{"id":1148,"date":"2022-12-23T04:19:01","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T04:19:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brownsvillenews.org\/success-brooklyn-borough-president-antonio-reynoso-addresses-brownsville-shines-tree-lighting-giveaway\/"},"modified":"2022-12-23T04:19:01","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T04:19:01","slug":"success-brooklyn-borough-president-antonio-reynoso-addresses-brownsville-shines-tree-lighting-giveaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brownsvillenews.org\/?p=1148","title":{"rendered":"SUCCESS!!! BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT – ANTONIO REYNOSO ADDRESSES “BROWNSVILLE SHINES” – TREE LIGHTING & GIVEAWAY"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Nathifa King | Edited by Kayla Swindell<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Video Credit: Jamal “Mystery” Brooks\u00a0 \u00a0Photo Credits: Jamal “Mystery” Brooks | Kayla Swindell\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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The hustle and bustle of bodies preparing for the evening\u2019s event was met with early appearances of community folk wanting to get an early start before the event. The atmosphere radiated with eagerness and excitement and as the crowd intensified, making sure that everything was set for the evening at hand, ignited anticipated feelings of hope by the Brownsville Shines team and their volunteers. This was the very reason for the event.<\/p>\n

As\u00a0Brooklyn Borough President, Antonio Reynoso <\/strong>concludes his first year in office, his commitment in making physical appearances throughout the neighborhoods of Brooklyn stands.\u00a0 One of his stops was at\u00a0Exousia Cathedral’s \u00a0<\/strong>(<\/em>located on 693 Ralph Avenue between Sutter Avenue & East New York Avenues) \u201cBrownsville Shines\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Christmas tree lighting event,\u00a0on December 9, 2022.\u00a0 He addressed the crowd of underserved community members in\u00a0a traditional soapbox style presentation with the festive backdrop behind him.\u00a0 Accompanying him were\u00a0Missionary Bishop \u2013 Dr. Lester Bradford<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Executive Director of HealthJox Foundation, Inc. \u2013 Dewry DuRoi Bradford.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0BP Reynoso gave encouraging words to the onlookers.\u00a0 \u00a0He stated,\u00a0“And we all know that the way that we are going to be able to make it passed this and to move onto the future in a positive way, is gonna be working together and taking care of each other… cause if we can’t take care of each other, no one is going to take care of us.”\u00a0\u00a0After going through a brief explanation of how Brooklynites can work together, he ended his speech with a quote from one of the greatest poets to ever touch the borough of Brooklyn \u2013 the\u00a0Notorious B.I.G<\/strong><\/em>:\u00a0\u201cRemember to spread love, it\u2019s the Brooklyn way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next up, gracing the stage, was international mezzo-soprano opera signer\u00a0Lucia<\/i> Bradford,\u00a0<\/i><\/strong>who ran with the\u00a0vision of Bishop Bradford and officially\u00a0became the launcher of\u00a0\u201cBrownsville Shines\u201d<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0ten years ago. With her leading, singing group Tehillah Zamar sang traditional Christmas carols and the voices of men, women and children alike joined in from the crowd. The caroling ignited \u00a0reminiscing feelings \u00a0of favorite childhood holiday tunes as hot chocolate and festive treats were also passed around. \u00a0Guest performances by guitar artist\u00a0Anaiah Williams<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and singers\u00a0Kim Harley<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Aisha Williams<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0ensued, which kept the musical momentum going. There truly were feelings of Christmas cheer in the air, as those in need anticipated the presents and giveaways that were prepared for them.<\/p>\n

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Compilation of “Brownsville Shines” tree lighting and giveaway.<\/p><\/div>\n

The order of the evening was structured where community members lined up and entered the lower auditorium of the church building, five families at a time. This year, 2022 was\u00a0 different from previous years.\u00a0 With the partnering of\u00a0HealthJox Foundation, Inc.<\/strong><\/em>, Brownsville Shines<\/em>\u00a0was able to provide more toys, coats and household items for all ages with the tremendous amount of donations received. \u00a0Toys for Tots, Uncle Chase Foundation<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and countless others donated items in abundance.\u00a0 Lead by the tree lighting\u00a0President – Taniesha Bradford<\/strong><\/em>,\u00a0donors were encouraged to drop off, mail and setup for pick-up: new\/gently used coats & clothing; new\/gently used sneakers & footwear; new toys.\u00a0 Families from nearby shelters were invited to come and receive containers of cooked food and traditional holiday beverages complete with a smile and a hug.\u00a0\u00a0Additional donations were collected from\u00a0Fenix Community Fridge,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>who donated canned and dry goods for the event.\u00a0\u00a0Pastor Denese Hall’s<\/strong><\/em> nonprofit – Clothed with Love<\/strong><\/em>, provided book bags and coats.\u00a0\u00a0Nathasha Adams<\/strong><\/em> and daughter – Fadee Model<\/strong> <\/em>gathered much needed coats from friends and family members.\u00a0\u00a0Claudia Lyons<\/strong> <\/em>and her company – Keep This Link,<\/strong><\/em> and Leolene Hinds Ministries<\/strong>\u00a0also\u00a0<\/em>provided coats and apparel as well. \u00a0Community Leader – \u00a0<\/strong>Johnnymae Robinson \u00a0<\/strong><\/em>and her team assisted with allocating coats and apparel to families at the event.\u00a0This was a great example of \u00a0unified, community driven leaders and passionate individuals coming together for the greater good of the community.\u00a0Sosa Rincom (T.O.P Marketing Group)\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>provide free android phones and ten dollar tablets with unlimited talk\/text\/data for qualified attendees.\u00a0Movie celebrity, philanthropist, and humanitarian – Sergio “Gio” Delavicci <\/strong><\/em>also showed up to express his heart for community by participating in distributing donations while getting up-close and personal with community folk.<\/p>\n

The closing of the event was conducted by Missionary Bishop – Dr. Lester Bradford, where he addressed the crowd by encouraging them to be a \u201cLight<\/em>\u201d in the community.\u00a0 During his riveting speech, he delved into the history of Brownsville, Brooklyn.\u00a0 He expressed empathy for the pain that community members have been experiencing throughout the years; mentioning that this is the reason for Brownsville Shines.\u00a0 He presented the fact (after extensive research) that Brownsville was occupied by the Dutch when it was just farm land in the 1800’s and its steeped history of crime ever since the 1900’s. As time went on, he also outlined that there were major contract murders sweeping this part of Brooklyn in the 1930’s. This labeled Brownsville as “Murder Incorporated<\/em>“.\u00a0 Crime continued as the Black & Brown Americans began moving in with little governmental support.\u00a0 This totally exacerbated the poverty and crime in the community.\u00a0 \u00a0Bishop Bradford made it clear, in his words,\u00a0“Brownsville will not be a permanent ghetto<\/em>.”\u00a0He said a powerful prayer for the community and all its members and finally ended with a declaration, “Brownsville is going to rise and come out of the darkness into the marvelous light of Christ. Brownsville will prosper… Brownsville will shine!<\/em>”\u00a0 His last statement was more of a shout and a command… “PUT ON THE LIGHTS!<\/em>”\u00a0 And with that, the Christmas tree illuminated with its bright star crowned atop the tree.<\/p>\n

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Missionary Bishop – Dr. Lester Bradford conducts the tree lighting ceremony during “Brownsville Shines”. (Photo Credit: Kayla Swindell)<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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“Brownsville Shines” <\/em>truly was an\u00a0epic event that captured the hearts of everyone that showed up. This community outreach event was nothing short of \u201cAmazing<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cMission Accomplished\u201d are the words being expressed by the leadership team which includes the tenacious leadership of Exousia Cathedral: Pastor Janette Bradford, Pastor Derrick Swindell, Pastor Kayla Swindell, Pastor Constance Wright<\/em> <\/strong>and\u00a0 Pastor Andrae Bradford.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Video Recap of “Brownsville Shines”:<\/strong><\/p>\n