Senate Resolution No. 5588

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Jahkeen Hoke upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the 2nd Annual Henry
Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service by
the Albany District 369th Veterans Association on
June 5, 2018

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 Jahkeen Hoke
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2nd Annual
Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service by the Albany
District 369th Veterans Association to be celebrated at the
commemoration of Henry Johnson Day Event on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at
the Vet House in Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, Jahkeen Hoke grew up in the South End of Albany, where he
attended Albany High School; after graduating, he earned his degree in
business management from Moreland College, where he came up with the
idea of 4th Family Inc., a not-for-profit organization which targets
at-risk youth in the Capital Region through mentoring, STEM, and
anti-incarceration programs; and

WHEREAS, The name 4th Family pays homage to what Jahkeen Hoke
describes as the African concept of family: your first family is your
immediate family, second family are your grandparents, third are your
extended family, and the people and community you grew up with are your
fourth family; and

WHEREAS, Jahkeen Hoke and his friend, John Scott, officially
established 4th Family Inc. in 2011; for the last seven years, this
vital organization has filled a void in Albany's economically
disadvantaged, predominantly black neighborhoods by channeling kids'
passion for sports to develop their interest in STEM fields which
improves their earning potential; and

WHEREAS, Jahkeen Hoke and his partner realized they had to do
something to make these kids competitive candidates in an increasingly
STEM-dominated job market; Jahkeen and John, along with a team of young
people built a vertical jump plate to improve their basketball game; and

WHEREAS, Sports analytics is not the only way 4th Family engages
kids in STEM fields; volunteers explain the various employment
opportunities that go into creating an athlete such as sports medicine
doctors, nutritionists, trainers, business managers, and materials
science engineers to develop sneakers; and


WHEREAS, 4th Family also implemented an anti-incarceration program
called Cherish the Chance; led by Jamel Smalls, strives to keep people
out of prison through preventative work; the program gives people the
opportunity to say, "Use my life as an example to do better in yours";
and

WHEREAS, Jahkeen Hoke and John Scott also engage the kids in 4th
Family through a mentoring program; through workshops, performances,
youth summits and field trips, they make sure the kids have a community
and support within each other, placing straight-laced kids in the same
groups as the rougher-edged ones; and

WHEREAS, Jahkeen Hoke leads his life by example and wants the best
for the young people in his neighborhood; he truly believes the first
step is to get off of the second floor and meet the kids where they are
at and really understand what they go through when the streetlights come
on; and

WHEREAS, For the first six years of 4th Family's existence, the
organization had an all-volunteer staff, and Jahkeen Hoke donated
significant funds from his own pockets each year for expenses; today,
Jahkeen works full-time for the organization helping develop and expand
4th Family's funding with grant applications and fundraisers; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, 4th Family has mentored approximately
8,000 students and 300 inmates; 55 students have successfully completed
the STEM program, and about 30 of them are now in college; data has
shown these kids have better attendance and less behavioral incidents;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Jahkeen Hoke upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of
the 2nd Annual Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service
by the Albany District 369th Veterans Association on June 5, 2018; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Jahkeen Hoke.