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Teresa B. Clarke Honored with Zeta Amicae Award and Proclamation

AJ Woodson
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Teresa B. Clarke Honored with Zeta Amicae Award and Proclamation

“Teresa B. Clarke Day” Declared Following Zeta Amicae Honor

At its annual Scholarship Luncheon, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated’s Gamma Xi Zeta Chapter proudly named Teresa B. Clarke the 2026 Zeta Amicae of the Year in recognition of her exceptional service, steadfast leadership, and profound dedication to community uplift.

Teresa B. Clarke received an official proclamation recognizing her decades of service and influence as part of a historic homage at the 2026 event, titled the “Fedoras and Fascinators Finer Womanhood Luncheon.” Furthermore, April 30, 2026, has been officially designated as “Teresa B. Clarke Day,” honoring her legacy of compassion, faith, and servant leadership.

Clarke is a devout, kind, and helpful woman. As a loving caregiver for her 94-year-old mother with dementia, a loyal mother and sister, and a spiritual leader dedicated to healing, encouragement, and breathing life into others, she wears many crowns at the age of sixty.

She has worked as an administrative assistant to the director of pharmacy in a hospital setting for more than 25 years. She contributes professionalism, leadership, and empathy to every position she holds. She completed Advanced Ministry at the Bible Institute of the Church of the Living God, Inc. in 2023 and became a credentialed and ordained minister in 2022.

Teresa is the Founder and CEO of Teresa Speaks Life Ministries, a faith-based outreach dedicated to uplifting hearts through faith-filled encouragement, personalized prayer, bereavement support, and wellness guidance in both private and group settings. Through daily inspiration and heartfelt intercession, her ministry provides a safe, confidential space for renewal, healing, and hope across communities. 

Her commitment to service extends widely. Teresa is certified in teen suicide prevention through Soul Shop for Black Churches and has served as a Mistress of Ceremony for the NAACP. She currently serves as Chaplain for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Xi Zeta Chapter and Zeta Amicae of Westchester County, NY, as well as International Chaplain for Finer Toastmasters International, where she nurtures connection through prayer, affirmations, and scripture. She is also a board member of Alivido with St. John’s Hospital, further extending her commitment to holistic care and advocacy. 

In 2025, Teresa was inducted into Finer Toastmasters International, strengthening her voice as a communicator and leader. She is a proud uterine cancer survivor, women’s health advocate, and Independent Consultant with Arbonne International LLC, continuing to champion wellness, empowerment and informed self-care. 

As a partner with Dementia Tool Kit, Teresa leads a private caregiver community, offering weekly education, practical tips, and interviews focused on dementia and cancer care. Through her ministry, she remains dedicated to mental renewal, bereavement support, spiritual comfort, and sustainable self-care, especially for caregivers and women navigating life transitions. 

As she continues to walk boldly in her divine calling, Teresa B. Clarke builds bridges across communities, uplifts the vulnerable, and reminds us all that faith still moves mountains and love still heals hearts.

The Gamma Xi Zeta Chapter, based in Westchester County, NY, is known for its long-standing commitment to scholarship, often hosting this event to honor those who uphold the sorority’s principles of Finer Womanhood.

Traffic Stop on I-84 Leads to Multiple Weapons Charges — Suspect Released After Arraignment

AJ Woodson
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Traffic Stop on I-84 Leads to Multiple Weapons Charges — Suspect Released After Arraignment

BW News Brief: Troopers Seize Multiple Firearms in Southeast Stop

A routine traffic stop in the Hudson Valley turned into a major weapons case late Wednesday night, raising serious questions about public safety—and the state’s bail laws.

On April 30, 2026, at approximately 9:00 p.m., members of the New York State Police Troop K Community Stabilization Unit conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 in the Town of Southeast, a town in Putnam County, for violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.

The operator was identified as 30-year-old Cotman A. Rosario Suarez of West Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

According to authorities, Rosario Suarez consented to a search of the vehicle. What troopers discovered during that search was anything but routine.

Police recovered:

  • An American Tactical semi-automatic rifle
  • A Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol
  • A Pioneer Arms Classic Pro AK-style pistol
  • Numerous high-capacity magazines

Rosario Suarez was taken into custody and charged with a series of serious weapons offenses, including:

  • Five counts of Manufacture, Transport, Disposition, and Defacement of Weapons and Dangerous Instruments (Class D felonies)
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree – Assault Weapon (Class D felony)
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree – Three or More Firearms (Class D felony)
  • Four additional counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree (Class D felonies)
  • Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (Class E felonies)

Cases like this continue to fuel debate across New York about bail reform and public safety. Law enforcement recovers multiple firearms—including high-capacity magazines—yet the accused is back on the street less than 24 hours later.

For many residents, the question remains: Are current laws striking the right balance between justice reform and community safety?

Despite the severity of the charges, Rosario Suarez was arraigned on May 1, 2026, in the Town of Southeast Court and released on his own recognizance.

Mount Vernon Community Speaks Out At Rally on City Hall Steps

AJ Woodson
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Mount Vernon Community Speaks Out At Rally on City Hall Steps

Power To The People: Mount Vernon Residents Step Up and Speak Out At Open Mic Rally On Steps Of City Hall

On Saturday, May 2nd, at 1 p.m., the steps of Mount Vernon City Hall became a stage for the people, as dozens gathered to speak on issues they say can no longer be ignored. Alongside calls for accountability and change, there was also a strong show of support for MVPD Officer Derek Williams—turning the afternoon into both a protest and a moment of solidarity.

This grassroots gathering was more than just an event—it was a moment for the people to be heard. With concerns ranging from police accountability and rising property taxes to education, parking, and overall quality of life, organizers created an open mic forum where residents could speak directly on the issues impacting their daily lives. In a city where many feel answers have been delayed or ignored, this speak-out shaped up to be a powerful opportunity for the community to come together, demand transparency, and reclaim its voice.

See full video of rally below…

“Thanks to all who could be in attendance today, asking our residents to be more involved in our dire need for accountability from our Mayor and City Council. Time to open their eyes and see the concerns of the taxpayers and concerned citizens. No more leading with blinders on. All departments in this city need a Forensic Audit !! And I’m working on it,” Jesse Van Lew shared with Black Westchester after the rally.

Efforts to revise the Mount Vernon City Charter for the 2026 ballot were also underway, driven by proponents seeking to modernize city government, with some advocating for a city manager form of government. To place a charter amendment directly on the ballot, advocates had a table at the rally to gather the significant number of signatures needed.

The rally featured a diverse lineup of voices from across the community, each bringing their own perspective to the issues at hand. Speakers included Co-Founder of the Mount Vernon Civic Integrity Project Axel Ebermann, Geoff Munroe (Bounubti Kamenthou), John Gallagher, Greg Bonaparte, Co-founder of Westchester for Palestine Hadil Sarrar, Library Advocate Tamara Stewart, Public Interest Advocate Ayanna Armstrong, MVPD Officer Derek Williams, retired MVPD Officer Donald Moore, Dr. Cassandra Hyacinthe, Damon K. Jones (Blacks In Law Enforcement & BW Publisher), and Save Mount Vernon co-founder Jesse Van Lew. From calls for accountability to concerns about quality of life and public safety, the message was consistent—residents are demanding answers and meaningful change. The event closed on a unifying note as Ms. Thomas led the crowd in prayer, grounding the afternoon not only in advocacy but in community and hope.

“As Barack Obama once said, ‘We are the change that we seek.’ Together, let’s bring back meaning to Mount Vernon and truly make it the City of Hope,” Public Interest Advocate Ayanna Armstrong shared with Black Westchester after the rally.

PBP Radio May 3, 2026 – Supreme Court Redistricting, Mount Vernon Accountability Rally, and More

AJ Woodson
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PBP Radio May 3, 2026 – Supreme Court Redistricting, Mount Vernon Accountability Rally, and More

Tonight on People Before Politics, we break down the real issues shaping our communities, not the talking points. We start with the latest ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States on redistricting and what it actually means. Is this about race, or is it about partisanship? More importantly, what does it reveal about how political power really works in America and why Black voting strength is not producing consistent outcomes?

Then we shift to culture, reviewing the Broadway production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come And Gone and examining the difference between emotional inspiration and real-world impact. Culture can move people, but it does not replace structure, strategy, or accountability.

We also take you to Mount Vernon, where residents are rallying and demanding accountability from city leadership. This is not about personalities. This is about governance, transparency, and results. When communities begin to question leadership, it signals something deeper than politics. It signals a breakdown in trust. This episode connects all three conversations into one core truth. Power without leverage produces no results. Voting alone is not power. Strategy, organization, and accountability are. If elected officials do not depend on your vote in a meaningful way, they will not respond to your needs in a meaningful way. This is not about left or right. This is about outcomes.

Join Damon K. Jones, AJ Woodson, and Larnez Kinsey tonight as we bring you not just news, but context, accountability, and community-centered analysis you can’t get anywhere else.

LIVE from 6 PM to 8 PM on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X, powered by Black Westchester Magazine.

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August Wilson’s “ Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” Holding Space, Holding History: A Night Inside August Wilson’s World

Larnez Kinsey
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August Wilson’s “ Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” Holding Space, Holding History: A Night Inside August Wilson’s World

Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer star in the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s classic.

There are some nights at the theater where you watch a performance, and then there are nights where you enter a space. Last night, watching Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, it was the latter.

Before the lights even dimmed, the room felt different. Not tense, not loud, just… attentive. The set sat quietly, as it had already seen things. Like the walls knew more than we did. And when the play began, it didn’t feel like a start; it felt like we had arrived in the middle of something already in motion.

Bertha Holly played by Taraji P. Henson [Photo by Julieta Cervantes]

Taraji P. Henson as Bertha Holly doesn’t perform for the audience; she receives the room. There’s a softness in her voice that carries intention, not fragility. You can hear the care in how she speaks, but you can also hear the calculation, when to comfort, when to hold back, when to simply listen. And it’s in that listening where her performance deepens.

At one point, she pauses before responding, just a fraction longer than expected, and in that space, you feel her choosing her words carefully. Not because she doesn’t know what to say, but because she understands what’s at stake in saying it. That kind of restraint creates trust. You lean in, not because she demands it, but because she’s earned it.

Seth Holly played by Cedric “The Entertainer” [Photo by Julieta Cervantes]

Cedric the Entertainer brings a physical stillness to Seth Holly that reads as both strength and burden. His movements are measured, almost economical, as if he’s conserving energy in a world that asks too much of him. Even when he’s not speaking, there’s a tension in his presence, hands occupied, shoulders set, eyes observing.

There’s a moment where he stops mid-task, just briefly, and something passes across his face, fatigue, maybe restraint, maybe something unspoken, and then it’s gone. It’s not emphasized. It’s not underlined. But it lands.

Under the direction of Debbie Allen, the production trusts stillness. It allows silence to do its work. Some pauses stretch long enough for you to become aware of yourself, your breathing, your posture, the way your body is reacting to what you’re witnessing. At one point, the room grew so quiet that the smallest shift in a seat felt amplified. That level of collective focus is not accidental; it’s cultivated.

What August Wilson offers in this work is not just a story, it’s reflection. Set in 1911 Pittsburgh, the play centers on Black lives in transition, in search of identity, connection, and grounding after displacement. But sitting there, it didn’t feel distant. It felt present. The questions being asked on that stage, about belonging, about memory, about self, are not confined to history.

They’re ongoing.

Larnez Kinsey outside Barrymore Theatre before the play [Black Westchester]

There were lines that landed immediately, and others that took a moment, settling in slowly, almost quietly, before you realized their weight. Those are the ones that stay. Those are the ones that follow you out of the theater.

And when it ended, people didn’t rush. There was a pause. A collective stillness, like everyone needed a moment to return to themselves. No scrambling for coats, no immediate chatter, just a shared understanding that something had shifted, even if only slightly.

For Black Westchester, this production is not just something to see, it’s something to sit with. It reminds us that Black storytelling, especially in the hands of August Wilson and performers committed to truth, is not about spectacle. It’s about presence. It’s about care. It’s about allowing complexity to exist without needing to resolve it too quickly.

This revival doesn’t push; it settles. And long after you’ve left your seat, it remains.

August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come And Gone opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre located at 243 West 47th Street, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, and runs until Sunday, July 26, 2026

Also check out Review: August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” Explores Identity, Freedom, and the Cost of Both! By AJ Woodson

Sisters in Step: Healing, Liberation, and a 9AM Start with GirlTREK Westchester article

Larnez Kinsey
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Sisters in Step: Healing, Liberation, and a 9AM Start with GirlTREK Westchester article

If you know GirlTREK, then you already understand, this is not just movement, this is ministry. And right here in Westchester? Oh, it’s personal.

Let me tell it the way it felt.

I was invited into this space by Kymberly McNair, and you know, when someone extends an invitation that’s more than logistical? It’s spiritual. Like, “Sis, come get what you need.” That’s what this was.

Saturday. 9:00 a.m. Kensico Dam.

And not just anywhere, we meet by the picnic tables. That detail matters. Because it’s giving a “gathering place.” It’s giving “we start together.” Before a single step is taken, there’s a moment of arrival. Of eye contact. Of “hey sis” energy that sets the tone for everything that follows.

Eight women showed up. And what I immediately clocked about the GirlTREK Westchester chapter was the intimacy. Not small, intentional. The kind of gathering where you don’t get lost in the crowd, you get held in the presence.

The morning air was soft, like it was making room for us. And as we stepped off, there was no rush, no pressure, just a shared understanding that this walk meant something deeper.

And then, because the universe will affirm you when you’re aligned, we literally bumped into Jewel Williams Johnson.

Now pause.

Because that moment? That wasn’t random. That was a reminder.

A reminder that what GirlTREK is doing isn’t separate from community power, it is community power. Health, healing, policy, presence… It’s all connected. And to cross paths with a legislator while walking for liberation? That’s alignment on a whole different level.

And the energy stayed right. No performative anything. Just genuine exchange, acknowledgment, and then right back to the walk. Because that’s the focus, the walk.

Somebody was releasing stress with every step.

Somebody was quietly rebuilding themselves.

Somebody was just grateful to not feel alone for an hour.

That’s the work.

Because since T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison started this movement, it has always been about reclaiming health as a form of resistance. Not someday. Not when it’s convenient. Right now.

And the Westchester chapter? They are living that mission in real time. No hype needed, just consistency, care, and showing up.

So let me say this clearly:

The GirlTREK Westchester chapter meets at Kensico Dam every Saturday at 9 a.m.

This is your invitation.

Not a soft suggestion. An invitation to yourself.

Come walk.

Come breathe.

Come remember who you are underneath the stress, the expectations, the noise.

You don’t need to know anybody; you will.

You don’t need to be ready; you’ll get there.

You just need to come.

Because what’s happening out there?

It’s not just a walk.

It’s a reclamation.

And trust, it’s waiting for you.

MV NAACP & Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church Host 2026 School Board Candidate Forum

AJ Woodson
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MV NAACP & Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church Host 2026 School Board Candidate Forum

The Mount Vernon NAACP, in collaboration with the Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church hosted a Mount Vernon City School District Trustee Board Candidate Forum on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 6:30 PM, at Greater Centennial located at 312 South 8th Avenue in, Mount Vernon.

The purpose of this forum was to allow you to engage with the candidates, ask questions, and learn more about their visions for our children, school district, and the community.

The six (6) candidates: Warren Mitchell, Keith Chisolm, Dr. Lynne Middleton, Gwendolyn Janelle Allbritton, Carleen Evans, and John Woodbury are running for three (3) seats on the MVCSD Board of Trustees to serve one (1) three (3) year term beginning on the first day of July 2026 and expiring on the thirtieth (30th) day of May 2029. The Mount Vernon City School District consists of nine members serving three-year terms. Voters will elect three (3) members to the Board of Education for full three-year terms.

The election for School Board and Library Trustee candidates and budgets is Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 7 am to 9 pm.

Where do you vote? ED#1 – Lincoln School 170 East Lincoln Ave, ED#5 – Hamilton School 20 Oak St, ED#6 – Traphagen School 72 Lexington Ave, ED#7 – Edward Williams School 9 Union Lane, ED#9 – Graham School 421 East 5th St, ED#11 – Pennington School 20 Fairway, ED#14 – Rebecca Turner Academy 625 4th Ave, ED#22 – Grimes School 58 South 10th Avenue

The Mount Vernon N.A.A.C.P. Branch meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm at Macedonia Baptist Church, located at 141 South 9th Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550. For more information, contact us at (914) 297-7228 or via email at naacpmountvernon@gmail.com

NYC Mayor Mamdani Creates City’s First Deed Theft Prevention Office

AJ Woodson
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NYC Mayor Mamdani Creates City’s First Deed Theft Prevention Office

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Names Peter White As The Director of The New Anti-Deed Theft Initiative

On Friday, April 24th, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani established the City’s first Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention and appointed Peter White as the office’s director. A major step aimed at protecting homeowners — particularly seniors, Black families, and vulnerable communities — from predatory real estate schemes that have stripped generations of New Yorkers of their homes and wealth.

Deed theft, in which white-collar criminals use fraudulent filings to steal homes from longtime residents, is a persistent threat to working-class homeowners in New York. Families who have spent decades building stability and generational wealth are being targeted and displaced through complex scams that exploit gaps in oversight.

“The theft of a home is the theft of a family’s future,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Deed theft preys on the New Yorkers who can least afford it. Today, we are bringing the full force of City government to bear to stop it – to protect homeowners, defend generational wealth and make clear that this City will not tolerate the exploitation of our communities. I am proud to appoint Peter White as the director of New York City’s first-ever Office of Deed Theft Prevention, where he will write a new story of leadership and action.”

Mayor Mamdani appointed Peter White as the office’s first director, tasking him with coordinating citywide efforts to investigate deed fraud, support victims, increase public awareness, and strengthen protections against illegal property transfers and foreclosure scams. The move signals a growing recognition that deed theft is not just a housing issue, but an economic justice issue disproportionately impacting communities of color.

“I am deeply humbled to join the Mamdani administration as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention. I have worked to protect New York City homeowners throughout my career, and will carry that passion into my new role serving New Yorkers,” said Peter White, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention. “I look forward to working with Mayor Mamdani and leaders across the city and state to bring an integrated approach to protecting working-class homeowners across the city.”

White, an attorney with Access Justice Brooklyn, has spent years representing homeowners facing foreclosure and deed theft. In his new role, he will lead a coordinated, citywide strategy to prevent fraud, support impacted residents, and strengthen enforcement. White holds a law degree from St. John’s University and a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, and has led extensive community outreach and legal clinic work alongside his practice.

Recent state legislation has strengthened tools to investigate and prosecute deed theft. The new office will leverage those authorities while building a proactive, preventive approach across agencies.

The Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention will be housed in the Department of Finance (DOF), which records property documents, and will work closely with the Sheriff’s Office, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, along with state and local partners.

Established by Executive Order 16, the Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention will expand strategic enforcement against deed theft, flag suspicious property filings, coordinate with law enforcement, conduct public education and outreach, promote preventative safeguards, and improve data-sharing across agencies.

“By creating an office dedicated solely to combating deed theft, the Mayor is delivering on his commitment to protect vulnerable communities and help preserve generational wealth for New Yorkers most at risk of exploitation,” said Department of Finance Commissioner Richard Lee. “Critically, the office’s mission is both proactive and responsive: preventing deed theft before it occurs while ensuring a swift, effective response when cases arise. By dedicating resources and providing direct support to impacted New Yorkers, the office will help victims navigate the complicated web of legal, financial, and bureaucratic processes—connecting them with the tools and guidance they need to protect their home.”

For years, advocates have warned that deed theft has quietly devastated Black and Brown neighborhoods across New York City, where family homes passed down for generations were stolen through forged signatures, fraudulent transfers, and deceptive legal tactics. The creation of this office represents an acknowledgment that protecting homeownership is essential to protecting generational wealth and community stability.

“I commend the mayor for establishing this office, an effort I’m proud to support and inform,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “At a time when working families – particularly Black families – are being forced out of our city by an affordability crisis, it’s important now that we provide homeowners with the resources and information needed to combat deed theft, unscrupulous actors, and untenable situations. Home ownership is a dream and a goal that builds wealth, builds power, and builds community. This is a generational fight for generational wealth and stability, and one we have to win.”

As a candidate, Mamdani promised to create an Office of Deed Theft Prevention to “protect homeowners from scam artists” and fund it to the tune of $10 million. 

The mayor’s preliminary budget allocates $500,000 to the office in the current fiscal year and $1 million for the years after.

It is unclear how many dedicated staff the office will have other than White. Mamdani’s executive order creating the office also names a position for a deed theft prevention advocate.

The Heart of Our Community Deserves Our Care By Lisa Burton

AJ Woodson
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The Heart of Our Community Deserves Our Care By Lisa Burton

When people think about the New Rochelle Public Library, they often think about books. But for many of us, especially in communities like ours, the Library has always been much more than that.  

It is one of the few truly shared civic spaces we have left.  

For the Black community, for Latino families, for residents across every part of New Rochelle from the South Side to the North End, the Library is a place where everyone can come together.  It is a center for learning, for culture, for music and art, and for connection. It is where children attend after-school programs and summer activities. It is where families begin their early learning journeys. And it is where seniors come not just for services, but for community.  

The Library does all of this on a very limited budget. It has been innovative and resourceful in how it serves people. But the truth is, the building itself has not kept up.  

The infrastructure is aging. Systems like heating and cooling, which are essential to the Library’s role, are no longer where they need to be. And that matters more than people may realize.  

The Library is one of the city’s designated cooling and warming centers. That is not just a convenience—it is a necessity. Many residents in New Rochelle live in older housing, where rising utility costs make it harder to keep homes comfortable year-round. During extreme weather, the Library becomes a place of relief and safety, especially for seniors. If those systems fail, it leaves a real gap in how we care for one another.  

As a homeowner, I think about this in a broader way. A strong community is about shared spaces that bring people together. A community without a heart is not a place where people want to stay, grow, or invest.  

And the Library is that heart.  

I’ve seen it in everyday moments, and I’ve seen it in times of crisis. Be it Superstorm Sandy or  Hurricane Ida, when storms disrupt our lives and leave many without power or communication in its aftermath, the Library is a safe haven. It is the place where people can charge their phones,  get information, and find one another. That kind of presence matters—and it should not be taken for granted.  

The role of the Library has also evolved. More than just a quiet place to read, it is a place where people gather, collaborate, and build community. Across Westchester, libraries are being revitalized to reflect how people live today with spaces to meet, learn, and connect. New  Rochelle deserves that same level of care and investment.  

There is also something deeper at stake.  

The Library stands alongside Ruby Dee Park, and its theater honors Ossie Davis, two figures who embodied Black excellence and whose lives were rooted in this community. Their legacy is a living reminder that our stories, our culture, and our contributions are central to the identity of  New Rochelle. And it matters that the Library carries that legacy forward.  

This is also about timing and responsibility. 

We know that the cost of borrowing does not stay the same—it rises. Acting now, while the city is in a strong financial position, is a more responsible way to invest in something we know we will need. Waiting only makes the work more expensive and the need more urgent.  

Investing in the revitalization of the Library is about honoring the past, meeting the needs of today, and preparing for the future.  

We have an opportunity now to care for something that has long cared for us. It is a moment to be informed, to be engaged, and to take part in shaping what comes next.  

Make a plan to vote on May 19. Be sure to turn over the ballot and vote YES. Because this is not just a building, it is the heart of our community, and its future is in our hands. Our Library. Our Future.  

– Lisa Burton is a long-time resident of New Rochelle.

Healthy Aging Workshop Brings White Plains Older Adults Together to Connect, Build Healthy Habits

AJ Woodson
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Healthy Aging Workshop Brings White Plains Older Adults Together to Connect, Build Healthy Habits

White Plains — Dozens of older adults attended a Healthy Aging Workshop at the Thomas H. Slater Community Center, located at 2 Fisher Ct., in White Plains, on Monday, April 27th.

The event, hosted by Healthfirst, a leading not-for-profit health insurer, gave senior citizens a chance to interact and learn useful strategies for promoting their physical and mental well-being, such as stress management, developing healthy habits, and recognizing when to seek medical attention. Jewel Williams Johnson, a Westchester County legislator and the chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators Health Committee, spoke about the importance of community ties and collaborations in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams-Johnson [Black Westchester]

“The Slater Center is a vital part of District 8, and the older adults who gather here play an important role in keeping our community connected and strong. I’m proud to support Healthfirst in delivering workshops like this to our residents, strengthening their mental health and overall well-being,” said Jewel Williams Johnson, Westchester County Legislator, 8th District

Nearly 50 Westchester older adults gathered at the Thomas H. Slater Community Center in White Plains, New York, on Monday, April 27, for a Healthy Aging Workshop presented by Healthfirst, a leading not-for-profit health insurer. Dr. Paul Amajor, Healthfirst Director of Strategic Health Initiatives, led a presentation on managing stress, building healthy habits, and knowing when to seek support from a healthcare provider.

As Older Adults Month and Mental Health Awareness Month approach in May, Healthfirst is supporting older adults across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley through community-based events that support healthy aging and mental well-being. Social isolation presents a higher risk for not only depression, but also physical health conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson’s remarks, Healthfirst Director of Strategic Health Initiatives Dr. Paul Amajor’s talk on healthy aging, and Thomas H. Slater Community Center Executive Director Heather Miller’s remarks were among the workshop’s highlights.

Attendees socializing at the Healthy Aging Workshop presented by Healthfirst, a leading not-for-profit health insurer, at the Thomas H. Slater Community Center in White Plains, New York on Monday, April 27. The workshop drew nearly 50 older adults and was one of Healthfirst’s community-based events across New York City, Long Island, Westchester and the Hudson Valley taking place in support of Older Adults Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.

As the workshop came to a close, one message rang clear: healthy aging is not something that happens in isolation—it is built through connection, access, and consistent community engagement. Events like this do more than provide information; they create spaces where older adults feel seen, heard, and supported. In a time when social isolation continues to pose serious risks, these gatherings serve as a powerful reminder that community-centered care can be just as vital as clinical care.

With Older Americans Month and Mental Health Awareness Month on the horizon, the momentum generated at the Slater Center underscores a broader call to action. Investing in programs that prioritize both physical and mental well-being is not just beneficial—it is necessary. As leaders like Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson, Healthfirst, and local community organizations continue to collaborate, they are not only improving health outcomes but also strengthening the fabric of Westchester County—ensuring that its older residents can age with dignity, purpose, and the support they deserve.

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