It was an evening of pride and smiles as the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (BCC) held its annual Black History Month Celebration on February 27 at the Skylight Gallery Skylight Gallery in the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza.
Each year at this cocktail reception, the chamber pays tribute to African Americans who have made significant contributions to their community. This year’s event honored Councilmember Jumaane Williams and Kenneth Marable of AXA Advisors. They both received the Chamber award.
Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the chamber as well as a lifelong Brooklynite, expressed the significance of the event. “We chose two great Brooklyn leaders this year and we were thrilled to have them there that night,” he said.
Williams represents Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Midwood and Canarsie in the City Council. He is co-chair of the Gun Violence Task Force, co-vice chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus and a founding member of the Council’s Progressive Caucus.
Marable is a financial advisor at AXA who has spent more than 20 years involved in the financial services industry. He helps clients with their financial positioning. He graduated from Dartmouth College. Marable also received his Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow designation.
The event was punctuated by entertainment “We had great food as well as wonderful performances by Ifetayo (Cultural Academy),” said Scissura. Ifetayo was formed in 1989 and is an arts and cultural organization dedicated in the development of youth and families of African descent.
“We also had Chamber board members, as well as elected officials on hand,” added Scissura who stated this was the third year the BCC has held its Black History Month Celebration.
“The night was to celebrate the contribution of the African Americans and Caribbean Americas participation,” he said. “I think it was a wonderful opportunity for the Chamber members to come together and honor these two amazing guys.”