, where he was noteworthy in the ongoing struggle in Brooklyn for
social justice, the improvement of NYC's public school system and the
political empowerment of underserved communities; he is a Professor
Emeritus at Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he taught for 34 years
as a Professor of Social Science; and
WHEREAS, Besides having taught courses in Africana Studies and Social
Work, Sam Pinn chaired, for twenty years, the school's Africana Studies
Program and its Institute of African Studies; in support of these
programs, he created and directed for 10 summers, the school's highly
regarded International and Intercultural Study Abroad Program in Kenya,
East Africa; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Pinn has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from
Morgan State University, a Masters of Social Work degree from Rutgers
University and a Doctor of Laws degree bestowed on him by Mary Holmes
College; in addition, he is a New York State, Licensed Master of Social
Work (LMSW); and
WHEREAS, Sam Pinn is an active member of Alpha Upsilon Chapter of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, as well as an Elder (Baba) in the Shrine House
of Nana Kojo Ayesu of the Children of Nana Akonnedi Cultural Organiza-
tion; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Cynthia, their chil-
dren, Sam II, Greg, and the late Charles and their grandchildren, Sydney
and Cameron, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and
rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the life in their community and have shown a long and sustained

commitment to excellence certainly have earned recognition and applause;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Sam Pinn, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as recipi-
ent of the Legacy Award by the Fort Greene Senior Citizens Council,
Inc.; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Sam Pinn, Jr.