LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating 10-year-old writer Samori Coving-
ton for her inspirational poetry performed at Carnegie Hall

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize those individuals within our midst who provide exceptional
leadership and commitment to human service; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late 10-year-old writer Samori Covington for her inspirational poetry
performed at Carnegie Hall; and
WHEREAS, Najaya Royal, Samori Covington and Alexis Cummings are three
inspirational young writers whose determination, drive and dedication to
the written word, their families and communities and themselves have
given them a love for poetry and desire to share their work with others;
the three poets are mentored by Angeli Rasbury, a Brooklyn Public
Library staffer who facilitated weekly poetry workshops with the support
of the Brooklyn-based NY Writers Coalition, Griot Reading Programs and
the Brooklyn Arts Council; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, their poems "I am from the Ghetto Brooklyn" (Najaya
Royal), "When Randa Wears Red" (Samori Covington) and "I'm Smart" (Alex-
is Cummings) were set to music by composer Gilda Lyons and collectively
titled "Songs from the F Train," a commission from American Opera
Projects, Fort Greene Park Conservancy and the Walt Whitman Project; and
WHEREAS, "Songs from the F Train" premiered in Fort Greene Park during
the Make Music New York Festival and was performed again at Carnegie
Hall as part of a concert titled "The Music of Georgia Shreve and Alvin
Singleton"; at both events, the piece was performed by mezzo-soprano
Nicole Mitchell, a Bedford Stuyvesant native; and
WHEREAS, Samori Covington was born in Brooklyn, New York, and at the
age of seven, joined a writing program sponsored by the Weeksville
Heritage Center; and
WHEREAS, By the time she was eight, Samori Covington's mother, Cheryl
Covington, had enrolled her daughter in the Phat Phun Poetry Workshops
offered by Angeli Rasbury at the Eastern Parkway branch of the Brooklyn
Public Library and in the writing workshops provided by the Fort Greene
Park Summer Literary Festival; and
WHEREAS, Samori Covington has been published in the EP FOREVER, a
chapbook published by the New York Writers Coalition; she also attends
the monthly Creating Art Club, and has read her work during the Kwanzaa
and Martin Luther King, Jr. programs at the Brooklyn Public Library; her
key literary work is "When Randa Wears Red"; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to act in accord
with its long-standing traditions, honoring the youth of today, and
leaders of tomorrow, whose character and achievements best exemplify the
ideals and values cherished by this great State and Nation; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate 10-year-old writer Samori Covington for her inspirational
poetry performed at Carnegie Hall; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Samori Covington.