In recognition of Women’s History Month, Mayor Byron W. Brown honored Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, as well as Broadcast Host, Author, Photographer and Award-winning Producer Jackie Albarella and the Radical Women’s Night Out Committee, during the Women’s History Month program in the lobby of Buffalo City Hall.
“Today we get a chance to honor remarkable women who have helped shape our City’s history and its future,” said Mayor Brown, who also paused to thank the many women in his administration, who have persisted in their professional and personal lives, never giving up as they work on behalf of the people of the City of Buffalo. “Please join me in recognizing Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, who continues to fight and bring positive change to the lives of women in Buffalo and in cities across New York. She has been a life-long advocate for women and families across the state, fighting for equal rights and opportunity for success. Our other honorees, including Jackie Albarella and the Radical Women’s Night Out Committee, also deserve our appreciation for their unrelenting tenacity and courage to achieve their goals.”
“Women belong in all places where decisions are made, and I thank Mayor Brown for recognizing me and today’s other honorees for the work we continue to do that supports, inspires, and motivates women and girls to succeed,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “New York is the birthplace of Women’s rights, and that confers on us a special responsibility. That is our story, and we must celebrate, embrace, and inspire the next generation of women leaders.”
Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in 1987, creating a special opportunity in work places and in communities to recognize and celebrate the achievements of American women. Each year, there is a national theme. This year’s theme was Nevertheless, She Persisted: Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In Buffalo, Mayor Brown recognized two remarkable women and members of one outstanding organization whose lives exemplified that theme.
Today’s honorees included:
New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul
New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was elected in 2014. Prior to her role as a statewide official, she was elected at both the Federal and local level – she was a Member of Congress in New York’s 26th Congressional District, served as Erie County Clerk, and began her career in public office on her local town board.
The Lieutenant Governor chairs Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils, which have reinvented economic development by empowering local leaders in business and academia. This strategy has brought more jobs than ever before to New York State.
As the highest-ranking female elected official in New York State, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul is committed to inspiring a new generation of women to enter public service or aspire to leadership within their chosen field through the #NYWomenLead initiative. The Lieutenant Governor spearheads the administration’s key efforts to advance equality, championing campaigns for fair wages, paid family leave, Enough is Enough to combat sexual assault on college campuses, and eliminating the wage gap. In 2016, she was elected chair of New York State’s Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission.
The Lieutenant Governor is dedicated to her role as the Governor’s eyes and ears on the ground. She makes a point of traveling to all 62 counties every year she’s in office, traveling enough miles to circle the globe over 4 times.
TV Host/Author/Producer Jackie Albarella
Jackie Albarella has spent 30 years producing innovative and award winning content across a broad range of media. Her documentaries on subjects such as Homeless Women & Children, and the Restoration of the Hotel Lafayette, have been broadcast on a variety of networks including ABC and USA Networks.
Albarella is an accomplished photographer and has had her work displayed in galleries throughout New York. Currently, she teaches Digital Media at Harkness Career & Technical Center in Buffalo, NY, helping to prepare the next generation of Media Professionals. Albarella’s industry awards include: The New York State Broadcasters Award for television, national Telley Awards, Professional Communicators Award, and the National Garden Writers Association Production Awards.
At the end of this year, a coffee table book entitled “Women in the City of Good Neighbors,” will feature unsung women- who would never be in the spotlight or receive any sort of recognition for all the good work they quietly are doing in the community. The book is being put together by Jackie Albarella and Heidi Raphael, and is being underwritten by Ken Manning’s stepson’s foundation Suneel’s Light. Heidi and Jackie have put together a small committee of five successful women to help them identify women for consideration for the book. The committee, so far, consists of Educator/Author Dr. Mary Ellen Mulvey, Sheila Brown, CEO of Vision Multi-Media and owner of WUFO 1080 AM/POWER 96.5 FM, Say Yes to Education Senior Vice President of Chapter Programming Dr. Ellen E. Grant, and City of Buffalo's first Chief Diversity Officer Crystal J. Rodriguez. All of the women that will be selected for this coffee table book will be from Buffalo, NY and have made a lasting impact on this city.
The Radical Women’s Night Out Committee
The Radical Women’s Night Out Committee is celebrating “We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965-1985.” This timely exhibition explores more deeply the powerful role art can play in creating change with artist Julia Bottoms, writer and disability activist Keah Brown, and artist and educator Chanel Thervil, moderated by Albright-Knox Chief Curator Dr. Cathleen Chaffee. A second Radical Women’s Night Out will take place on Thursday, April 19th from 6-8pm.
Committee members are: Michele Agosto, Divitta Alexander, Tamara Alsace, LaVonne Ansari, Felicia Beard, Michelle Brown, Donna Brown, Sheila Brown, Valeria Cray, Karen Stanley Fleming, Karla Gadley, Alice Jacobs, Glendora Johnson-Cooper, Eunice Lewin, Brandye Merriweather, Daun Nicholas, Jennifer Parker, Rhonda Ricks, Trini Ross, Sundra Ryce, Rose Sconiers, Sonja Sirén, Toni Vazquez, and Sandy White.