For Black History Month, Maimonides Medical Center held a celebration on February 8, which focused on women who have made their mark and featured employees from the institution for the very first time.
Following a choir performance from St. Mark’s Day School, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known to many as the Black American National Anthem, was sung by the Finance Department’s Kelly LeKule.
Reverend Eddie Alleyne was also in attendance, and said it was an honor to be there before invoking a prayer.
Staff represented women influential in civil rights, politics, literature, athletics and science. In total, the presentation honored seven members of the black community from the ’40s to the present day including astronaut Mae Jemison and poet Maya Angelou, as well as trailblazers such as Rosa Parks and Shirley Chisholm.
Maimonides CEO Kenneth Gibbs was unable to attend, but in a speech read by COO Dominick Stanzione commended Black History Month as “a movement to recognize the impact” of people in the community.
The ceremony ended with musical performances by N’Kenge and Natalie Renee accompanied by Sean Spada. Covers included a jazz rendition of “God Bless the Child” and “Minstrel Man.”
Other songs included ones by Whitney Houston and Nina Simone, along with speeches in which both the soloists spoke to the girls from St. Mark’s Day School present at the event.