LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Rev. Deacon Rodney Beckford upon the
occasion of his designation as the recipient of a 2012 Educational
Advancement Foundation Salute To Excellence in Community Education Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that individuals who
distinguish themselves in their profession and in service to their
community and its children merit the highest commendation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Rev.
Deacon Rodney Beckford, of The Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Community
Center, upon the occasion of his designation as the recipient of a 2012
Educational Advancement Foundation Salute To Excellence in Community
Education Award; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Deacon Rodney Beckford will be honored at the North
Atlantic Region of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Cluster III Educa-
tional Advancement Foundation's Breakfast, to be held at the Double Tree
by Hilton in Tarrytown, New York on Saturday, June 23, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF) is dedicated to
the pursuit of lifelong learning and each year proudly recognizes indi-
viduals who have made a difference in non-traditional educational ways
to create an environment in which children can grow; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Deacon Rodney Beckford truly merits such recognition;
and
WHEREAS, Deacon Rodney Beckford grew up and was educated in the New
York City Metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, He has made a difference in a non-traditional way to create
an environment in which youth can grow in the Harlem community; when
Deacon Beckford came to the Joseph P. Kennedy Community Center, Catholic
Charities Archdiocese of New York, as Executive Director in 2010, there
were no activities for children; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to best serve the community and make the center
more open and available to the community, Deacon Beckford began a search
to bring more organizations into the center; he did not create new
programs but, rather, supported groups and organizations which had
programs and encouraged and enabled them to have activities at the
center; and
WHEREAS, The center has worked with the Department for Youth Programs
for high school juniors and seniors transitioning into adulthood, a
program which works with local high schools and underserved families to
help children go to college or high school and which grew to include 70
actively participating high school juniors and seniors; and
WHEREAS, With Deacon Beckford's leadership and vision, the center was
able to attract people to come in and do workshops, bringing their
activities and youth into the building and creating an environment
desirable to youth; and
WHEREAS, Since June 2011, the center has offered modern dance, crea-
tive side; spiritual choir, gospel type; cultural dance, praise dance,
Boy Scouts for teenagers; marine cadets; Girl Scouts; Weekend Dance
School for babies to adults; African drumming; tae kwon do and karate
martial arts and exercise classes for young adults and adults; it has
enhanced teen programs and provides safe zone basketball which must be
accompanied by a coach and, the coaches initiate tutoring and homework
help before playing ball; and
WHEREAS, With Deacon Beckford's efforts, all these programs were
brought to the center without hiring anyone or additional cost; rather,
they were made available at no cost through community collaboration and

partnerships with groups of similar missions and values supplying the
expertise and training; 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, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the
edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Rev. Deacon Rodney Beckford upon the occasion of his designation
as the recipient of a 2012 Educational Advancement Foundation Salute To
Excellence in Community Education Award on June 23, 2012; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Rev. Deacon Rodney Beckford.