Grads and Alumni of The Legendary St. Pascal Baylon School Are Ready To Rock A Reunion

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St. Pascal Baylon Grads Are Celebrating With
A Highly Anticipated Reunion 

Are You A Graduate Of The Legendary St. Pascal Baylon School?

Attend The Upcoming Reunion Events And Celebrate Good Memories

Checkout Our Exclusive Interview With
St. Pascal Baylon Reunion Committee Member Earl Roberts

Kamau Austin, Publisher SE Scoop (Left) Earl Roberts, St. Pascal Baylon Reunion Committee (Right)

Kamau: Can you tell us a little about your background and life growing up in Southeast Queens?

Earl's Answer: I am a lifelong resident of Jamaica, Queens, NY, and I was raised as a catholic. I started grade school at St. Monica's which is now York College.

We moved to Cambria Heights, and my life changed being the only African American family in that Caucasian neighborhood. My sister and I integrated Sacred Heart elementary school, which was one hundred percent (100%) white population.

We often hear about Rosedale, and the racial strife but Cambria Heights, was worst and occurred a decade before Rosedale. I graduated from Sacred Heart in 1969 and went to St. Pascal Baylon High School.

It was the closest Catholic high school in the area and attracted most of the Catholics from all areas of Jamaica, Queens, and every other elementary school which did not have a high school.

Kamau:  What years did you attend St. Pascal Baylon?

Earl's Answer: I attended St. Pascal's from 1969 to 1971 and then I transferred and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. I knew many people from all over Queens, and was happy at St. Pascal's because everyone got along with one another -  which was quite different from elementary school.

The reunion will also be a 50th year anniversary for the class of 1973 of which I am a part. I am glad that many of us are still on this earth in good health and happy.

Alumni of St. Pascal Baylon in a past Reunion

NYC Looks To Help Small Business With The NYC Opportunity Fund

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The NYC Opportunity Fund Offers $75 Million Dollars For Qualifying Businesses

Did you hear the news about our Small Business Opportunity Fund?

Together with @nycsmallbiz, @goldmansachs, @mastercard and @crfusa, we have created the largest public-private loan fund in our city's history that will be directed at small businesses in #newyorkcity.

It will offer $75 million to businesses with no application fees or credit checks. This is just our latest effort to ensure our small businesses thrive.

Site to visit: https://sbsopportunityfund.nyc/

Do You Know Why You Should Celebrate February 1st As National Freedom Day?

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Passionate Advocate From Diverse American Family Helps Revive National Freedom Day Within Divisive US Political Climate

The Beautiful Garner/Chappelear/Lawson/Deane/Benitez Family Has A Rich Freedom Legacy

By Kamau Austin

A national advocate for equality and inclusion Venita Benitez, an Afro-Latino woman, is working passionately to help revive a day of liberation, healing, and American harmony: National Freedom Day.  National Freedom Day, was proclaimed to be celebrated annually February, 1, eventually jumpstarting Black History Month.

Moreover, National Freedom Day, also commemorates President Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, and subsequent passing in Congress of the 13th Amendment.  The National Freedom Day proclamation by Harry S. Truman states the following "National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later was ratified as the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 

President Lincoln signed the Amendment abolishing slavery on February 1, 1865, although it was not ratified by the states until later."  February 1st, was later to become Black History Day, then eventually, driven by historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson - Black History Month.

Venita Benitez, an equality advocate and diversity professional with Afro-Latino roots, that also ironically derives from the British Monarchy, is looking to continue to help bring awareness to National Freedom Day.  Benitez is looking to bring the little known, but official national holiday proclamation of National Freedom Day, by President Harry S. Truman, into the mainstream.

This will be a challenging goal given the divisive present political climate in the US, and actually the world.  Our country beyond just the present ongoing culture wars confrontations, we also have movements that are threatening democracy itself in our country.

But Venita is passionately up for the challenge following the movement in the footsteps of the founder of National Freedom Day, former slave, educator, college President, entrepreneur, banker, and army veteran Major Richard R. Wright Sr. (no known relation to author/writer Richard Wright).   Major Wright was extremely accomplished.

According to the Pennsylvania: Life and Times of Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. and the National Freedom Day Association, "Richard Robert Wright Sr. (May 16, 1855 – July 2, 1947) was an American military officer, educator and college president, politician, civil rights advocate and banking entrepreneur. Among his many accomplishments, he founded a high school, a college, and a bank. He also founded the National Freedom Day Association in 1941.

Ms. Benitez shared "One year after Wright's death in 1947, U.S. Congress passed by a joint resolution approved on June 30, 1948 a bill to recognize National Freedom Day. The proclamation was signed into law on January 25, 1949, by President Harry Truman." 

The Original Founder Of National Freedom Day Movement, Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. 

Discover How Dr. Adrienne Whaley Is Planning To Showcase This Year's Outstanding Independent Black Films In Southeast Queens

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Black History Month Continues Into Spring

With Queens Underground International Film Festival Dates

Queens, NY – January, 30, 2023 -- In honor of Black History, Queens Underground International Film Festival announces Season 5 of its Red Carpet Film Festival which features Independent Filmmakers from all over the world.  The Festival will span two days at a Venue in Queens, NY and includes the following Categories: Movie Shorts, Documentary Shorts, Poetry, Dance and Music Videos and Series Episodes from all genres. 

Held annually in the Springtime, Filmmakers fly in from across the country to view their works on the big screen along with excited audience members.  As a nonprofit organization, Queens Underground, is a Disrupter by offering a unique platform and Festival which also boasts live performances, awards presentations and festive Red Carpet Interviews.

This Season, the organization plans to hold opening night Red Carpet interviews Live on its Instagram and Facebook pages. More information and details about the Selected projects may be found on the website at: https://www.QueensUndergroundFilmFestival.com.