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Honoring a Storied Tradition: New York NCNW's 51st BHRP Fuels Future Action Across the State [1]
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Date: 2025-05-19
Rooted in a program established in 1974 to honor Bethune and later Height, hundreds of Black women from across New York recommitted to their enduring fight for equality at the annual recognition program.
(photo credit B Holder)
Long Island, NY— The air in Leonard’s Palazzo on a recent Saturday pulsed with a palpable sense of history and purpose. Over 500 Black women – a powerful assembly of seasoned elders, bright young collegians, steadfast faith leaders, dynamic entrepreneurs, and the strong bonds of Greek-letter sorority sisters – had converged for the National Council of Negro Women’s 51st New York State Bethune-Height Recognition Program (BHRP). This annual gathering serves as a potent reminder of the enduring charge laid down by NCNW’s iconic matriarchs, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Dorothy I. Height: speak truth to power, for silence is simply not an option.
The afternoon commenced with “Just Imagine,” a moving short film that wove together rare photographs and archival footage of Bethune and Height. These were not just names invoked in ceremony. Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955) overcame humble beginnings in the Reconstruction South to become a transformative figure in American education and the fight for civil rights. As a child in South Carolina, she acquired the rare ability to read and write, a skill she dedicated her life to imparting to others. Her belief was resolute: “with education, nothing is impossible.” In 1904, she established a school for African American girls in Daytona Beach, Florida, which would later become Bethune-Cookman University.
Bethune’s influence soon reached the halls of national power. During the Roosevelt administration, she became a trusted advisor, appointed Special Advisor on minority affairs in 1935. She organized the “Black Cabinet,” officially the Federal Council on Negro Affairs, directly counseling the President. In 1936, she broke barriers as the first African American woman to head a federal agency, becoming Director of Negro Affairs. From Roosevelt to Truman, she tirelessly advocated for the education of Black children and the crucial inclusion of Black women in military service. Her most enduring legacy remains the founding of the NCNW on December 5, 1935, uniting Black women’s organizations to amplify their collective voice.
The Bethune/Height Recognition Program (BHRP) itself carries a significant history. It began in 1974 as the “Bethune Recognition Program,” a fundraising celebration honoring this remarkable founder. Over time, this event evolved into a vital annual fundraiser, empowering individuals to “live the legacy” of Bethune’s groundbreaking work. In 2010, during NCNW’s 75th anniversary convocation, the program was renamed the Bethune-Height Recognition Program (BHRP), formally honoring Dr. Dorothy Irene Height (1912–2010), NCNW’s long-time president and chair, ensuring tribute to “the legacy of two remarkable women.”
As empowering instrumental, “I’m Every Woman,” filled the ballroom, National BHRP Co-Chairs Johnnie M. Walker and Dawna Michelle Fields led a dignified processional, flanked by state conveners Lynda Bagley (Westchester) and Evelyn Kinsey (Syracuse), and event co-chairs Tina Thompson (Co-op City), Eleanor McKay (Long Island), and Janice Brown (Syracuse) – a testament to the statewide reach of NCNW’s leadership.
Harlem’s own Rev. Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd of Mother A.M.E. Zion served as the master of ceremonies, his opening invocation followed by a soul-stirring rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Welcoming remarks from Dawna Michelle Fields and greetings by NCNW National Board’s Membership Co-Chair Regina Majors set a tone of sisterly warmth and determined purpose.
Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Shavon Arline-Bradley, NCNW’s National President and CEO, delivered a powerful call to action. Her words resonated deeply, met with resounding applause and a flurry of note-taking.
The program’s heart was the roll call of honor: the induction of new members into NCNW’s Legacy Life & Life giving circles, a poignant memorial tribute led by Janice Brown for New York State members who joined the ancestors in 2024, including most recently long time very active and committed member Alexis Herman, A beautiful video tribute was shown as Ms Johnnie M. Walker shared memories. Organizational laurels presented to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and Eureka Grand Chapter, Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star for their decades of service, and the recognition of local BHRP Achievers making a tangible difference in their sections. A surprise Honoree Award was bestowed upon Westbury activist Rev. Margaret Miller Scott for her inspiring work reclaiming her drug-plagued neighborhood in Westbury, New York.
Between presentations, DJ Chris “Legendary” Washington spun R&B classics as guests engaged with 15 Black-owned vendor tables, showcasing the vital link between economic empowerment and civic engagement.
The gathering concluded with hands linked, voices united in “This Little Light of Mine.” BHRP National Co-Chair; Johnnie M. Walker reflected, “From the opening film to that final chorus, we shone our collective light.” BHRP National Chair; Dawna Michelle Fields added, “Honoring Bethune and Height is not nostalgia—it’s ignition for the future.” For Eleanor McKay, Long Island Cross County Section president and New York State BHRP Co-Chair, the takeaway was clear: “When New York’s NCNW women convene, neighborhoods thrive, and young girls see possibility with their own eyes.”
The legacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Dorothy I. Height, honored through this storied program, continues to inspire and drive the women of NCNW across New York State. Their commitment to education, advocacy, and unwavering pursuit of justice burns brightly in the hearts and actions of the organization’s 17 sections, ensuring their powerful vision endures.
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