LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Ava Barnett upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Community Service Award by the Girls
High School Alumnae Association

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that individuals who
distinguish themselves in service to their community merit the highest
commendation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Ava
Barnett upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Commu-
nity Service Award by the Girls High School Alumnae Association; and
WHEREAS, Born in Florida, Ava Barnett is a graduate of the University
of Florida's College of Architecture, majoring in Interior Design, grad-
uating with honors; she came to New York in 1994 to further her career
goals by starting as a corporate interior designer for AFD Contract
Furniture, Inc., where she remains today; and
WHEREAS, Ava Barnett's extensive background spans the vast field of
design from architectural lighting to historic preservation; she is the
founder and president of AIB Interior Arch, a Bedford Stuyvesant-based
residential design firm, specializing in the renovation of brownstones;
founded in 2001, AIB has quickly become one of the most sought-after
interior architecture firms in the tri-state area; and
WHEREAS, AIB is a winner of the Network Journal's prestigious 40-Un-
der-Forty Award in 2007; Ava Barnett is a long-standing member of the
New York City Organization of Black Architects, and she is also a regu-
lar guest critic at both the Pratt Institute and Fashion Institute of
Technology; and
WHEREAS, Volunteering is more than a pastime for Ava Barnett; she is
an avid mentor, and consistently uses her talents and skills to coach
high school students for the NAACP ACT-SO Program and the Scholars
Program for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, Inc.; she is an
international missionary through Emmanuel Baptist Church and has served
in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa in 2008 and 2010;
and
WHEREAS, Ava Barnett traveled to Haiti in February 2012, where she
joined the mission group partnering with the Fuller Center for Housing
to help build homes for Grace Village in Lambi, Haiti; the Emmanuel
Baptist Church team promoted international literacy by donating work
books and school supplies to the 300 students of the Fernande Velme
School located in Leogane, Haiti; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to her community, Ava Barnett currently serves as
the President of the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Inc.; the
Brownstoners are a not-for-profit, 501c3, volunteer service organization
that is dedicated to the continued preservation, revitalization and
enhancement of the community of Bedford-Stuyvesant; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Brownstoners have been working diligently
in their community for more than 35 years; as President, Ava Barnett
leads the Brownstoners' Executive Board, its seven standing committees,
and its 200 members; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Ava Barnett has certainly distin-
guished herself in service to her community and is worthy of the recog-
nition and appreciation of this Legislative Body and the citizens of the
great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Ava Barnett upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the Community Service Award by the Girls High School Alumnae Associ-
ation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ava Barnett, President, Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant,
Inc.