HW Pick: Brooklyn’s Best Honors And Domestic Violence Month

By Keith L. Forests

Brooklyn’s Best Honors (BBH) celebrated its first anniversary raising awareness and funding for a worth cause with a turn-up at Bedford Hall.

Hosted by New York City Councilman Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., the lively affair included music from singer/producer Darryl Copeland and a praise-dance performance by Queyanni Coleman. 

“It’s an honor to be here celebrating individuals who continue to do outstanding work in our community,” stated Councilman Cornegy who along with the Brooklyn Borough Presidents Office presented special citations to Civic Leader Tremaine Wright; Educator T.S. Hoard; and Dancer/Choreographer Dwana Smallwood.

Tremaine Wright, former owner of Common Grounds coffee house, received BBH Humanitarian Award. As the Chairperson of Community Board 3, Wright has spent the last 10 years improving the quality of life in her neighborhood. She’s an active member of Brooklyn’s Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.; served as a volunteer lawyer for the Volunteers of Legal Services’ Incarcerated Mother’s Project and is the founding member of the Brooklyn Alliance for Safer Streets.  “This is a great event and Brooklyn is a beautiful place to live and I am ready for to the next chapter of my life,” stated Wright, who recently announced her candidacy for the New York State Assembly.

BBH Education recipient T.S. Hoard is the principal of Excellence Boys Charter School of Bedford-Stuyvesant Middle Academy. It is one of New York City’s highest performing charter schools in the Uncommon School’s network. A humble servant leader, Hoard thanked his beautiful, expecting wife and many others including Young Life youth ministry whom Hoard credit for teaching him that his “greatest mission is to introduce adolescents to Christ by reflecting (Christ).” Under Hoard’s leadership, Excellence Boys Charter School is driven to cultivate in its young men the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to succeed academically, embrace responsibility, and become honorable citizens and courageous leaders.

Dwana Smallwood, BBH Cultural Arts recipient, once referencing dance as her oxygen.  As the principal dancer for Alvin Ailey, Smallwood’s talent afforded her the opportunity to travel the world and breath life into Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa where she was the creative architect for its dance school. However, it was her passion for serving others that brought her back home. “Giving back is what I’m suppose to do,” stated Smallwood who in 2014 opened the Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center in Bedford-Stuyvesant. “I’m truly grateful for those who are shedding light on what I attend to do,” Smallwood shared. “I ask that you get ready for what I’m about to do.”

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, all proceeds from Brooklyn Best Honors are going to Safe Horizon’s Jane Barker Brooklyn Child Advocacy Center. The agency provides an essential community response to New York City’s most vulnerable victims of violence and abuse by giving child victims the foundation they need to move from crisis to confidence. Brooklyn’s Best Honors is an Urban ID Media production, a Brooklyn-based media and event marketing agency. The quarterly receptions capture the wealth and diversity that profoundly exists in the County of Kings. Each affair is held at an exclusive Brooklyn-based venue where honorees and tastemakers converge for an authentic Brooklyn experience.

Photo credit (left to right): 1) NYC Councilman Robert E. Cornegy, Jr.; Educator T.S. Hoard; Dancer/Choreographer Dwana Smallwood; Civic Leader Tremaine wright and Brooklyn’s Best Honors creator Keith L. Forest. Pix 2:  BBH Humanitarian Tremaine Wright thanks the family, friends and attendees. Pix 3: BBH Educator Principal T.S. Hoard acceptance speech. Pix 4 BBH Cultural Arts recipient Dwana Smallwood. Pix 5 Praise Dancer Queyanni Coleman. Pix 6 brothers of ICB congratulate member TS Hoard: left to right – Lloyd J. Cambridge; Keith Turner; Ivor Job; Elliott Stephen; Honoree T.S. Hoard; Keith L. Forest; Ezra Brathwaite; Mackendy Louis; and Pervis Taylor, III.