Senate Resolution No. 1296

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Carol June-Washington upon the occasion
of her designation as recipient of the Jim Perry
Progressive Leadership Award by Capital District
Citizen Action on September 14, 2021

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of
certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their
valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Carol
June-Washington upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the
Jim Perry Progressive Leadership Award by Capital District Citizen
Action to be celebrated at its 29th Annual Awards Ceremony on Tuesday,
September 14, 2021, at The Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio, Albany,
New York; and

WHEREAS, The Jim Perry Progressive Leadership Award honors the
legacy of Jim Perry, a gay rights leader and founding member of the
Capital District Chapter of Citizen Action of New York; his leadership
role both in the Capital District and statewide was exemplary, and his
dedication to politics and coalition building paved the way for the
passage of Albany's Human Rights Ordinance; and

WHEREAS, It is with the memories of Jim Perry's actions and words
that this vital organization recognizes those who have demonstrated a
commitment to community activism and leadership; and

WHEREAS, Carol June-Washington is being honored with this auspicious
award for her role as one of the area's most dedicated, inspiring
activists and leaders who has spent countless hours working to make her
community a stronger, more just place to live; and

WHEREAS, Carol June-Washington has been a tireless activist for
social change and politics since her teenage years; she began her foray
in electoral politics in high school with the campaign of Adlai
Stevenson and continued through college at Cornell University; and

WHEREAS, Moving to Chicago in the 1960s, Carol June-Washington was
one of the Chicago organizers and attendees for the March on Washington
in August of 1963, and Production Manager of the Citizen, an independent
Black community newspaper; and

WHEREAS, She was the Coordinator of the FDC Food for Selma Project;
subsequently, she became a member of Dr. Martin Luther's King's Southern
Christian Leadership Conference;

WHEREAS, Active early in the women's movement, Carol June-Washington
was the Founder/Director of the Chicago Women's Liberation Center, the
first of its kind in the country; and

WHEREAS, Moving to New York in the early 1970s, Carol
June-Washington worked with Colony South Brooklyn Houses and as the
Executive Director of the Southeast Bronx Neighborhood Houses; and

WHEREAS, While in New York, she obtained a Master of Social Work
degree at Adelphi University; and

WHEREAS, Coming to Albany in the 1980s with the New York State
Department of Labor as Statewide Director of the JTPA employment and
training programs, Carol June-Washington served on the Board of the
NAACP; and

WHEREAS, She left the Department of Labor to become the Deputy
Executive Director of the New York State Martin Luther King Institute
and Commission; and

WHEREAS, Carol June-Washington retired in 1996, later to go on to
become Director of Program Development at Trinity Alliance; and

WHEREAS, Renewing an early involvement in theater arts, Carol
June-Washington served for five years as the President of the Board of
Steamer Ten Children's Theater; today, she is a member of the Albany
Community Policing Advisory Committee, and the Albany NAACP; and

WHEREAS, Carol June-Washington is the proud mother of three
children, and the loving grandmother of six grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Carol June-Washington has
displayed throughout her life; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Carol June-Washington upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the Jim Perry Progressive Leadership Award by Capital
District Citizen Action; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Carol June-Washington.