LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating Colony South Brooklyn Houses' 107th
Anniversary Celebration on February 26, 2011

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize organiza-
tions of enduring tradition which faithfully serve the needs of the
community and its citizens with diligence and compassionate commitment
to improving the quality and dignity of life in the community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate Colony South Brooklyn Houses' 107th Anniversary, to be celebrated
with a gala dinner dance to be held at El Caribe on Saturday, February
26, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Rhonda Tomlinson, Administrative Law Judge to the New York
State Division of Parole, will be honored on this auspicious occasion;
in keeping with Colony South Brooklyn Houses' mission, both personally
and professionally, Rhonda Tomlinson has always sought to better the
lives of those in need in Brooklyn and throughout New York City and
truly merits this high honor; and
WHEREAS, Brooklyn has always proudly been a community of immigrants; a
collection of neighborhoods, each with its own unique character and rich
diversity; and
WHEREAS, At the turn of the 20th century, as New York City experienced
one of its largest waves of immigration, families flocked to Brooklyn to
pursue their dreams of a good life in their adopted country; and
WHEREAS, New arrivals to the city often had difficulty getting their
bearings, learning a new language, and accessing jobs, housing and
education; part of the famous settlement house movement which grew up
throughout New York City to help meet their needs, Colony South Brooklyn
Houses has a proud history and legacy of service; and
WHEREAS, Colony South Brooklyn Houses was formed by the merger of two
venerable settlement houses, South Brooklyn Neighborhood House,
originally known as Little Italy House, founded in 1904, and Colony
House, founded by the Brooklyn Colony of the Society of New England
Women and dedicated to the welfare of the community and neighborhood and
to carrying on the work of helping others to help themselves, which
opened its doors to seven homeless children in 1913, and by 1929 had
grown large enough to offer classes in art, athletics, and citizenship;
and
WHEREAS, In 1969, South Brooklyn Neighborhood House and Colony House
joined forces to become Colony South Brooklyn Houses, pledging to reach
Brooklynites in need of food, shelter and child care; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Brooklyn has grown, its neighborhoods have
changed and so too have the needs of the population; through it all
Colony South Brooklyn Houses has stayed true to the spirit of that
commitment and has remained devoted to the vitality of the community,
sponsoring a variety of literacy, arts, education and employment
programs and serving families, senior citizens, children, the homeless
and at-risk youths; and
WHEREAS, For more than a century Colony South Brooklyn Houses has been
a way station for successive waves of immigrants, with tireless dedi-
cation and enduring resolve serving the members of the various ethnic
and minority communities who have made their homes in Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
pay tribute to Colony South Brooklyn Houses for its many accomplishments
over its long and distinguished history and to recognize it as the
steward of a valuable heritage of service in the public interest; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate Colony South Brooklyn Houses' 107th Anniversary Celebration
on February 26, 2011; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Colony South Brooklyn Houses and to The Honorable Rhonda
Tomlinson, distinguished honoree of the evening.