16 Aug Commissioner Jean Monestime Receives Guardian Angel Award
Miami- Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime, District 2, recently received the Guardian Angel Award from the Gwen Cherry Park Foundation. Elaine Black, a member of Gwen Cherry Park Foundation Board of Directors presented the plaque to the commissioner during the Community Festival at Gwen Cherry Park. Also present was another board member, Erica Wright. The event was held at the NFL Youth Education Town (YET) Center, located at the park.
Ms. Black stated in her presentation, “We’re so fortunate to have a wonderful facility in Liberty City. Commissioner Jean Monestime is our Guardian Angel who helps make our goals a reality. Thank you so much for all that you do to ensure that Gwen Cherry Park is all it can be,” she continued.
In response, Commissioner Monestime thanked Elaine Black and addressed the audience. ” I am truly honored and humbled to receive this award from the Gwen Cherry Park Foundation.” he said. ” I believe that the best way to build a strong community is by investing in our children and providing them with tools they need to reach their full potential.”
The event included a drawing of approximately ten door prizes, and the winners each received four tickets to a Marlins game, according to Melanie Burke, a representative of Commissioner Monestime’s office.
The commissioner’s office and Urban Strategies in partnership with three entities, McCormick Barron, Salazar, and McCormick Barron Reagan, sponsored the activity. Rachel Walker, Executive Director of Urban Strategies stated that they co-partnered with Commissioner Monestime “to secure book bags and school supplies to make this event a success. We were able to get a total of 570 book bags and school supplies donated this year.
In a gymnasium overflowing with hundreds of parents and children, the book bag distribution was extremely orderly. Parents were given tickets of various colors, and after their color was called, they waited quietly with their families until reaching the front of the line. Volunteers stood at long tables lined across the front of the gym to pass out the book bags in an array of colors.
Nikki Lemons, mother of five children, ages 6, 7, 10, 17, and 18 years old, said “There’s a lot of families without that couldn’t afford for the whole family, so I think it’s a good thing.” Her sentiments were echoed by Bernise Riche, mother of four boys, ages 5, 6, 10, and 13. ‘I think it’s a great idea …to help the less fortunate families who can’t provide for their children.”
Urban Strategies also sponsored food and snow cones for the festival.
Written by Darlene Gay