LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Laurie A. Cumbo upon the occasion of
her designation for special honor by the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island
University at its Obama Day Gala on February 26, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and character
who have inspired and brought pride to our majestic Empire State with
their strong contributions to the community and model citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Laurie A. Cumbo upon the occasion of her designation for special honor
by the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University at its Obama Day Gala
on February 26, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Executive Director and Founder of the Museum of Contempo-
rary African Diasporan Arts, Laurie A. Cumbo hopes to utilize her educa-
tional and professional experiences to bring about an increased presence
of the arts in her native borough of Brooklyn, New York; her ultimate
goal is to create the first multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art muse-
um dedicated towards giving contemporary artists of African descent the
opportunity to exhibit their work in an academic setting; and
WHEREAS, Laurie A. Cumbo set her goal in motion in 2000 by opening the
Museum Planning Headquarters for the Museum of Contemporary African
Diasporan Arts in a building owned by the Bridge Street AWME; in less
than five years, the organization was covered by numerous national and
regional news organizations; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts
reopened its doors in a newly renovated facility within the BAM LDC
Cultural District in the James E. Davis 80 Arts Building in the Fort
Greene community of Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, Currently the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts
offers several arts related programs within the Borough of Brooklyn,
including the KidFlix Outdoor Film Festival of Bed Stuy, the FAMflix
Film Fest of Brownsville and the National Black Fine Art Show Educa-
tional Series, as well as an Exhibition and Curatorial program and
interactive tours for school groups and families; and
WHEREAS, Laurie A. Cumbo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art
History from Spelman College and a Master of Arts degree in Visual Arts
Administration from New York University; she has studied at the Utrecht
School of the Arts in the Netherlands and the Fuji Studios in Florence,
Italy and worked at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, the Brooklyn Museum
of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Grey Art Gallery; and
WHEREAS, An adjunct graduate professor in the School of Art and Design
at Pratt Institute, where she teaches a course entitled "Art in the
Urban Environment," Laurie A. Cumbo is a member of ARTTABLE, the Ameri-
can Association of Museums, the National Alliance of African and Ameri-
can Art Support Groups Conference and the Spelman College Alumni Associ-
ation; 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; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for Laurie A. Cumbo and to wish her
continued success in all of her future endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Laurie A. Cumbo upon the occasion of her designation for special

honor by the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University at its Obama Day
Gala on February 26, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Laurie A. Cumbo.