westchester

Joining Jonathan Gordon is
Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins. Ken has played a critical role
in helping to prioritize the needs of marginalized communities in the county
and previously served as the president of the Yonkers NAACP. 

Also, speaking with AJ
Woodson, the editor-in-chief of Black Westchester to discuss his new book
celebrating Black women of Westchester.

Across the nation and at News 12, we are celebrating Black History Month. It's a time dedicated to honor African American achievements and to recognize the adversity and struggles people of color have faced along the way.

Westchester

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HVFORECAST

Rain drops today. Meteorologist Matt Hammer filling us in on that forecast. Yeah, just a couple of light showers really around after one o'clock this afternoon through about six or seven this evening. So that's where we start off with on the futurecast. Really nice morning this morning, chilly temperatures will get up into the upper forties to near 50 though into the afternoon under mostly cloudy skies by late morning and early afternoon today. So the spotty light areas of green arrive after one o'clock this afternoon, steadier rain will be missing us to the north and west. But you will have the need the at times during the afternoon and early evening with just these occasional light spotty showers. The best chance for Westchester and Rockland to see these showers is actually after four o'clock and through about six o'clock or so this evening, then after seven this evening, completely dry, mostly cloudy. There just can be a little bit of some fog development overnight into early tomorrow. I do expect to see some breaks of sunshine tomorrow, but clouds certainly should win out throughout the day. Highs will jump well into the fifties briefly into the early afternoon. And I just want to extend this out into Sunday because there are some changes for Sunday, not necessarily looking at flooding or anything like that just yet. But after a dry, early morning on Sunday, we will likely have a round of steadier rain moving in for the afternoon and for the evening hours on Sunday, drying out in time for the morning commute on Monday. So we just want to keep an eye on that for you as we go throughout the weekend today. Kind of an eye all day. It starts off great, but it ends up being a little bit unsettled with a few of those spotty afternoon and early evening rain showers before just drier, mostly cloudy conditions kind of remain for the overnight with some patchy fog. So just pay attention to visibility overnight, you might have to slow down a little bit into very early tomorrow morning for some areas of scattered fog highs tomorrow. Well into the fifties, a stray Sprinkle possible in the afternoon and evening, but most of the day, dry clouds and little hints of sunshine tomorrow is easily the better half of the weekend before that chance that steadier afternoon, evening rain on Sunday, most of next week looks dry at this point, but turning colder by Tuesday with highs in the lower forties, it looks like we'll stay in the forties from Tuesday and through next weekend just could be some more wet weather by next Friday.

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Weather

Hudson Valley

HV | Weather

212WCPowerandPolitics_2023-02-12-13-19-14

Power & Politics Full Show: Celebrating Black History Month – Q&A with Ken Jenkins and AJ Woodson

Thanks for joining me. I'm Jonathan Gordon and you're watching power in Politics on News 12. This february across the nation and here at News 12. We are celebrating Black history Month. The time to dedicate and honor african american achievements to recognize the adversity and struggles that people of color have faced along the way. And joining me first today is Westchester Deputy county executive ken Jenkins, Kenneth played a critical role in keeping and helping to prioritize the needs of marginalized communities in the county and previously served as the president of the Yonkers N. W. C. P ken. Thank you so much for coming on today. Thanks for having me and happy to be here. I want to start here. Tell us a little bit about how Westchester is recognizing black history month. Well, I mean Westchester certainly is recognizing Black history month and understanding um at that black history is american history. We we started off the month with the reception, the county executive at a reception for um are african american advisory board um in various organizations and members of the community um to recognize and celebrate and and that was the kick off and then we'll tie in at the end of the month um with the black history in in our trailblazers ceremony. It'll be the 23rd annual Trail Blazers ceremony which will be preserving our legacy. Um It's gonna recognize two outstanding Westchester residents for their contributions um to Westchester County pacific engagement with the vernon E. Jordan Jr award C Douglas Dickson. Most folks know him just as Doug Dixon um who's an attorney does great work and secondly, um great person um as far as economic development with the Madam C. J. Walker Award um dr Valerie mason Cunningham who is um the chair the board over at volunteer of new york and has just done an outstanding job of all of the work from our economic upside from our business side um then continuing with our volunteer activities. So we we have those items going on and we're going to continue to do um so many things talking about the investments that we made in in different um components of black maternal health care and and working so hard together to recognize um black history um here in Westchester County, certainly with the african American Trail way um that we have and and continue to highlight all of those things. So um Jonathan is just a bunch of things that we're doing here in Westchester County um to continue to celebrate Black History month, you mentioned a lot of things there and we're gonna get to some of the specifics, but tell us a little about the work that the county's african american advisory board is doing well. The colleagues, african american advisory board led by Barbara Edwards has done so many different items and um they have a blueprint for change where um that needs to get updated um that that gives us a baseline of improving the conditions, both economically within housing within social justice items for african americans in in Westchester County. Um and they have the pillars that they continue to work and walk on um where they make recommendations not only to the county executive, but also to the county board of legislators. Um and and they are very focused on on those activities helping in education and how we can tie things together um making sure that the, the african american experience in the diaspora here in Westchester County has their voices heard and and they do a tremendous job. You also mentioned that the county just launched a black maternal child health initiative, what is the goal there? Well, the goal of this and this is really uh an effort that's been led by a good friend of all of our Cheryl Brandon, who is the head of Sister to Sister International. Um and she's been doing this work for 20 plus years, maybe close to 30 years of doing the work and doing an investigative um and um study that have been funded by the county to help improve outcomes for black motor health. And with many people realize now and in partnering with the million dollars that um that chuck schumer had moved forward with and let us know about and had invested in with ST john's riverside hospital um with birth to Earth with all the folks that are engaged in community partners um to improve the health care outcomes, um having women be able to explain to their physicians and support staff how to, to get the care that they need and quite honestly, they just have a better outcome um, for for black maternal health. I mean, the black maternal mortality rate is horrific when we really see it and it's not income based. Um it really has nothing to do with with income, It doesn't matter whether someone um needs um supportive services and social services or their um well educated and have well off to be able to have the medical care that they need. There's just too many stories of people that we've heard that have passed away um with with without having the kind of care that's necessary. So this particular effort, um we're, we're proud to be able to join with and partner with Senator Schumer with Sister Sister International. And there's been a lot of work done to make sure the funding goes to these various agencies that are providing the services and supportive services that are necessary to improve just black maternal health and the outcome, making sure that healthy babies are getting moving forward. But mothers are able to survive the birthing process, which again in 2023 it is horrific to think that we even have this particular issue, but it's really important that the Partnership with Sister to Sister International with all of the, the nonprofit partners and ST john's riverside hospital is moving forward and I think it's gonna be a great, great opportunity to improve those outcomes by working together. You know, the county just recently passed its budget for the year. Talk to me about what in there stands out to you as directly helping communities of color. Well, you know, something um the the county budget has so many different items in it that are great for all Westchester residents, but when we talk about things that may be more specific to to the black community, um again, these are universal things and there's no one that doesn't want to see their taxes reduced and for the fourth year in a row, Westchester County on the county executive Letterman and our team's leadership being able to do that with the board of legislators, but specific, We had um, you know, childcare support. I mean, we went from when we walked in the door in 2018 with a childcare contribution from families at 28%, um and now that childcare contribution is 5%. Um and that's, that's money for everyone across the board for working families to make sure that people can go out to work and support their families and invest in the communities um and know that there's going to be quality and affordable child care. The partnership that we have developed over the years um through covid and again because of the leadership of account executive Lattimore being able to start and have those conversations with our boards of educations and seeing how best to support them For many years, the county has supported um education, not directly and continues through that mental health crisis um centers so that we have through our community and early step forward program um where we invest um through the school districts of mental health to have conflict resolution and other alternatives. We have continued investments in our youth bureau um with Dr Damien Mander, Amanda Harris. Um that's done just a um a tremendous job of making sure to connect throughout the communities and providing different opportunities for conflict resolution um educational opportunities for folks to uplift themselves. And we continue to do so many different things on the House in front. We have record amount of money that we have put into um housing, um $90 million $2.34 billion dollar budget, that is our Westchester County budget. Just a little more than a minute here, you know, african americans have made a lot of political strides in Westchester across new york state and Congress. How important is it to have a more diverse perspective when it comes to decision making and having all voices being heard at the table. Well, it's important that all the voices are heard and and everyone has different experiences of things that have happened. Um We heard President biden speak about the talk that that many folks of color black and brown families have with their Children in dealing with with with with law enforcement. Um I mean I was very fortunate my dad was a law enforcement officer but everyone doesn't have that experience and having um those voices of leadership and understanding when you talk about different kinds of households and being single parent households. And we have experienced and people that are elected that can help create and create programs, fund programs, um create laws to do that. That's why it's so important. That's why the leadership. Um um you know, Andrea Stewart cousins, Deputy county Executive. We're gonna have to hop to a break but thank you so much for joining me. We're gonna be speaking with the Editor in chief of Black Westchester AJ Woodson on his new book. When we come back, welcome back to Power and Politics joining me now is the Editor in Chief of Black Westchester AJ Woodson, who is also releasing his second book, Black Westchester celebrates black women of Westchester AJ Thanks so much for joining me. Thank you. Thank you. Why don't you start by telling us what this book is about. Well, I wanted to I wanted to definitely do something for black history month and the pages and the website Black Westchester, we've covered a lot of the history as it's going along and I wanted to put all of this in the book. So the book is actually in four parts part one. My mother always said give me my flowers while I'm alive. So it's like all of the women and um over the last 8 to 10 years we've been doing Black Westchester Sean Patterson Howard, the first black female mayor, Malverne, Vivian McKenzie, the first black female mayor in peekskill. Um Tayshaun nelson, the first female board of election. Um Commissioner and someone Andrew Stewart cousins. The first african american female um Senate majority leader on and on and on. So that's that's part one, part two. Uh those who made history, those who paved the way. Um Pearl Quarles Lois braun, doctor Olivia hooker on and on and on. Part three are women of distinction. They may not have been the first at anything, but they were women that deserve to be celebrated. Sandra Blackwell from the um Westchester County Press, there's a big tribute to ruby dee. Um and then part four is actually a timeline in black women history and we Westchester going back to 18 28. Um Sojourner truth was a resident of brian cliff manners. She was the first african american to sue a white person to win um Madam C. J walker and and it goes all black history as a timeline all the way up to january this year. And um the last part is just uh women of influence and the women who influenced them. So women like Andrea Stewart cousins and ruth Hassell Thompson um are all talking about the women who influenced them and its trying to package it all up in one book celebrating black women um of Westchester. Um you know it it had to pull from multiple, many, many different I have um what's her name? I think Yolanda Robinson I believe was the first african american female um reporters slash anchor of news 12. She's in the book. Um So so yeah so I dug and I tried to cram as much as possible. Hopefully it'll be a great reference tool. It will be pulled out every year february for black history month. Um March for women's history month and hopefully it will get into the schools and the colleges and the local libraries etcetera etcetera. So that was what I did. And tell me what was the inspiration behind writing this, this sort of book. I actually was just doing a black history book um with a lot of the stuff I had on for men and women. And as I was going to do some research, it was harder to find the achievement of women the further back you go, it was easier to find the achievement of african american men. So that made me want to pull hard and and then black women have accomplished so much and more and more and more of this expression black girl magic. So I wanted to dig harder and I wanted that to be the first book and I wanted to celebrate all the black women. I do, I must say this is not the definitive collection of the entire history of black women in Westchester. I did try to cram as many as possible, There will probably be a need to do a part two and part three to this. Um but because there are a lot of people asking why is this one not in it, why that was not, but I tried to get as much in as possible and hopefully everyone will walk away um saying oh I didn't know that or I didn't know that, I didn't want to just do the women that everyone knew, I wanted to do a lot that you know, do not get celebrated too in all of this research and all of the publication of the book, who stood out to you or what achievement stood out maybe above the rest, wow, that's a very good question. Um I learned a lot, let me just say that I learned a lot that I did not know, you know the first black female police woman. Um she was from Yonkers. You know, there was there was so many different things. Um I highlighted, I also highlighted a young lady who just graduated Mount vernon Steam Academy last year, she got um full ride scholarships with all the Ivy League schools and she accepted Harvard and she's the first black female in the district of Malvern in to have a full ride to Harvard to have to Harvard. Yeah, so I wanted to celebrate her as well as the big name elected officials. You know, she's the future of black girl magic. So you know, I want to do that as well and so AJ tell people where they can get. This book of the book is available on amazon as well as the first book black questions of the origin story or they can also contact me and get it directly from me, get an autographed copy directly from me. Um I'm really excited about this book and I hope everybody learned something. Thank you. We're gonna take a look at some of the other black history month stories that are reporters at news 12 have been sharing when we come back, Welcome back to power and politics. Family and Unity are two of the values at the center of this month celebrations and they're also some of the core tenants of a Hudson Valley dance company that's keeping history alive for so many are veronica jean seltzer explains, ma'am soon you can't help it. The ground shakes and so does your heart. This is not just dense, it's our life, it's our culture, it's our history, Anthony wooden founded Candy African dance theater in 1990 for we strive to enlighten our audience with the rich and colorful history of West Africa. Some of these performers started as kids. It's a passion. I love it. I grew up in it. I've heard it while in the womb now they're teaching. It's a reminder of who I am. It's a reminder of my ancestors proud. Nothing else can explain it. It's a great feeling the company performs at cultural and educational events across the tri state area, but they're based here at the Yonkers Y W. C. A. They're even teaching me a little but I know I need some work book and comes from the language used in West Africa. It roughly means family United as one from the same mother. The members say though they come from different backgrounds, they truly believe they're one family United by Mother Africa, veronica jean Seltzer who's 12. Thanks so much for sharing that story with us VJ. And in Northern Westchester an award winning exhibit is teaching the Austin community about local black history. Are Samantha Crawford takes us there. Welcome to Madam C. J. As soon as you walk into Bethany Arts community, you're immersed in Westchester's black history. Thank you so much for coming face to face with legends like Madam C. J. Walker, the first self made female millionaire in the US. It's good for your hair. The exhibit takes you back in time starting in 1908 from the north. You're gonna be able to vote, you're gonna vote Republican. But if you're from the south, you're gonna take a literacy test and you're gonna take 30 seconds to answer 64 questions, which you will not be able to do and that's what I'm doing to you is teaching you how voter suppression worked in the south. Visitors can see what a black child's bedroom look like in the eighties filled with toys that didn't look like them. I had a lot of barbie dolls and I never saw any dolls that represented the black community or any other ethnic background at all. This is amazing how it's evolved with. Now. We have toys of all ethnic backgrounds that Children can relate to and aren't on display celebrates the now more widely accepted beauty of black Natural hair. I've watched each generation, I've gone through changes, you know, my hair like it is now in an afro would not have been acceptable in my family's mindset and there is so much local history to learn here this entire month in Austin ng Samantha Crawford News 12 Great Story Samantha and for more ways to support black owned businesses this month. Head to News 12 dot com. We have a full list to help you find shops to support all throughout black history month. Once again, I'm Jonathan. Gordon and this is power and politics on news 12 where local matters more weather and your hyperlocal headlines are coming up after the break

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