LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Gloria M. Rochester, Founder, President
and CEO of the Queens Sickle Cell Advocacy Network, Inc., for her
extraordinary contributions to Sickle Cell Awareness and the community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to publicly recognize
those extraordinary individuals who have made contributions to the
success and progress of society in the course of their life's work; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Gloria M. Rochester, Founder, President and CEO of the Queens Sickle
Cell Advocacy Network, Inc., for her extraordinary contributions to
Sickle Cell Awareness and the community; and
WHEREAS, Gloria Rochester is the mother of two boys and two girls; her
youngest daughter, Tyeisha, was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia at the
age of 18 months; and
WHEREAS, Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic condition that causes red
blood cells to transform into a sickle or crescent shape, decreasing
their ability to carry oxygen throughout the body; this was the first
time Gloria Rochester heard of the condition, which leads to pain in
various parts of the body due to the lack of circulating oxygen; and
WHEREAS, In order to handle the responsibilities of caring for her
daughter, Mrs. Rochester embarked on a determined search to find out
about the disease, which meant that she had to empower herself with the
skills and knowledge to enable her to make informed decisions affecting
its treatment and care; during that time in the 1970s, there were limit-
ed materials or resources to assist affected families, so she devoted
herself to discovering what types of services were available and how
these services could be accessed; and
WHEREAS, Gloria Rochester educated herself in order to help Tyeisha;
her steadfast determination led her to other people in the same situ-
ation and, soon, families affected by the disease started to gather and
meet in her basement in St. Alban's; this meeting grew into an organiza-
tion known as The Queens Sickle Cell Advisory Network, a voluntary group
of parents with common sickle cell related problems; and
WHEREAS, Given the many obstacles she had to face both with life expe-
riences and a host of other complications, Gloria Rochester made a
commitment to be in the forefront of the initiative to make a difference
in bringing awareness, support, advocacy and empowerment to the families
and individuals affected by Sickle Cell Disease, thus enhancing their
quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Gloria Rochester realized that because of psychosocial and
medical needs, and the economic impact that is brought on by this chron-
ic condition, families tended to become overwhelmed, and did not know
where to access services for their family members; and
WHEREAS, In 1989, The Queens Sickle Cell Advocacy Network, Inc. was
incorporated as a not for profit organization with the express purpose
of raising the awareness of the public at large, and, more importantly,
the legislators in the community, of the devastating impact of the
disease; as the number of people needing her support grew, Gloria
Rochester chose to apply herself full time to broadening her mind and
obtaining as much knowledge, skills and resources from other agencies
and organizations with a similar social welfare orientation; and
WHEREAS, Over the past 20 years, Gloria Rochester equipped herself
with the necessary training and leadership skills to provide families
and individuals with networking support and activities enabling them to
make positive changes when feeling overwhelmed by the barriers and pain-
ful experiences they face; and

WHEREAS, In order to prepare herself for the challenges of her chosen
mission, and to properly structure the Queens Sickle Cell Advocacy
Network, Inc., Gloria Rochester became involved in the activities of the
New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, and the New
York State Department of Health Bureau of Child Adolescent Health; and
WHEREAS, The Queens Sickle Cell Advocacy Network, Inc. was named the
official New York chapter of the Sickle Cell Association of America;
Gloria Rochester has earned numerous awards and accolades from several
organizations, the highest of which she considers is the Association of
Black Educators of New York City's 2nd Annual Women's History Month
Recognition and Appreciation Award; and
WHEREAS, Despite all of her achievements, caring for her family,
building a functioning organization and becoming a surrogate parent to
so many individuals, Mrs. Rochester has remained approachable, business-
like, humble and persistent in her advocacy role; she is a true asset to
society; 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
honor Gloria Rochester, Founder, President and CEO of the Queens Sickle
Cell Advocacy Network, Inc., for her extraordinary contributions to
Sickle Cell Awareness and the community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Gloria M. Rochester, Founder, President and CEO of the Queens
Sickle Cell Advocacy Network, Inc.