LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Mary Williams as she is honored by the
WESPAC Foundation at its 28th Annual Awards Dinner on April 29, 2010

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 organizations
and individuals who devote themselves to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Mary Williams as she is honored by the WESPAC Foundation at its 28th
Annual Awards Dinner, to be held at the Women's Club in White Plains,
New York on Thursday, April 29, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Established to support the work of the Westchester People's
Action Coalition (WESPAC), the WESPAC Foundation has been the leading
force in Westchester County for peace and justice work for over three
decades; and
WHEREAS, Each year at its Annual Awards Dinner, WESPAC recognizes the
work of a few local individuals who have done outstanding work for
social justice and this year proudly honors Mary Williams, one of the
founders of WestCOP, for her lifelong anti-poverty work; and
WHEREAS, Mary Williams, the founder and President of Bermuda Home
Tourist Travel, is a community activist who has been recognized many
times for her volunteer work; a nurse by trade, she took advantage of
the flexible working hours and shifts to spend as much quality time as
possible with her two children and her husband; and
WHEREAS, She is one of the founders of the Westchester Community
Opportunity Program (WestCOP), a Co-founder of the Union Child Day Care
Center and the Theodore Young Community Center and is a Past President
of the Elmsford Civic League and the Elmsford PTA; and
WHEREAS, Mary Williams has always had one goal in mind -- to make a
difference for Black people; she speaks fondly of her role model, the
late Mrs. Mamie Haynes, who symbolized a very strong, active business-
woman in her community saying "Mrs. Haynes owned a local beauty shop in
the ghetto where I grew up and she served on the board of the Urban
League. She reached out to me and other young people. She always encour-
aged us. She was the first Black woman activist that I knew. She was my
inspiration."; Mary Williams also gives a lot of credit to the late John
H. Harmon, a Black historian, who taught her about the African heritage
of Black people; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Mary Williams as she is honored by the WESPAC Foundation at its
28th Annual Awards Dinner on April 29, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mary Williams.