This
year as Shema Kolainu-Hear Our Voices is celebrating
its 20th anniversary, it hosted its annual
legislative breakfast featured prominent community
and lay leaders and a wide array of elected
officials.
Shema
Kolainu – Hear Our Voices was founded in 1998 by Dr.
Joshua Weinstein , in
response to the growing need in the New York
metropolitan area’s education system for programs
that effectively fill the learning and emotional
requirements of children with autism.
Dr. Joshua
Weinstein declared "We have come a long way to
becoming a model school and are honored to have so
many wonderful years filled with growth and
gratitude."
The
legislative breakfast was once again emceed by
Councilmember Kalman
Yeger and Menachem
Lubinsky , coordinated
by The
Friedlander Group and
sponsored by ALMA
Bank and The
Williamsburg Hotel where
the breakfast was held.
As MC
Menachem Lubinsky proclaimed "Could you imagine
that, 20 years are passed since a revolutionary, by
the name of Joshua Weinstein said" [who announced]
"We need to take autism out of the closet we need to
treat autism, not as a forgotten disease, but as a
challenge that we can deal with, that we must deal
with, we can change lives, we can change the lives
of people, we can change the lives of families, we
can change the lives of communities."
NYC
Public Advocate Letitia
James focused on the
importance of understanding children with autism and
" ... it's incumbent upon all of us to reach out to
those children and to find their voice and to hear
their voice, and that's why we are here today with
this wonderful organization to celebrate the
twentieth anniversary of Shema Kolainu." She thanked
Dr. Weinstein for 20 years of unwavering dedication
and for spearheading a diverse and inclusive
artistic education program.
Queens
Boro President Melinda
Katz proclaimed that
"We need organizations like Shema Kolainu who say to
the community, these are our kids, these are kids
that will make a difference one day."
Former
NYS Governor David
Paterson commended
"All of you who have cleaved together over this
period of time, help young people and to get people
to understand the difference between autism as is
perceived and as it really is."
NYS
Senator Michael
Gianaris was presented
with the Appreciation Award; a picture painted by
the students of Shema Kolainu - Hear Our Voices. He
urged to create job training and services for adults
who are on the spectrum to help them become
productive members of society.
Vice
President of Shema Kolainu, P eter
Rebenwurzel , presented
Brooklyn Borough President Eric
Adams with the
Appreciation Award and expressed Shema Kolainu's
gratefulness for his support to the school and
center. The Borough President also emphasized
"overseeing the well-being of the children” and
underlined the importance of caring for individuals
with autism as they age.
NYS
Lieutenant Governor Kathy
Hochul was presented
the State Leadership Award " a gift that I treasure
for the rest of my life because it represents the
manifestation of love from our G-D through the
actions of the people at Shema Kolainu."
Co-emcee Councilmember Kalman
Yeger recognized
participating elected officials including NYS
Senator Simcha
Felder , NYS Senator Marisol
Alcantara , NYS
Assemblymember David
Weprin , who was
acknowledged along with his brother, Mark
Weprin , both of whom
were instrumental in funding the NYC Council Autism
Initiative. Brooklyn DA Eric
Gonzalez also address
the crowd. Proclamations were presented by the
office Mayor de Blasio, and NYC Comptroller
Stringer.
Councilman Yeger saluted Bronx Borough President Ruben
Diaz Jr. and Shema
Kolainu as an incredible organization that has no
borders. “… we have 500 children in the Bronx and
[Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr.] helped us
create that." calling him a fierce advocate of the
children of Shema Kolainu.
In his
closing remarks, Dr. Weinstein thanked the staff of
Shema Kolainu, as he shared “Our children continue
to amaze us every day, accomplishing more and
inspiring us all. These “small miracles” as we call
them, are major blessings. These achievements could
not be possible without the dedication and support
of our outstanding teaching staff. Thank you for
your continued support as we work together to stand
behind our blessed children as they make new strides
along their journey. We look forward to the next
twenty years of making a difference in the lives of
our children.”